Block III’s Boast An Increased Service Life Of 10,000 Flight Hours

They've been waiting for these airframes for a while... and now the Navy is welcoming its next generation multi-mission tactical fighter by taking delivery of the first Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet test jets this month, as part of its continuing effort to improve aircraft lethality, survivability, interoperability and sustainability in an ever-evolving threat environment. Like every aircraft slated for the fleet, The Boeing Company-produced two-seat model (F287) and single-seat (E323) will undergo comprehensive testing. At Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX-23) will perform shore-based carrier testing and focus mainly on th

'Going Virtual So Aviation Fans Don’t Miss Out On International Air Day'

After COVID-related issues caused the actual show's cancellation, the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s biggest spectacle is going virtual so aviation fans don’t miss out on International Air Day. The July 11 showcase of the best of British naval aviation is the Fleet Air Arm’s premier public showcase, pulling in more than 30,000 visitors to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. Like many public events this summer, International Air Day fell victim to restrictions on large gatherings due to the pandemic.