This is the “Fleet Rhino” patch created for the F/A-18 Hornets. It shows the US Flag in the background. When carrier based aircraft are inbound for landing they transmit their type and fuel to ensure that the trap wires are set at the right tension. An F-14 pilot might have said something like “One-Zero-Three, Tomcat, xx” meaning aircraft number 103 on the nose, a F-14Tomcat, and xx pounds of gas. F/A-18s are “Hornets”. But the E/F/G are much heavier,and “SuperHornet” could easily be misheard as just “Hornet”. A/B/C/D’s identify as ‘Hornet” and the “SuperHornets” identify as “Rhino”. They do look like Rhinos don’t they, gray, ugly, dangerous, big-nose?
