Here is yet another sheet for the ubiquitous F-18A Hornet. This particular sheet covers several units that did not exist until the F-18A came into service. While some of the initial squadrons were those that had been flying the A-7E (or in the case of the Marines; the F-4 Phantom or A-6 Intruder), a number of brand new units were established to fly the new aircraft. This was during a rather large build-up for the US Navy as they were trying very hard to reach a 600 ship fleet and have 15 active air wings.

Needless to say, this goal was not quite met, though they did get awful close. At least one or perhaps two air wings were established but soon disestablished before they were able to make a deployment. I'm not sure how many air wings the Navy now has, but I'd be surprised if it is over 11 or 12.

Anyway, there were at least four new fleet hornet squadrons established, two of them are on this sheet. All aircraft are a very uncolorful combination of greys and so I have scanned the sheet in greyscale. That accounts for the grey background.

The first of these squadrons is VFA-136. It first deployed on the USS Coral Sea and had a nice hawk design on the tail.

The next is VFA-137, also from the USS Coral Sea. This has a stylized eagle on the tail. Many have called this design the 'butt cheeks' marking for obvious reasons. One of these two units may have been disestabished during the great drawdown following the Gulf War.

The third squadron is the attack training squadron that was as NAS Fallon in Nevada. It was unimaginatively called STRIKE. This squadron is now gone, having been combined with Top Gun as NSAWC, also at Fallon.

If you are doing F-18s in all the units they were assigned to, this sheet is one you need to have.

Review copy courtesy of  me and my wallet

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