Spanish Air Force EF-18M Hornet - Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2022 (Saturday)

Описание: The Spanish Air Force - Ejercito del Aire Espanol (EdA), McDonnell-Douglas EF-18M Hornet solo display, at The Royal International Air Tattoo 2022, RAF Fairford, on Saturday 16th July 2022. The aircraft designation 'E' denotes 'Espana' and 'M' stands for 'Mid Life Upgrade'. This Hornet (CE.15-08, Manufacturers serial 0461) is from Ala de Caza (Fighter Wing) 15 at Zaragoza-Valenzuela and is decorated on the tail fins with art work celebrating the 35th anniversary of its unit, Ala de Caza (Fighter Wing) 15 as well as their 'Tiger' motif which also entitles the unit to membership since 2008 of the NATO 'Tiger Association'.

The Spanish Air Force was the first European customer for the F/A-18 Hornet. In 1983 Spain ordered 60 single seat 'A' variants and 12 two seat 'B variants', with the first delivered in July 1986 and the last in July 1990.
These have since been augmented by 24 ex-US Navy aircraft. Recent major upgrade work since 2018 has also significantly modernised them.

Spanish Hornet's serve with Escuadron (Squadron) 151 and Escuadron 152 of Ala de Caza (Fighter Wing) 15 at Zaragoza-Valenzuela, with Escuadron 462 of the 46th Wing (Ala 46) at Gando, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands and Escuadron 121 and Escuadron 122 of Ala de Caza 12 (Ala 12) at Torrejon de Ardoz as well as with the Logistics Center of Armament and Experimentation (CLAEX).

Spain uses the aircraft, which was also given the local designation C.15, for both the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, and has employed the type on operations over the Balkans and more recently Libya.

As part of an offset agreement with Spain, Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA) at Gefale is responsible for the maintenance of the EdA Hornets. CASA is also responsible for major overhauls of Canadian Hornets based in Europe, as well as the Hornets of the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.


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