McDonnell Douglas/Boeing
F/A-18 Hornet

The F/A-18 Hornet is a development of the Northrop YF-17 that had been built to be evaluated by the U.S. Air Force lightweight fighter competition in the early 1970s.  McDonnell Douglas teamed with Northrop to modify the aircraft to meet a U.S. Navy requirement.

The first F/A-18 (fighter/attack) flew in 1978 with the first operational delivery occurring in 1980.  The Hornet is the U.S. Navy's current 

front line fighter and attack aircraft replacing the F-4 and A-7.

The Hornet and newer Super Hornet are now known as the Boeing F/A-18 due to Boeing's purchase of McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

The Hornet has been purchased by Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Spain and Switzerland.

Related Websites