No. This F/A-18 Hornet Aviation Gift Set includes a stainless-steel mug, an aircraft-themed magnet, a metal specification tag, a 3D aircraft keychain, and a presentation box. A display aircraft model is not included.
No. This gift set is not intended as a toy. It contains small parts and should be kept away from young children.
Where can I check delivery and return terms before gifting?
Read the shipping policy for processing times, estimated transit times, and shipping charges. Check the returns policy for eligibility, return shipping costs, and the return address before ordering for someone else.
About the real aircraft
Two chapters of carrier aviation
Real-aircraft family history: Hornet and Super Hornet.
The original Hornet and larger Super Hornet share a heritage shaped by carrier operations, cockpit design and everyday maintainability.
Explore the F/A-18 family story
The F/A-18 story begins with the YF-17 prototype and a naval requirement for an aircraft adaptable to carrier operations. McDonnell Douglas and Northrop developed that starting point into the Hornet, which first flew on November 18, 1978. Its fighter-and-attack designation reflected the multiple roles expected of one aircraft.
Inside the cockpit, the Hornet brought a different way of working. A head-up display placed important information in the pilot’s forward view, while key controls were grouped on the throttle and control stick. Maintainability also shaped the design: the radar equipment could slide forward on a track for inspection and repair. These details connect the aircraft’s history to the people who flew and serviced it.
The larger Super Hornet opened a later chapter with its first flight on November 29, 1995. It carried the family forward with a redesigned airframe and fewer parts than its predecessor. The distinction matters when exploring the subject: A through D are Hornets; E and F are Super Hornets, with one and two seats respectively.
Seen together, the two chapters offer a study in adaptation. Their shared name connects decades of development, while their differences reward a collector’s careful eye.
Three details to know
November 18, 1978: first flight of the original F/A-18 Hornet. [1]
November 29, 1995: first flight of the larger F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. [3]
A–D designate Hornets. E and F designate Super Hornets; the E has one seat and the F has two. [2][4]
