The story
This is the original F/A-18 Hornet, the A through D models, now called the legacy Hornet to tell it apart from the larger Super Hornet that replaced it on US Navy carriers. 1,480 were built, and the Marine Corps, Finland, Spain, Switzerland and others still fly them as land-based fighters and attack jets.
The US Navy's last operational F/A-18C flight came in October 2019, 35 years after the Hornet joined the fleet.
Quick answers
How do you identify a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet?
Twin canted tails, twin engines and long leading-edge extensions beside the cockpit. Check the intakes: rounded ovals under the wing roots mean a legacy Hornet; squared-off boxy intakes mean a Super Hornet. It is also visibly smaller than a Super Hornet.
What does a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet sound like?
Twin GE F404 afterburning turbofans with a sharp, ripping roar.
How fast is the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet?
Top speed is Mach 1.8.
How many people does the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet carry?
Typical configuration: F/A-18A and C single-seat; B and D two-seat.
How far can the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet fly?
Range is about 1,800 nmi (ferry).
How big is the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D 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-18A-D Hornet first fly?
Its first flight was in 1978.
How many McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornets have been built?
1,480 built.
How rare is a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-D Hornet catch is worth 250 points.
