McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet: books - history

Boeing F/A-18 A/B & C/D Hornet: Flying with air forces around the world (Duke Hawkins)

This beautiful Duke Hawkins photo book extensively presents the Boeing F/A-18 A/B and C/D Hornet, including the ATAR version. These aircraft are in service with the US Navy, US Marines Corps as well as the air forces of Spain, Finland, Canada, Switzerland, Malaysia and other countries.
The book contains not only action photos, but also many "walkaround" photos that show details of the aircraft from different angles. Chapters on cockpit (single-seater and two-seater), fuselage, armament and maintenance work.

The series "Aircraft in Detail" arose from the collaboration between pilots, aircraft technicians and modellers. This volume (No. 8) on the Boeing F/A-18 A/B & C/D Hornet is illustrated with over 400 very high quality color photographs, most of which have never been published before.

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet & EA-18G Growler - A Developmental and Operational History

The Boeing F/A-18E/F has its roots in the late-1980s Hornet 2000 study, which itself evaluated ways to enhance the range, payload, and bring-back capability of the existing F/A-18 Hornet. Through a series of trade-offs imposed by largely limited defense funds, what emerged was a versatile, affordable strike fighter aircraft that has served the Navy well since its fleet introduction in 2002.
The Growler has a similar history. Itself an offshoot of the Super Hornet program, the EA-18G brought many of the Super Hornet's attributes - speed, maneuverability, self-defense capability, and advanced systems - into the electronic attack community and is now posed to assume all such missions from the venerable EA-6B Prowler within the next few years.

This book draws on interviews with many of the key players in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G program and on many press reports of the day to tell the story of how these aircraft were designed, developed, and deployed.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Manual (1978 onwards) - An insight into the design, construction and operation (Haynes Aircraft Manual)

Supported by more than 270 photographs and technical illustrations, the Haynes McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Manual lifts the panels on the most sophisticated fleet defender of all time to review its design, construction and operation, including revealing personal insights by US Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of flying and maintaining the mighty Hornet/Super Hornet.

The US-designed and built McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet carrier-borne, multi-role fighter is one of the most important Fourth Generation fighters in the world. Its twin-engine, twin-tails (canted outwards) and leading edge root extensions make it one of the most recognisable fighters in operation. The latest version is the enlarged Super Hornet.

Author Steve Davies lifts the panels on this 'king' of the US Navy's Fleet Defenders to review its design, construction and operation, including detailed personal insights by USN personnel of flying and maintaining the mighty Hornet/Super Hornet.

Click here to know more about the Haynes Aircraft Manuals

McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - A Photo Chronicle

The McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is presented here showing its development, production and use by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and by various foreign air forces. Use by the Blue Angels, and the very latest model updates are included.

The F/A-18 Hornet Story

The F/A-18 evolved from Northrop's YF-17 in the late 1970s. Production aircraft reached the Navy in May 1980 and the Marine Corps two years later. More than 800 examples would eventually be built for US service, with a further 500 aircraft sold to seven export customers.
Earning its battle spurs in April 1986 flying strike missions against Libya, the Hornet would subsequently participate in Operation Desert Storm and the various 'policing' operations in Iraq and the Balkans that followed. The 'legacy' Hornet is still very much in frontline use with the US Navy and Marine Corps today.
Tony Holmes, author of "The F-14 Tomcat Story", has once again collected the most spectacular images to complement the history of this star of carrier-based naval aviation.

Legacy Hornets : Boeing's F/A-18 A-D Hornets of the USN and USMC (Legends of Warfare)

This book is a concise, illustrated history of the US Navy and Marine Corps' most versatile jet strike fighter, the Boeing F/A-18 A-D Legacy Hornet. Presenting an historical perspective of the Legacy Hornet from its origins through today's use in the fleet, this edition explores the aircraft's various model upgrades and variants.

The F/A-18 began as a less expensive complement to the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and Grumman A-6 Intruder, and was a replacement for the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II and LTV A-7 Corsair II.
The Hornet evolved into a capable multi-mission strike fighter, performing fighter, suppression of enemy air defense, and light attack missions.
This volume features a number of high-quality images that highlight the aircraft throughout its Navy and Marine Corps career.

Boeing Hornet Squadrons : The Legacy Series

The Boeing Hornet is a twin-engined multi-role supersonic jet fighter of the third generation. Derived from the Northrop YF-17 lightweight fighter concept, its twin-engine reliability, option to carry greater payloads and rugged ability to operate from bare base conditions as well as aircraft carriers made it an ideal choice for both US Navy and US Marine Corps looking to replace their second-generation fighter and attack types.
Although the design has been around for over forty years, upgrades have kept the aircraft at the forefront of military thinking.

This fascinating pictorial history explores the early derivatives of the fighter and its many users. It has been involved in all recent conflicts as the United States seeks to project power and will continue to do so for many years to come.

US Navy Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Part 1) (Osprey)

The F/A-18 Hornet in its various guises was the 'universal soldier' of OIF, with around 250 seeing combat. Flown by various squadrons and groups, the Hornet attacked a range of targets including tanks of the various Iraqi Republican Guard units and government buildings housing elements of the Baath party regime.
Apart from its ability to drop precision munitions such as laser-guided bombs, the Hornet was also capable of launching anti-radar missiles and acting as an aerial tanker and reconnaissance platform for other strike types.

This book explores the Hornet's versatility which has enhanced its reputation as one of the world's leading strike-fighter aircraft.

Contents: Prelude to War - Shock and Awe - War at Sea - Super Hornet.

US Navy Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Part 2) (Osprey)

This book explores the role of the US Navy Hornet units in the northern Iraqi campaign. These units were the first Navy Reserve unit to be mobilized since the Korean War, and their attacks were launched from carriers off the coast of Turkey. The conflict for these squadrons was very different from the campaign fought in southern Iraq: they worked almost exclusively with clandestine Special Forces teams from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy SEALs, British and Australian SAS and Kurdish guerrillas. First-hand accounts accompany the indispensable role these units had in the battle to liberate Iraq.

Contents: Lead up to Operation Iraqi Freedom - Shock and Awe - War in the North - Reservists to the fore - Appendices - Index.