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Marine air show tomorrow
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Posted on Jan 12 2001
The United States Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 21 will make a rare appearance on island tomorrow in honor of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce installation dinner and special guests, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and U.S. Rep. John E. Sweeney, R-New York.
The public is invited to witness four F/A-18D Hornets of the Green Knights make two aerial demonstration passes over the Garapan lagoon at 5:30pm tomorrow, just prior to the 6:00pm Chamber installation dinner at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The Green Knight Squadron is comprised of 12 F/A-18D Hornet aircraft out of Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar San Diego, California.
Their visit to Saipan is the result of collaborative efforts of the Office of the U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Tom S. Fellin and his command staff COMNAV Marianas, the CNMI governor’s office and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.
The F/A-18 Hornet is designed to attack and destroy surface targets, day or night, under all weather conditions; conduct multi-sensor reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; and intercept and destroy enemy under all weather conditions.
It is capable of flying up to 50,000 feet and at maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (1.8 times the speed of sound).
Marine F/A-18D aircraft are unique within the Department of the Navy because the Marine Corps employs the F/A-18D as a tactical strike aircraft while the Navy uses it as a trainer.
Marine F/A-18Ds may be land-based from prepared airfields or they can operate from expeditionary airfields (EAF). They may also be sea-based, operating from the decks of Navy aircraft carriers.
The four F/A-18D Hornet 2-man crew to visit Saipan will be flown by Maj. Barry “BK” Kragel, Maj. Matthew “Jams” Shihadeh, Maj. Thomas “Caveman” Frederick, Capt. Michael “Legs” Legens, Capt. Richard “Lucky” Klunk, Capt. Wade “Bob” Barker, Capt. Michael “Slippy” Brubaker, and Capt. Darryl “P-Man” Piasecki.
