Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Die-cast Model

McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18C Hornet – 163502/AA410, VFA-81 "Sunliners", USS Saratoga, U.S. Navy, January 17, 1991, “MiG Killer”

1:72 Scale.  Length: 9.25".  Wingspan: 6.25"


Limited production of approximately 800 models

At the beginning of Operation Desert Storm on January 17, 1991 4 F/A-18Cs from USN VFA-81 Sunliners departed USS Saratoga each loaded with 4 Mk 84 2000-lb bombs. Their mission was 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.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, twin-engine, all-weather fighter and attack aircraft flown by the US Navy, US Marine Corps and other allied nations. The F/A-18 was first flown on November 18, 1978 with the first production flight taking place on April 12, 1980. The first 380 F/A-18s were the A version and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat while B and D variants are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases and have the capability of in-flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.


Hobby Master is a manufacturer of high quality, pre-assembled, diecast display models. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft or vehicle. They are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of an F/A-18 Hornet features: