I live and work in the Southside area of Jax. F18s have been flying low and slow (usually in tandem) over my head all day. From what I can tell, they are flying towards NAS Jax. Most are flying with their gear down, which seems abnormal considering they aren't very close to NAS for a landing, yet.

Its been loud all day, which I enjoy . It definitely isn't normal to see this many F18s in my area, though. I see the F15s of the Florida Air National Guard regularly from out of Jax International, but this may be the first time I've noticed F18s.

What's going on? Just some drills? Are F18s even based out of NAS Jax?

I remember reading last week that the Navy is conducting several days of carrier landing practice at the Cecil/Whitehouse landing strip. Probably are stationed on a carrier which is currently offshore.

If they are doing approaches, they could have their gear down anywhere from 5-10 miles on final.  It wouldn't be abnormal.

Ah Cecil. Cool!

Not since Cecil Field closed.

maybe just touch & go's for newer guys getting hours,or landing on a CAV off shore. is the SARA still ported near St. Augustine

I always loved parking at the end of the strip at MCAS Beaufort  & watching them come overhead my radar detector would have a melt down

I remember seeing prowlers there once it would make since the new EW F-18s may be there but I don't know that

Sara (CV-60) is decommissioned, she is in Philly or up in Washington laid up.  Field Carrier Landing Practice, now that Cecil is closed is mostly at Fentress up in Tidewater VA...that is where the Hornets are on the East Coast.  NAS Jax can/does host and also does depot work on Hornets...If the F-18 FRS is qualfiying pilots on the ship, they might have set up a beach det at NAS Jax.  I was mostly a west coast guy, did work up on east coast a few times...only miss some of that after retiring! :)

the Navy is doing  games off the coast and using NAS Jax's  to park the A/C involved in the role playing. Yes there still F/A 18 at Cecil Field, these are the one being overhauled here and test flights.