NSAWC F/A-18B Hornet walk around

cockpit


tail


USN Fighter Weapons School insignia. "TOP GUN" was folded into NSAWC two years previous to this image being taken, along with the Naval Strike Warfare Center "Strike U" and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School "TOP DOME".




main gear


main gear - rear view

Bibliography:

Alan Warnes "On the Nimitz" Air Forces Monthly July 2003. One photo of a VFA-97 FA-18A still in NSAWC camouflage.


Scale Model Kits & Aftermarket:

Fightertown Decals: 1/48 FTD48009 F/A-18 Hornets NSAWC & Top Gun Adversaries

Strike: Beyond Top Gun: U.S. Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center

The 1/48th scale Hasegawa FA-18B kit finished as an all-black Top Gun bird.

F/A-18C Hornet VFA-106 Gladiators

click for larger image

VFA-106, homebased at NAS Oceana, is the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron for FA-18 Legacy Hornet and FA-18E/F Super Hornet units. The Gladiators also provides tactical demos to east coast air shows.


 F/A-18 C Hornet: VFA-102, VFA-106 (1/48 decals)