An-124 Returns Modified F/A 18 Hornets To Australia

An An-124 of Polet delivered the first Australian F/A-18 of a series to have completed modifications to the centre barrel section in Canada.

An-124 offloading F/A 18 Hornet

Replacement of the centre barrel section is intended to to extend the life of the Australian F/A-18 Hornet fleet until the arrival of the new Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter.

Ten of the fleet of 71 Hornets have been found to need the modification work. The size of the An-124 allows the Hornet aircraft to require only the removal of the wings before they can be transported. This saves considerable time and cost.

Group Captain Andrew Hayes is the commanding officer of the Hornet Upgrade Project and said the Antonov was the most efficient way to transport the Hornet on such long distances.

Ease of loading and unloading through the nose opening door is such that the An-124 was able to land, unload, refuel and depart in just two hours.