The first sting, 41 years ago

U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archive 428-GX-K-118818. Photographed by PH2 James C. Brown

Here we see a parked YF-17A/F-18 Prototype aircraft aboard Naval Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, California. October 28, 1977

Offical caption: “McDonnell Douglas Corporation, with Northrop as principal subcontractor, is building the F-18 Hornet for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. When the F-18 joins the fleet, it will replace both the F-4 Phantom II for fighter escort and the A-7 Corsair II in light attack missions.”

428-GX-K-118815

Since being adopted, some 1,480 ‎F/A-18A/B/C/Ds were built for the U.S., Switzerland, Finland, Canada, Australia, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Spain with production ending in August 2000. The line has been replaced by the larger and more sophisticated E/F series.

The U.S. Navy is in the process of retiring these early model Hornets, having completed their last carrier deployment in March. Reportedly, Allied operators are…