CAF, Boeing launch ‘Hornet Country’ book

AIRMSHL Geoff Brown and Mike Gibbons launch 'Hornet Country'. (Paul Sadler) — AIRMSHL Geoff Brown and Mike Gibbons launch ‘Hornet Country’. (Paul Sadler)

A new book detailing the history of Boeing’s F/A-18 classic Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler in Australia has been launched by Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Brown and Boeing’s VP of F/A-18 and EA-18 programs Mike Gibbons.

Hornet Country is written by Australian Aviation contributors Tony Moclair and Andrew McLaughlin and tells the story of the Hornet family’s development and its acquisition by and service life with the RAAF, which today operates 71 classic F/A-18A/B Hornets and 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets, and has 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack variants on order.

“It gives me great pleasure today to launch this book. I certainly thank Tony and Andrew for the work they have put in,” AIRMSHL Brown said in launching Hornet Country on the sides of the RAAF Air Power Conference in Canberra on Wednesday.

“I have only had a quick read of it but I think it well and truly tells the story of this remarkable aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force inventory.”

“We are enormously proud of our partnership with Australia working together to provide the men and women of the Australian Defence Force with the capability they need to get the job done,” Gibbons said.

“It’s a partnership which is well reflected in the pages of Hornet Country.”

The 166-page book, a comprehensive update and re-write of McLaughlin’s 2005 Hornets Down Under book, has been published by Australian Aviation parent Phantom Media in partnership with Boeing. Drawing upon Australian Aviation‘s extensive resources, Hornet Country features exclusive interviews, specially commissioned artwork by Juanita Franzi, unique photography by Paul Sadler and pull-out cutaway drawings of the F/A-18F and EA-18G.

It is available for purchase via the Australian Aviation website here.