Hobby Master HA5124 1:72 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-12s new Commanding Officer, CDR Scott CAWK Golich is displayed on the canopy rail.