Hobby Master 1/72 HA5124 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E "Mako" Red 12, VFC-12, NAS Oceana, June 2021

The McDonnell Douglas Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role carrier-based aircraft. The “E” variant is single-seater while the “F” variant is a tandem-seat configuration. The “E” is a much larger, more advanced and more capable variant of the F/A-18C. The Super variant can carry a larger array of weapons as well as more of them and is capable of returning to the carrier while still carrying unspent munitions, a big savings in dollars. The first F/A-18E flight was in 1995 and began delivery to the USN in 1999. The USN has painted F/A-18E in a scheme to look similar to a Russian Su-57 Felon. The scheme was meant to resemble the scheme on the fifth production Su-57 which the Russians referred to as “White Shark” so the staff from VFC-12 “Fighting Omars” named theirs “Mako” and use the call sign “Ambush”. This shark scheme was first seen on June 18, 2021 during a change-of-command at NAS Oceana. VFC-12’s new Commanding Officer, CDR Scott “CAWK” Golich is displayed on the canopy rail.