Hornet's Sting :McDonnell Douglas        
                        F/A-18 Hornet                
                        Boeing F/A-18E/F          
                        Super Hornet
The F/A-18 started out as the YF-17
Cobra built by Northrop in the early
70's. The YF-17 lost to the YF-16 in
the  USAF Lightweight Fighter
competition in 1974.  Shortly after this
competition was complete the US Navy
was seeking out a new fighter of its
own. It intended to replace its A-7
Corsairs and F-4 Phantoms in the
ground attack roles. McDonnell
Douglas saw  a potential future in the
YF-17 design. The Hornet was to be a
heavier more robust version of the
YF-17. For carrier use the F/A-18
would have beefier landing gear.           
 The first flight of the F/A-18 was Nov.
18, 1978. The Hornet entered US Navy
service in May 1980. Both the Navy
and US Marine Corps fly the Hornet.
Also several US allies  fly the F/A-18.    
                                                The
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered US
Navy service in Nov. 1999. Built by
Boeing Airplane Co. The Super Hornet
is a larger more powerful version of the
legacy Hornet.                                       
  A couple Hornet photos on this page
date as far back as the mid-1980s.  
Enjoy the photos ....  
Digital Images see Page 2