Photographer unknown (L. J.)

VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet classic Hornet.

Department of the Air Force / EG & G Special Projects

Robinson introduced the cargo hook, bubble door windows for downward vision and wire strike options for the R66 Turbine at HAI Heli-Expo 2018.

The aircraft made its last revenue flight on 29th September 2017 and its last ever flight, from Houston, TX., to Victorville, CA., for storage the same day.

After Alaska Air acquired Virgin America in April 2016 the aircraft continued to fly in Virgin America livery, but was re-painted in Alaska colours after the airlines were fully merged in April 2018, the first online photo of it in Alaska livery is dated November 2018. It was withdrawn from use in January 2023 and stored at Vancouver until November 2023 when it moved to Greensboro, NC. On 8th June 2024 it was ferried to Kelowna Airport, BC., and leased to Air Canada as C-FCQX. At the time of posting it still flies for Air Canada and on 7th November 2024 it flew 6 sectors from/to Vancouver, BC.

At the time of posting the aircraft is still active flying for Southwest.

Delivered new to Southwest on 19th June 1996, its last revenue flight for the airline was on 14th August 2017 and it was flown to storage at Victorville the following day. On 21st March 2018 it moved to Tucson and on 2nd July 2018 was re-registered XA-VCE to the Mexican airline Magnicharters, and at the time of posting online tracking data shows it operating up to 4 sectors daily between Monterrey and Cancun.

Still currently in service at the time of posting.

Still active at the time of posting and was tracked flying 6 sectors on 6th November 2024.

Delivered to Southwest on 17th November 2000, it served with them until its last revenue flight, from Orlando McCoy to Atlanta International, on 11th September 2024, and was flown into storage at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport the following day. The registration was cancelled by the FAA on 29th October 2024.