US Navy Rhino Demo Team

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US Navy Rhino Demo Team

F/A-18 Rhino Demonstration Team

The US Navy’s Super Hornet tactical demonstration, flown as a collateral duty by instructors of the two Super Hornet training squadrons at Oceana and Lemoore.

F/A-18FAeronave
1In the display
AtivoStatus
Photo: U.S. Space Force photo by Dalton Prejeant / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
OperadorUnited States Naval AviationPaísEstados UnidosTipoSolo displayHome baseNaval Air Station OceanaStatusAtivo
A história

US Navy Rhino Demo Team: how the team came to be and what it flies today

Two coasts, two training squadrons

The Rhino Demo Team takes its name from the fleet nickname of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. It is not a standing unit: the displays are flown as a collateral duty by instructors of the Navy’s two Super Hornet fleet replacement squadrons, VFA-106 “Gladiators” at NAS Oceana, Virginia, on the East Coast and VFA-122 “Flying Eagles” at NAS Lemoore, California, in the west. VFA-106’s tactical demonstration lost its 2013 season to sequestration and returned at Oceana in September 2014.

A tactical demo and the 2026 stand-down

The display is a tactical demonstration of the two-seat F/A-18F, flown by a pilot and weapon systems officer, and is often paired with a Navy Legacy Flight of historic aircraft. After two EA-18G Growlers of the VAQ-129 demo team collided at Mountain Home AFB on 17 May 2026, the Navy grounded all its tactical demonstration teams; the Rhino teams were cleared to resume on 10 June 2026.

The display is a tactical demonstration of the two-seat F/A-18F, flown by a pilot and weapon systems officer, and is often paired with a Navy Legacy Flight of historic aircraft.US Navy Rhino Demo Team · verified 2026-10-02
À primeira vista

US Navy Rhino Demo Team in numbers

The team

Formation
1 aeronave

  • Single F/A-18F display, pilot and WSO
  • East and West Coast teams

A aeronave

Flown
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

  • F/A-18F Super Hornet

Lar

Based at
NAS Oceana and NAS Lemoore

  • VFA-106 Gladiators (east)
  • VFA-122 Flying Eagles (west)

The display

Aircraft in the display
1
A aeronave

Every type US Navy Rhino Demo Team has flown

Aeronave Anos Number Observação
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet 1 Two-seat Super Hornet; a spare usually travels with the team.
Linha do tempo

US Navy Rhino Demo Team, year by year

2013

VFA-106 tactical demonstration schedule cancelled for the year under sequestration.

2014

Tactical demonstrations return at the NAS Oceana air show.

2020

VFA-106 Rhino Demonstration Team publishes its 2020 schedule.

2026

Navy tactical demo teams stood down after a Growler demo collision at Mountain Home AFB.

2026

Rhino teams cleared to resume displays.

Perguntas e Respostas

Everything people ask about US Navy Rhino Demo Team

What is the Rhino Demo Team?
The US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet tactical demonstration, flown by instructors from VFA-106 and VFA-122.
Where is the Rhino Demo Team based?
The East Coast team at NAS Oceana, Virginia; the West Coast team at NAS Lemoore, California.
Why is the Super Hornet called the Rhino?
It is the fleet nickname of the F/A-18E/F, which distinguishes it from the smaller legacy Hornet.
Is the Rhino Demo flying in 2026?
Yes. After a Navy-wide stand-down in May 2026, the Rhino teams were cleared to resume on 10 June 2026.

Continue a excursão

Around US Navy Rhino Demo Team

O operadorUnited States Naval AviationFleet, bases and order of battle of the service that flies the team.Read the United States Naval Aviation pageHome baseNaval Air Station OceanaThe units, runways and history of the airfield the team flies from.Read the base pageFormation aerobatic teamBlue AngelsThe US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, flying since 1946 and now on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: a six-jet show of diamond formation work and opposing solos…Read the Blue Angels pageEquipes de exibiçãoEvery military display teamAll the formation, solo and helicopter teams in the Order of Battle, active and disbanded.Open the list
Fontes e Leitura Complementar

Todos os fatos foram verificados.

Verified 2026-10-02.