BACKGROUND OF THE BOEING F/A-18 HORNET
Powered by two General Electric turbofan after-burning engines, the Hornet has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph). The supersonic, all-weather carrier-based aircraft is designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft. The F-18 and has been used extensively by the U.S. in combat beginning with the bombing of Libya and later in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Hosted by GE Aviation, the U.S. Navy East Coast F-18 Hornet Tactical Demonstration Team will come to Dayton from Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 106, “The Gladiators,” based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.
“We are absolutely thrilled the Navy has selected Dayton for a F-18 demo,” stated Michael Emoff in the release, Chairman of the United States Air & Trade Show Board of Trustees, the governing organization of the show. “What an awesome show we have for 2015. We can’t wait for summer to get here,” he added.
THIS YEAR’S LINEUP
The U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet Demonstration
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
U.S. Army Golden Knights
Breitling Jet Team (from France on their first North American Tour)
Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco (first time appearance)
Matt Younkin’s Twin Beech demo.
Legendary pilot Sean D. Tucker
The 300 mph Shockwave Jet Truck
and Dayton’s very own Wright B Flyer
The dates for this year’s summertime Dayton tradition is June 20th and 21st at the Dayton International Airport.