CHINA LAKE, Calif.,–Several aircrew from Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) Air Test and Evaluation squadron (VX) 31 were on duty and in the air at 9 a.m. (local) when the F/A-18 Hornet reached its eight millionth flight hour July 12, 2011.

In a statement released from COMNAVAIRSYSCOM Patuxent River, Md., this milestone occurred during the Navy’s celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA).

According to the July 12 release, the F/A-18 is the world’s premiere strike fighter and electronic attack aircraft. The Navy has 1,478 F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft that are part of 63 active, reserve, training and research, development, test and evaluation squadrons within the Navy and Marine Corps. This figure includes the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron and eight international countries.

VX-31 members included Lt. Scott “Beav” Johnson, Cmdr. Ian “Chunx” Anderson, Maj. Dail "Sally" Fields, Lt. Cmdr. John "Clocktower" Young, Cmdr. Taylor "Harpo" Thorson, Lt. Cmdr. Richard "Tofu" Gensley and Lt. Cmdr. Raymond "Nafah" Marshall.

Johnson and Anderson, flying in a Block 2 F/A-18F Super Hornet (COSO 223), were conducting a flight test event to evaluate and verify changes to mission systems software and interoperability of the various sensors and mission computers in the Super Hornet. The crew exercised every aspect of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons system functionality to ensure the latest changes worked correctly and enhanced the combat capability of the F/A-18 Super Hornet for our warfighters in the fleet.

Maj. Dail "Sally" Fields and Lt. Cmdr. John "Clocktower" Young were also flying in an F/A-18F (COSO 217) on a flight test event over Point Mugu's sea test range. Fields and Young worked through dress-rehearsals for an upcoming live-fire weapons test event. Cmdr. Taylor "Harpo" Thorson and Lt. Cmdr. Richard "Tofu" Gensley flew an F/A-18F (COSO 201) on the same mission.

In addition, VX-31 pilot Lt. Cmdr. Raymond "Nafah" Marshall flew in an F/A-18C Hornet (COSO 101, the CoNA jet) on a software test mission. Those VX-31 members, and all others who were airborne July 12, 2011 at 9 a.m., will be honored with a commemorative patch and certificate.