Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier
    • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Northrop F-17 Cobra / F-18 Hornet
    Latest Model:F/A-18A-17-MC (Lot 8) Hornet
    Last Military Serial:162826 USN
    Construction Number:342/A285
    Compressed ID:McDD F/A-18A-17-MC (Lot 8) sn 16282...
    Latest Owner or Location:Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO    		 If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.
    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F/A-18A-17-MC (Lot 8) by McDonnell Douglas.

    30 September 1985

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 162826.

    By 1986

    Transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), NAS Lemoore, CA.
    Operated with markings: NF-401
    Deployed aboard USS Midway.

    May 1986


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At Sheppard AFB, TX.

    From November 1987 to February 1988

    Deployed to Persian Gulf in Operation Earnest Will.

    From August 1990 to Circa March 1991

    Deployed to Mid-East for combat missions during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

    August 1991

    VFA-195 transferred to forward deployed USS Independence near Hawaii as USS Midway was retired.

    April 1993

    Transferred to Air Development Squadron 5 (VX-5), Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA.
    Operated with markings: XE-05

    June 1993

    Transferred to Air Development Squadron 9 (VX-9), NAS Point Mugu, CA.

    By March 1999

    Transferred to Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, NAS Fallon, NV.
    Operated with markings: 33

    1999

    Transferred to Navy Flight Demonstration Team (Blue Angels), NAS Pensacola, FL.
    Operated with markings: Blue Angels, 5

    20 June 2009


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At Davenport, IA

    By October 2009

    Markings Applied: Blue Angels, 3

    4 December 2009

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Navy.

    December 2009

    Based at National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
    In storage.
    View the Location Dossier

    8 October 2012


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    13 March 2013

    Loaned to Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, TX.
    Arrived by truck on this date.
    View the Location Dossier

    23 July 2015


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Meacham Airport, TX.

    19 August 2017


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At Fort Worth Aviation Museum, TX.

    26 April 2024


    Photographer: John Bennett
    Notes: Taken at Fort Worth - Meacham Field, TX, USA

    29 November 2024


    Photographer: Max Sabin
    Notes: Currently undergoing a repaint.

    29 November 2024


    Photographer: Max Sabin
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Military Aircraft Serials of North America by S. Mitchell and A Eastwood
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Airport Data
    Flicker
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=98154][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Northrop-McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A-17-MC (Lot 8) Hornet, s/n 162826 USN, c/n 342/A285[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=98154
    Copyright 1993-2025 m.AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.