1/48 F/A-18A+/B/CF-188 Hornet – Royal Canadian, Royal Australian & Spanish AF

Description

This is an injection-plastic jet aircraft model kit.

From the manufacturer:

The F/A-18 is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multi-role fighter jet designed to dogfight and attack ground targets.

Canada was the first export customer for the Hornet, replacing the CF-104 Starfighter, the CF-101 Voodoo and the CF-116 Freedom Fighter. The Canadian Forces Air Command ordered 98 A models (CF-188A/CF-18A) and 40 B models (CF-188B/CF-18B). The original CF-18 as delivered is largely identical to the F/A-18A and B models.

In 1991, Canada committed 26 CF-18s to the Gulf War, based in Qatar. These aircraft primarily provided Combat Air Patrol duties, and later to perform air strikes on Iraqi ground targets. In 1999, 18 CF-18s were deployed to Aviano AB, Italy, where they participated in both the air-to-ground and air-to-air roles in the former Yugoslavia.

The Royal Australian Air Force purchased 57 F/A-18A fighters and 18 F/A-18B two-seat trainers to replace its Mirage IIIOs. Original differences between the Australian and U.S. Navy’s standard F/A-18 were the removed nose wheel tie bar for catapult, addition of a high-frequency radio, an Australian fatigue data analysis system, an improved video and voice recorder, and the use of ILS/VOR.

F/A-18 deliveries to the RAAF began in 1984; Australia deployed 4 aircraft to Diego Garcia, in an air defense role, during coalition operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. In 2003, 75 Squadron deployed 14 F/1-18s to Qatar as part of Operation Falconer.

The Spanish Air Force ordered 60 EF-18A models and 12 EG-18B model Hornets. Delivery of the Spanish version started in 1985. These fighters were upgraded to F-18A+/B+ standard, close to F/A-18C-D.

Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornets have flown Ground Attack, SEAD, combat air patrol (CAP) combat missions in Bosnia and Kosovo, under NATO command, in Aviano detachment.

Model features:

• Positional flaps and slat
• Extra outer wing for fold wing configuration
• Highly detailed cockpit
• Full intake
• CF-188 landing gear
• New engraving technology for crisp panel lines and laser engraving for super detail
• Super-detailed MLG and NLG bay

Weapons include:

• Fuel tank
• CVER
• AIM-9X, AIM-120B/C, GBU-12, CGU-20
• AAQ-13/14, AAQ-28/Sniper

Decals included for 3 Canadian versions, 2 Spanish versions and 3 Australian versions.