Lancaster in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
F/A-18 Hornet
NASA Tail Number 842
Photographed By Denise Boose, February 22, 2012
1. F/A-18 Marker
Inscription.
F/A-18 Hornet. NASA Tail Number 842. This F/A-18 Hornet (bureau Number 161214) is a pre-production A-Model airplane whose first prototype rolled out of the McDonnell Douglas Plant on September 13, 1978. The Carrier-based Navel strike fighter did not become operational for several years after that. Derived from the Northrop YF-17, the Hornet was developed and produced jointly by Northrop and McDonnell Douglas. The particular F-18 served initially as a test aircraft for the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River, Maryland, before coming to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (then named the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility) in the fall of 1990. From then until 1997 when it was placed in its present location as a permanent loan to the City of Lancaster, it completed 513 flights as a chase and general support aircraft. As such it provided a second set of eyes to pilots flying research flights in such aircraft as the X-29 forward-swept wing advanced technology demonstrator; the SR-71; the oldest B-52 still flying; and the X-31. It was used as a chase plane in other important projects - the validation of the space shuttle drag-chute deployment system, test with two F-16XL aircraft investigating and helping achieve laminar flow on wing surfaces, and test with the F-18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle. Thus, the F-18 842 played a part through its initial Navy tests in the final development of the production models of important fighter aircraft in the U.S. arsenal. Then through its support role at Dryden, it contributed to significant aeronautical research in support of American aviation.
This F/A-18 Hornet (bureau Number 161214) is a pre-production A-Model airplane whose first prototype rolled out of the McDonnell Douglas Plant on September 13, 1978. The Carrier-based Navel strike fighter did not become operational for several years after that. Derived from the Northrop YF-17, the Hornet was developed and produced jointly by Northrop and McDonnell Douglas. The particular F-18 served initially as a test aircraft for the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River, Maryland, before coming to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (then named the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility) in the fall of 1990. From then until 1997 when it was placed in its present location as a permanent loan to the City of Lancaster, it completed 513 flights as a chase and general support aircraft. As such it provided a second set of eyes to pilots flying research flights in such aircraft as the X-29 forward-swept wing advanced technology demonstrator; the SR-71; the oldest B-52 still flying; and the X-31. It was used as a chase plane in other important projects - the validation of the space shuttle drag-chute deployment system, test with two F-16XL aircraft investigating and helping achieve laminar flow on wing surfaces, and test with the F-18 High Angle of Attack Research Vehicle. Thus, the F-18 842 played a part through its initial Navy tests in the final
Click or scan to see this page online
development of the production models of important fighter aircraft in the U.S. arsenal. Then through its support role at Dryden, it contributed to significant aeronautical research in support of American aviation.
Erected by City of Lancaster, and Clear Channel Stadium.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.
Location. 34° 42.136′ N, 118° 10.419′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is at the intersection of Valley Central Way and Avenue I, on the left when traveling south on Valley Central Way. At the baseball stadium. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45116 Valley Central Way, Lancaster CA 93536, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker was removed during remodeling and has not been replaced.
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 5, 2023
7. F/A-18 Hornet
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 5, 2023
8. Lancaster Municipal Stadium - 1996
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 5, 2023
9. Hall of Fame
One of many plaques from the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, with a photo of the original F/A-18 display.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,032 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 22, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 10, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.