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F/A-18C Hornet BuNo.163508, now freshly-restored, sits on temporary outdoor display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florid following a significant restoration. The aircraft will eventually go on display inside Hangar One alongside a MiG-21 painted to represent the Iraqi Air Force example this aircraft shot down during the first day of the Gulf War in January, 1991. (image via NNAM)
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The National Naval Aviation Museum has just unveiled their recently-restored, combat-veteran F/A-18C Hornet (BuNo.163508) in a place of honor just outside the Blue Angel Atrium at their main campus in Pensacola, Florida. This Hornet is of particular significance, because LCDR Mark “MRT” Fox is credited with shooting down an Iraqi Air Force MiG-21 while flying the aircraft on January 17th, 1991, the opening day of the first Gulf War.
F/A-18C Hornet BuNo.163508 presently sitting outside the Blue Angels Atrium at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. This seems more than fitting, as components from the recently-retired early-model Blue Angels Hornets contributed to this aircraft’s completion. BuNo.163508 will not remain outside for long, of course, as the airframe will become part of a major indoor display about the Gulf War and the specific incident this aircraft was involved in. (image via NNAM)
This aircraft first arrived at Pensacola aboard a flatbed truck back in August 2019, as we reported two years ago. She was in a sorry state of disrepair at the time, and arrived concurrently with the hulk of another U.S. Navy Gulf War MiG-killing Hornet. The latter aircraft is F/A-18C BuNo.163502 in which Lt Nicholas “Mongo” Mongillo shot down a Chinese-made Iraqi Air Force MiG-21. Both aircraft served aboard the carrier USS Saratoga (CV 60) at the time, and their shoot-downs occurred within moments of each other in the same action, marking the only U.S. Navy air-to-air victories during the Gulf War. The images below show how bedraggled both aircraft appeared two years ago, each of them also missing a variety of components.
Unloading Cdr Mark Fox’s F/A-18C Bu.163508 at Pensacola. Lt Nick Mongillo’s Hornet, Bu.163502, can be seen in the background. (U.S.Navy photo)
A closeup of Bu.163508’s nose showing the Iraqi flag symbolizing Cdr Mark Fox’s victory during the Gulf War. (U.S.Navy photo)
Another shot of Cdr Mark Fox’s F/A-18C Bu.163508. This image shows the aircraft still in storage just before it was moved to Pensacola. It is not at AMARG though, as neither this airframe, nor 163502 were ever on the books there. (U.S.Navy photo)
F/A-18C Bu.163502 on its way to Pensacola in June, 2019. (U.S.Navy photo)
F/A-18C Bu.163502 being unloaded from the flatbed truck at Pensacola in June, 2019. The aircraft had been in storage following its retirement a few years ago, but had most recently served with VFA-146 Blue Diamonds aboard the USS Stennis (CVN 74). The squadron parted with their F/A-18Cs in 2015. Interestingly, this aircraft took part in Operation Tomodachi in 2011 when the U.S. Pacific Fleet helped with search & rescue and other humanitarian efforts following the massive tsunami that crippled the nuclear power station in Fukushima, Japan. (U.S.Navy photo)
The restoration team at Pensacola have yet to touch Mongillo’s Hornet, although it does remain in store at the museum. They focused their efforts on BuNo.163508, and sourced a good number of components for this effort from some of the former Blue Angels legacy Hornets which were parted out at Pensacola.
This is how F/A-18C Hornet BuNo.163508 looked at Pensacola earlier this year. While it seems more or less complete, physically speaking, it is clearly a patchwork quilt of other airframes. Note the traces of Blue Angels livery/colors on a number of components, such as the gear doors, fuselage panels, and – most importantly – the wings. (image via NNAM)
The aircraft has been repainted into the same markings she wore while serving with VFA-81 Sunliners off USS Saratoga (CV 60) on that fateful day in January, 1991 when LCDR Mark “MRT” Fox and his flight of four Hornets approached Al Walid Air Base H-3 in Iraq… albeit, she now sports the MiG-victory markings on her nose.
F/A-18C Hornet BuNo.163508, now freshly-restored, sits on temporary outdoor display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida following a significant restoration. Note the Iraqi flag painted on the aircraft’s nose to represent the Chinese-built Iraqi Air Force MiG-21 which she shot down almost exactly thirty years ago.(image via NNAM)
The aircraft will eventually go on display inside Hangar Bay One alongside a MiG-21 painted to represent the Iraqi Air Force example this aircraft shot down during the first day of the Gulf War in January, 1991. The Hornet will become a centerpiece for the envisioned expansion of the museum’s exhibit focusing upon U.S. Central Command’s Area Of Responsibility (AOR).
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
