From the Williamtown Hornet's Nest they have been the frontline of Australia's air combat force for more than 30 years.
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Monday marked the end of an era for the fleet of F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets, which has been surpassed by the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
Hundreds of past and present technicians, personnel support, engineers gathered at the base to farewell the RAAF icon.
"For those of us who were lucky enough to have flown or worked on these aircraft today is a day of great sadness but also great pride," Air Combat Group Air Commodore Tim Alsop said.
Group Captain Jason Easthope had the honor of performing the final flight display. He flew in aircraft from RAAF Base Tindal's No. 75 Squadron - the last Classic Hornet squadron to changeover to the F-35A.
"I tell you what, it's an ageless areoplane. It's never going to get old, it's never going to look old," he said.
"It was bittersweet for me today because I'm passionate about flying and I love flying the Hornet but it was pretty clear to me today that it was coming to an end."
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Monday's formal farewell follows a series of Hornet aerial displays over Port Stephens, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in December 2020.
Led by Group Captain Jason Easthope, No. 77 Squadron flew over Williamtown, made a circuit of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, before putting on a show above the base for the hundreds of people gathered to watch.
It was the final display before the aircraft were grounded.
Up to seven F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet aircraft from No. 75 Squadron were due to fly over the Worimi Conservation Lands and Newcastle beaches, landing at RAAF Base Williamtown, on Tuesday afternoon.
They were due to fly over the beaches and headlands between Birubi Point, Anna Bay and Bar Beach just south of Newcastle between 3pm and 3.30pm.
"After nearly 408,000 flying hours, and more than 30 years of service, Classic Hornet aircraft will land at RAAF Base Williamtown for the last time," the RAAF stated.
"In a show of thanks to the local Hunter community for their support, the aircraft will conduct a low-level coastal flight along the Worimi Conservation Lands to Newcastle foreshore and Strezlecki Lookout, before landing at the base.
"The seven aircraft have transited from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. In strict adherence to COVID-19 regulations, all aircrew will return to RAAF Base Tindal immediately upon landing at the base."
The first two Hornets arrived at Williamtown on May 17, 1985 following a non-stop flight from California.
"The Australian Air Force's 100 year history is a story of people and aircraft and one aircraft that has played a pivotal role in that story is the classic Hornet jet," Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who attended the farewell at Williamtown on Monday, said.
"After serving our nation with great distinction for more than three decades, after being an icon of Australia's air combat capability for a third of a century we say farewell to the classic Hornet."
Medowie solicitor Brooke Vitnell, the Liberal Party's election candidate for the federal seat of Paterson, said it was emotional to watch the final Hornet demonstration on Monday.
"Watching the final air demonstration brought a tear to my eye," she said. "I grew up watching these hornets from my grandparents backyard on Slade Road [which is] now the airport runway."
The first operational deployment of RAAF Hornets took place in November 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.
Thousands of people have been involved in the history of the F/A-18 at Williamtown.
Most of the current crew have transferred to the Super Hornet or F-35A.
Eight classic Hornet planes with the richest history will be displayed at various museums, including Fighter World in Williamtown and the Australian War Memorial.
