Aircraft
End of the Line for the Fleet’s Legacy Hornets
After 35 years of service, the "Legacy" Hornet is bowing out of the U.S. Navy's active-duty fleet as VFA-34 begns its conversion to the Super Hornet
VFA-34's "CAG-bird" F/A-18C launches from Carl Vinson during the last cruise by an active-duty F/A-18C squadron in 2018. (photo: U.S. Navy)
VFA-34's "CAG-bird" F/A-18C launches from Carl Vinson during the last cruise by an active-duty F/A-18C squadron in 2018. (photo: U.S. Navy)

On February 1, the U.S. Navy is holding a special ceremony to commemorate the passing of one of its stalwarts, as the Boeing (previously McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18C Hornet leaves the active-duty fleet. Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 “Blue Blasters” was the last unit operating the type in the front line and flew the “legacy” Hornet on its final operational deployment, a cruise with Air Wing Two to the Western Pacific theater aboard the USS Carl Vinson. That deployment ended in April 2018, but VFA-34 went back to sea briefly for routine carrier qualifications in October.


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