The McDonnell Douglas F/A18 Hornet is one of the cornerstones in the US Navy fleets. Designed to combine an effective aerial platform for both fleet defense and anti ground target work.
Powered with twin General Electric turbofans the aircraft has a performance in excess of mach 1.8 and can operate at altitudes above 50,000 ft.
First prototype flight of the Hornet was in November 1978, during the following year the aircraft underwent it's carrier trials. Operational status for the aircraft was reached in the later half of 1983.