F-18 Hornet – PDF

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet was developed during the 1970s to replace several aging aircraft types in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps service with a single, highly capable multirole platform. Designed by McDonnell Douglas in partnership with Northrop, the Hornet incorporated advanced fly-by-wire flight controls, powerful twin engines, modern radar, and exceptional maneuverability. Unlike earlier fighters designed primarily for either air combat or ground attack, the F/A-18 was built from the outset to excel in both missions, allowing pilots to transition seamlessly between fighter and strike roles during a single sortie.

Entering operational service in 1983, the Hornet quickly became the backbone of American carrier aviation. Throughout the final years of the Cold War, it conducted fleet defense, escort, reconnaissance, and strike missions from aircraft carriers deployed around the world. The F/A-18 later proved its versatility in combat during Operation Desert Storm, where it became the first aircraft to score an air-to-air victory and conduct bombing missions on the same day. It has since served extensively in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and numerous other military operations, earning a reputation for reliability, survivability, and combat effectiveness.

The Hornet has also been widely exported and remains in service with several allied air forces around the world. Its success led directly to the development of the larger and more capable F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which continues to serve as the primary strike fighter of the U.S. Navy. With its outstanding adaptability, proven combat record, and decades of frontline service, the F/A-18 Hornet stands as one of the most important multirole fighter aircraft ever developed.

What’s Included:

• 12 1.5” square counter images
• 24 1” square counter images
• 35 .75” square counter images
• 40 .625” square counter images
• Numbered Images to assist with game organization and tracking
• Printable PDF format for personal gaming use

Each image size is contained on a ½ sheet.

• Enables users to save paper and print 2 types of aircraft on the same page.
• Print one set of aircraft images then reverse the page in the printer and print a second type of your choice on the same page.