Why the U.S. Navy Can’t Quit This 89-Year-Old Flying Legend

How Many US Navy Planes?

With more than 4,012 naval aircraft in service, the US Navy is as formidable in the air as at sea. Of course, not all of these planes are combat-ready as many functions as transportation, surveillance, maritime patrol, early earning command and control, and electronic warfare disruptors.

Still, it’s hard to ignore the size of the US Navy’s aerial force if you’re considering engaging the United States in combat. While the Air Force is still significant, at over 5,500 aircraft, the Navy is equally dangerous. Combined with this, the United States’s air superiority is unmatched by any other nation in the world.

Most Used Navy Aircraft

As of the latest available data, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is one of the most widely used aircraft in the US Navy. Even more so than the EA-18 Growler, which offers the Navy 153 different mission-ready aircraft.

23. de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 2 (tied)
• First flight: August 1947

22. Gulfstream C-20

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 2 (tied)
• First flight: September 1985

21. KC-130 Hercules

• Type: Tanker
• Active in Navy: 10 (tied)
• First flight: January 1960

20. Northrop T-38 Talon

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 10 (tied)
• First flight: March 1959

19. EP-3 Ares II

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 11
• First flight: November 2002

18. Beechcraft C-12 Huron

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 13 (tied)
• First flight: October 1972

17. Beechcraft T-34 Mentor

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 13 (tied)
• First flight: December 1948

16. F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 14
• First flight: January 1974

15. Boeing E-6 Mercury

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 16
• First flight: February 1987

14. C-40 Clipper

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: April 2000

13. C-130 Hercules

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: August 1954

12. Martin P-3 Orion

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: November 1959

11. C-2 Greyhound

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 30
• First flight: November 1964

10. F-5 Freedom Fighter

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 31
• First flight: July 1959

9. F-35 Lightning II

• Type: Combat aircraft, training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 35
• First flight: December 2006

8. F/A-18 Hornet

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 52
• First flight: November 1978

7. Beechcraft Super King Air

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 56
• First flight: October 1972

6. E-2 Hawkeye

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 73
• First flight: October 1960

5. Boeing P-8 Poseidon

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 116
• First flight: April 2009

4. EA-18G Growler

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 152
• First flight: August 2006

3. T-45 Goshawk

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 189
• First flight: April 1988

2. T-6 Texan

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 293
• First flight: April 1935

1. F/A-18 Super Hornet

• Type: Combat aircraft, training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 547
• First flight: November 1995