The F/A-18 Hornet is the true multi-role aircraft. It can vault from a carrier deck, bomb a target and stay to dogfight even the best enemy aircraft without missing a beat. It's the Navy's first modern-era jet intended for double duty against air- and ground-based adversaries. Armed to the hilt with Sparrow and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, an internal cannon, and laser-guided bombs, this modern warbird was an outstanding performer in Operation Desert Storm. Strapped into a digital cockpit described as a cross between Star Wars and a video game, pilots of the F/A-18 Hornet take on the ultimate aviation job: blasting this single-seat, high-performance jet off the deck of a carrier, dropping bombs, and firing air-to-ground ordnance. Offering unmatched agility, the Hornet is the choice aircraft of the US Navy's elite Blue Angels aerobatic team.

The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two-seat variant. The space for the two-seat cockpit is provided by a relocation of avionics equipment and a 6% reduction in internal fuel; two-seat Hornets are otherwise fully combat-capable. The B-model is used primarily for training.

In 1992, the original Hughes AN/APG-65 radar was replaced with the Hughes (now Raytheon) AN/APG-73, a faster and more capable radar. A-model Hornets that have been upgraded to the AN/APG-73 are designated F/A-18A+.

Pictured here is a gorgeous 1:72 scale diecast replica of a Royal Australian Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter that was attached to No.75 Squadron, then deployed to RAAF Base Tindal, NSW, Australia, during 1990. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 9-inches

Release Date: July 2023

Historical Account: "Ohakea" - Located 22km West of Palmerston North, RNZAF Base Ohakea is one of the three Air Force bases. Ohakea opened in September 1939 as one of two bases for the Wellington bomber aircraft on order for the RNZAF. During World War II, Ohakea was the Air Force's main training base for aircrew undergoing operational conversion on fighters, observers/navigators for medium bombers and air gunners. After World War II, Nos 14, 42 and 75 Squadrons were reformed at Ohakea, and the Repair Depot relocated from Hamilton.

Following WWII Ohakea became the RNZAF's Strike base with Nos.14 and 75 Squadrons resident. A long time resident, No.42 Squadron was relocated to Whenuapai in 1984 to allow the reformation of No.2 Squadron to Nowra (NSW Australia) in 1991. The strike force was disbanded in 2001. In 1993, RNZAF flying training previously carried out at Wigram by the Pilot Training Squadron and the RNZAF's Central Flying School was moved to Ohakea. No.3 Squadron, which currently operates the Iroquois and Sioux helicopters, moved to Ohakea in January 2002.