The story
The F/A-18 Hornet was built to do it all: air-to-air combat and ground attack from one airframe, flown from aircraft carriers or land bases. The US Navy retired its last Hornets in 2019 in favor of the bigger Super Hornet, but the Marine Corps and several air forces, including Finland and Spain, still fly them.
The Blue Angels flew Hornets from 1986 until 2020, when the team moved up to the Super Hornet.
Quick answers
How do you identify a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet?
Twin tails canted outward, twin engines, and long leading-edge extensions running from the wing roots up beside the cockpit. Rounded oval intakes under those extensions mean a classic Hornet; squared-off boxy intakes mean a Super Hornet.
What does a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet sound like?
Twin GE F404 afterburning turbofans with a sharp, ripping roar.
How fast is the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet?
Top speed is Mach 1.8.
How far can the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fly?
Range is about 1,800 nmi (ferry).
How big is the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet?
It is 56 ft 1 in long and 40 ft 4 in (with wingtip missiles) across the wings.
When did the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet first fly?
Its first flight was in 1978.
How many McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets have been built?
1,480 built.
How rare is a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet catch is worth 250 points.
