McDonnell Douglas F/A-18, CF-18, C.15 Hornet and Super Hornet Fine Art Aircraft Prints
The Hornet - aka “Bug” and Super Hornet - aka “Rhino” and “Super Bug” - have been the backbone of the USN and USMC fighter force for more than 20 years and services with 7 additional nations.
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Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Designated CF-188, but called CF-18, and not "officially" called "Hornet," Canada began receiving their jets in the early 1980's and the three squadrons based at CFB Baden-Soellingen in the Black Forest formed the RCAF's main NATO commitment. Tasked with both Offensive and Defensive Counter Air missions, the CF-18's remained in Germany until 1992 when they rotated back to Canada.
The Canadian jets were Production Blocks 8 through 23. 755 is shown during her early days with the 439 Tac F Sqn Tigers in the early RCAF camo scheme before the LEX fence and vertical stabilizer modifications were applied. She is configured with BRU-33 Vertical Ejector Racks on stations 2, 3, 7, and 8 each carrying a pair of high drag MK82 Snakeye GP bombs. For self-defense, she also carries a pair of AIM-7M Sparrow missiles on "Cheek" stations 4 and 6, and AIM-9M's on wingtip stations 1 and 9. Her configuration is rounded out by a full gun, chaff and flare expendables, and a centerline external fuel tank.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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“Fist of the Fleet,” VFA 25, was embarked in USS Independence which moved into the Gulf of Oman after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. For three months, the Fist Hornets supported the allied force build up by flying Combat Air Patrol missions.
BuNo 163709, painted in her bright CAG colors and carrying MODEX NK400 is depicted awaiting her pilot for a typical CAP sortie carrying 3 x AIM-7M Sparrow III’s, 2 x AIM-9M Sidewinders, a AN/AAS38 Nitehawk Targeting Pod, and a “triple bubble” load of three 330 gallon External Tanks.
This print can be customized. Complete the F-18A/B/C/D worksheet if you are interested in a personalized version.
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Adopting the name “Crusaders” when they became the Corp’s first F-8 squadron in 1957, VMFA 122 transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1986 and to the depicted F/A-18C in 2001. Since then, they have switched to the F-35B and changed nick names… twice.
BuNo 164264 is shown with the full color DC 01 tail as the CO’s jet in 1986. She is configured for a live fire training sortie with a pair of GBU-38 JDAM’s on BRU-57 “smart racks,” a CATM-9M missile, and a pair of external wing tanks.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Dragon 306, BuNo 164025, is a late production Lot 13 “Night Attack” jet with an updated NVG compatible cockpit. She is depicted aboard USS Kitty Hawk ready for a strike sortie carrying a pair of AGM-84E SLAM missiles which evolved from the proven Harpoon anti-ship missile. She additionally carries an AIM-7M Sparrow and a pair of AIM-9M Sidewinders missiles for self defense, an AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR, and a pair of 330 gallon wing tanks.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Officially designated C.15, sometimes known as EF-18’s, Spain purchased 72 Hornets in late 1982; they subsequently purchased 24 “used” USN Hornets for a total of 96 jets.
12-50 is from ALA 12 based at Torrejon AB and is painted in a special paint scheme celebrating the Wing’s 50th anniversary and featuring the black cat which is the Wing’s emblem.
She is configured for a SEAD/DEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) mission carrying an AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and a pair of GBU-12 laser guided bombs. For self-protection, she also carries a pair of AIM-9M missiles and a single AIM-7M, a full ammunition drum for the 20mm cannon, and chaff and flare expendables. Completing the load out is an AN/AAS-38 targeting pod and a pair of 330 gallon external fuel tanks.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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While assigned to MCAS El Toro, the Black Knights of VMFA 314 became the world’s first operational F/A-18 squadron. Now based a MCAS Miramar, they have flown multiple hornet versions since 1982 and will transition to the F-35C.
BuNo 165188 is shown in the special, and very cool, digital camo scheme the squadron periodically applied to a jet in the unit. She is depicted configured for a Ground Attack training sortie with a centerline bag and pair of BRU-41/A IMER bomb racks each carrying six MK 76 25 pound practice bombs.
This print can be customized. Complete the F-18A/B/C/D worksheet if you are interested in a personalized version.
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Swiss Air Force Hornets are all “F” and no “A” serving as the nation’s premier interceptor. Fliegerstaffel 11 began converted to F/A-18’s in 1999 having previously flown F-5E’s and moved to Meiringer Air Base in 2005. The Tiger’s are members of the NATO Tiger Association despite Switzerland not being a member of NATO.
The Swiss jets came off the St Louis production line at same time as the first “Night Attack” Hornets for the US and are similarly configured. The have been upgraded over time including AN/APG-73 upgrades, AN/ALQ-165 upgrades, JHMCS helmet mounted displays, JTIDS, new radios, and AIM-9X and AIM-120C air-to-air missiles.
J-5011 is show proudly wearing her colorful Tiger tail and configured for an air-to-air training mission with a single CATM-9X on Station 1 and an External Fuel Tank on her centerline.
This print can be customized. Complete the F-18A/B/C/D worksheet if you are interested in a personalized version.
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Single Seat Fighter Pilots hold their heads just a bit higher… nobody helps them and they do it all themselves. As a single seat pilot my entire career, I can imagine what a squadron that’s always flown single seat fighters would feel like… the pilots of the World Famous Golden Dragons from VFA-192 can tell you.
Based at NAS Lemoore and assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two, the Golden Dragons first formed in 1945 but in the 1999 they were stationed in NAF Atsugi Japan and cruised with CVW-5 aboard multiple carriers including, in 1999, aboard USS Kitty Hawk in support of OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH.
BuNo 164909 is a Lot 17 Hornet that joined that cruise as NF 300 which was the Golden Dragon’s CAG just complete with a very cool golden dragon on a dark blue tail… in typically gaudy CAG jet fashion.
She is depicted configured for a Combat Air Patrol mission with 4 x AIM-7M’s, 2 x AIM-9M’s, a AN/AAS-38A Targeting Pod, and a pair of external wing tanks in additional to the typical 20mm cannon and chaff/flare buckets.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Flying with the call sign “Ambush,” the Fighting Omars of VFC-12 provide adversary support assets for the USN’s fleet and training squadrons. Operating out of NAS Oceana in Virginia, they are one of the USN’s reserve squadrons.
Previously equipped with the awesome little A-4F, they now fly the FA-18+ and are on the road flying anything from 1-v-1 basic fighter maneuvers all the way up to 4-v-X and specialize in the tactics and weapons employed by the adversaries the operational USN pilots are likely to face should they be required to conduct operations.
03 Red is shown wearing a “winter splinter” paint scheme and ready for a training sortie. She carries a single AIM-9M training missile and a TACTS instrumented maneuvering pod in addition to a single external tank on the centerline store rack.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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“One Zero Zero, Rhino, Ball, 3.5...” the F-18E/F is known as a Rhino rather than a Hornet at the boat which indicates how really different an aircraft it is from the legacy F/A-18A/B/C/D's. Bigger, heavier, carrying a lot more fuel, and with completely different avionics, the Rhino is a major step forward.
AJ 100 is the colorful CAG jet from Strike Fighter Squadron Three One, the Tomcatters, based at NAS Oceana and assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight. Shown in her 75th Anniversary paint scheme from 2010, her Air Wing was assigned to USS George H. W. Bush, CVN-77.
BuNo 166776 is a Lot 28 jet shown ready for an Air-to-Air training sortie carrying a CATM-120C with no fins or canards and a TACTS Pod on the port side and a CATM-9X on the starboard side. She additionally carries a centerline fuel tank and an ATFLIR pod.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Before become the USMC’s first squadron to transition to the F35C, the Black Knights of MVFA-314 traded their F/A-18C’s for F/A-18A++ jet. While superficially a seeming step backwards, the A++ jet featured upgrades that made them in large part the functional equivalent of the “later” jets plus added the AN/APG-79(v)4 AESA radar… which is a significant leap in capability.
The Skipper Bird, 01, is shown with a common AOR configuration of 2 x AGM-65D IR Maverick missiles and 2 c GBU-38 500 lb JDAMs. She additionally carries a single AIM-120C on the starboard cheek station and 2 x AIM-9Xs on the wingtip stations for self defense, a Targeting Pod on the port cheek station, and a centerline external fuel tank.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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AJ 302 is shown aboard USS George H. W. Bush ready for a Close Air Support Mission on the deck of near the end of CVW 8's 2017 cruise in support of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. She is shown loaded with 4 x GBU-38 JDAM 500 lb bombs with proximity fuses, 2 x GBU-54 LJDAM laser 500 lb bombs, a centerline external tank, a AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod, and a self-protection load of 1 x AIM-120C and 2 x AIM-9X's. As always, a full gun and chaff and flares completes the load.
As highlighted by the kill marking on the nose, on 18 June 2017 AJ 302 shot down a Syrian Su-22 that was attacking US troops. The engagement was the first aerial victory for a US Navy jet since the first Gulf War in 1991.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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Officially known as the CF-188M, commonly known as the CF-18M, Canada’s Hornet is very similar to the US version with the notable exception of the ID light on the port side of the nose. As with the US version, the CF-18 has been substantially upgraded and has a new radar, IFF interrogation system, integrated GPS, new radios, new central computer, Link 16, JHMCS, color cockpit displays and night vision system, and new stores management system among others.
The Nighthawks were formed at the start of WW2 and are one of six fighter squadrons active in the RCAF, four of which, including the 409th are based at CFB Cold Lake. In 2014, the Nighthawks deployed to Kuwait to support UN missions in Iraq against ISIL as part of OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.
743 is shown configured for one of those strike missions with an asymmetric load of 2 x GBU-12’s under the right wing, a GBU-12 and external fuel tank under the right wing, a pair of AIM-9M’s on the wing tip rails, a Sniper ATP and a AIM-120 on the fuselage stations, and an external tank on the centerline.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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NF 102 is shown at NAF Atsugi in her bright 60th anniversary paint scheme. She's ready for a LGB training sortie carrying two BRU-41 IMER bomb racks each loaded with two ELGTR rounds that simulate full size Paveway II GBU deliveries. The jet is also carrying a CATM-9X, an AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod, and a centerline external tank.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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The Fighting Checkmates of VFA-211 trace their history to the closing days of WW2. More recent times finds them trading their F-8 Crusaders for F-14 Tomcats following the Vietnam war and continuing with them for nearly 30 years when they converted to the two seat F-18F Super Hornet. In 2020, the Checkmates became the first Super Hornet squadron to convert from two seat “F’s” to single seat F/A-18E’s.
BuNo 168359 is a Block II Super Hornet carrying MODEX 204 from CVW 1. She is shown ready for an air superiority sortie carrying 5 x AIM-120C’s, a pair of AIM-9X’s, and a single centerline external tank.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.
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VMFA 312 “Checkerboards” traces their history to the middle of WW2. Today, they fly a mix of single and two seat Legacy F-18C/D’s and are based at MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina.
The squadron’s motto is “Fight’s On” which is the radio call starting all air-to-air training sorties in the USMC as well as the USN and USAF… that motto is featured prominently down the spine of the unique paint scheme of the CO’s jet… She also features a unique light/dark grey splinter camo scheme. She is depicted ready for an air superiority sortie loaded with 4 x AIM-120C’s on dual launch rails under station 2 and 8 and a pair of AIM-9X-II’s on the wingtips in addition to a single 330 US gallon external tank on the centerline.
Any Fighter Studios print can be customized with different squadron marking, different store configurations, names on the nose or canopy rail. To get yours started, click Personalized Print for more information or click Email with questions.