Collection: VFA-81 Sunliners

The Sunliners trace their lineage to July 1, 1955, when the squadron was established as VA-66 and redesignated as a fighter squadron the same day. The squadron became VA-81 in 1959 and adopted the Sunliners name and its distinctive sundial insignia in 1963. During its early years, the squadron flew aircraft including the F9F Cougar and A-4 Skyhawk before transitioning to the A-7E Corsair II in 1970.

In 1988, VA-81 transitioned to the F/A-18C Hornet and was redesignated VFA-81. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Sunliners made Naval Aviation history when two VFA-81 Hornets shot down two Iraqi MiG-21s on the opening day of the air war. These were the Navy's only air-to-air victories over enemy fighters during the campaign and the first MiG kills achieved by the F/A-18 Hornet.

VFA-81 transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2008. Today, the Sunliners continue to fly the single-seat F/A-18E, carrying forward a Naval Aviation legacy spanning more than seven decades and the squadron's enduring motto, “Anytime, Anyplace!”