Hobby Master 1:72 HA3571 F/A-18C Hornet "MIG Killer" 163502/AA410, VFA-81 "Sunliners" |
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Scale: 1:72 |
Length: 9.25" |
Width: 6.25" |
Composition: Diecast |
SKU: HM-HA3571 |
Period: Modern |
**ONLY ONE LEFT! THIS ITEM IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION**
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases.
At the beginning of Operation Desert Storm on January 17, 1991 4 F/A-18Cs from VFA-81 “Sunliners” departed USS Saratoga each loaded with 4 Mk 84 2000-lb bombs. Their mission, bomb Al Walid AB H-3 out of commission. As they approached their target an E-2 notified them of enemy 15 miles away. LCDR Mark “MRT” Fox “AA 401 (BuNo 163508) and Lt. Nick “Mongo” Mongillo AA 410 (BuNo 163502) are credited with engaging 2 MiG-21s and shooting down both aircraft. These were the only USN air-to-air victories. Both aircraft are preserved at Pensacola.
Info: F/A-18C Hornet "MIG Killer" 163502/AA410, VFA-81 "Sunliners", January 1991