MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Many times in a Marine’s career, personal and professional achievements are made, but the accomplishments are not always landmark moments. Rarer still does an achievement reach a seemingly unattainable level.

For one Marine Corps pilot, when the tires of his F/A-18C Hornet met the concrete deck May 5 it was no ordinary landing. It was a historical moment and a testament to a naval aviation career dedicated to safe flight.

Lt. Col. Harry G. Constant, commanding officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 134, Marine Aircraft Group 46, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, has logged 5,000 hours in the F/A-18 since first flying the Hornet in January 1988.

“Five thousand hours is truly incredible,” said Capt. Dan Narozniak, pilot, VMFA-134. “He is the first Marine pilot to fly 5,000 hours in the Hornet. Reaching this level of flight with this many hours is just (awesome).”

In a typical career spanning 8 to 9 years, a Marine Hornet pilot commonly achieves 1,000 to 2,000 hours on average, said Maj. Brian Evans, operations officer for the “Smokes” of VMFA-134.

“It’s not the total number of hours you have, it’s how good you were on your last run and how much you contributed to the success of your last mission,” said a self-effacing Constant, who transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves in February 2000.

On hand to certify the astronomical achievement, Boeing representative John Valovich presented Constant with a certificate and a one-of-a-kind flight suit patch to commemorate and signify the 5,000 F/A-18 hours.

“What he has achieved is nothing short of amazing,” said Valovich. “Only one other pilot has achieved this many hours in the Hornet, but (Constant) is the first Marine to do so. Given the level of professionalism demonstrated by today’s fighter pilots, to fly for this long, and safely, is really saying something.”

Navy Capt. Roger Welch, still on active duty but no longer flying, was the first aviator to reach the 5,000 hour level, according to Evans.

For every 1,000 hours attained in an F/A-18, Boeing recognizes Hornet pilots with a certificate and a flight suit patch to signify their respective feat.

Flying alongside Constant during the flight, Lt. Col. Barry L. Kragel, operations officer for MAG-46, flew the Hornet for the last time. May 5, being the day of Kragel’s retirement, was also Kragel’s last day in the Marine Corps.

After their successful flight, Constant and Kragel congratulated each other and were greeted by their fellow Marines with VMFA-134 who helped them celebrate the occasion.

For Constant, who was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1986 and designated a naval aviator in October 1987, flying the F/A-18 remains a challenge.

“This aircraft has always been evolving and changing,” said Constant. “It has a good selection of weapons, software, radar and everything has been reworked. The biggest challenge over the years has been to keep up and keep learning. I’ve just been really fortunate.”

Constant has been flying the Marines’ venerable, combat-proven fighter aircraft ever since joining his first operational squadron, VMFA-323, then later serving with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 and VMFA(AW)-224. In June 1996 he went to Navy Fighter Weapons School at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., and later served as a “Top Gun” instructor there before joining the “Smokes.”

“If you look at that over the span of that time frame, I’ve just been very fortunate to have worked with outstanding Marines and sailors, and civilians who provide good airplanes as well. That’s really where all the credit goes,” said Constant. “The easy part is getting in and flying the aircraft, the challenging part is for the Marines to maintain it. I learned early on from my first maintenance officer that we can’t turn an engine or fly an airplane without all the work of the maintenance, operations and administrative folks.

“It’s the Marines down here turning wrenches every single day. As pilots we come down, we sign the books, we fly for an hour and come back, turn the airplane over, but it’s these guys who perform hours and hours of hard work.”

With this exceptional 5,000-hour achievement, Constant said he hopes it won’t be the end of a great ride.

“In the beginning I learned as much as I could from some really great pilots, and I always looked for opportunities all along the way,” Constant concluded. “If you can take something away from every person you fly with, whether they are new to the airplane or a veteran, everyone has something to offer. I still think I have a long way to go and a lot to learn.”