HORNET 1 

Location: China Lake Museum

This awesome plane is the first off the Boeing production line.

The F/A-18 platform has played a major role at China Lake in weapons integration testing.

The first U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas YF-18A Hornet (BuNo 160775) on display at the McDonnell Douglas plant at St. Louis, Missouri (USA), in October 1978. Picture Source

The first U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas YF-18A Hornet (BuNo 160775) on display at the McDonnell Douglas plant at St. Louis, Missouri (USA), in October 1978. Picture Source

Hornet 1 at China Lake Museum

Hornet 1 at China Lake Museum

A/B Variants

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 more capable radar. A-model Hornets that have been upgraded to the AN/APG-73 are designated F/A-18A+. Source