Astra in Quinte West in Hastings County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

CF-188 Hornet

McDonnell Douglas

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 12, 2025

1. CF-188 Hornet Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The McDonnell Douglas F18 Hornet (RCAF designation CF-188) was built in St. Lo[u]is, Missouri. In 1980, the Canadian Armed Forces purchased 40 dual-seat and 98 single-seat F-18 Hornets from the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. The first ones arrived in 1982, and the last were delivered in September 1988. Canada was the first country to import Hornets for it's air force-they were bought to replace the CF-116 Freedom Fighter, the CF-104 Starfighter and the CF-101 Voodoo. The aircraft are used on missions at home and abroad for air defense, tactical support, aerobatic demonstrations and more. The F-18s are based in Cold Lake, Alberta, and Bagotville, Quebec.

Hornets were designed to attack both aerial and ground targets, and carry bombs and guns as well as missiles. They were created for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy to fly from both land bases and aircraft carriers, and went into production in 1978. Canada's Hornets first saw combat during the Gulf War in 1991, and since then, they have been used in many different operations with NATO. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, they have played a crucial role

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in protecting the skies over Canada and, as part of NORAD, all of North America. The F-18's were also deployed in 2014 as part of Operation Impact to assist the security forces in the Republic of Iraq against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The Hornet at the National Air Force Museum of Canada entered service in 1982. It was used as a training aircraft, and thus carries two pilots, by 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta, which is the home of all F-18 training in Canada. The aircraft was presented to the Museum in 2009, in commem[o]ration of the 100 Years of Flight anniversary.

Specifications
Tail #: 188911 Model: B
Wingspan: 12.31 m (with missiles), Length: 17.07 m,
Height: 4.66 m
Max Weight: 22 387 kg
Max Speed: Mach 1.8 (2 200 km/h at sea level)
Crew: 2 pilots
Role: fighter, trainer
In service: since 1982

Caractéristiques
N° d'immatriculation: 188911 Modèle: 8
Envergure: 12,31 m (avec missiles),
Longueur: 17,07 m, Hauteur: 4,66 m
Masse maximale: 22 387 kg
Vitesse maximale Mach 1.8 (2 200 km/h
au niveau de la mer Équipage: 2 plotes
Rôle: chasseur, entraînement
En service: depuis 1982

Erected by National

CF-188 Hornet and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 12, 2025

2. CF-188 Hornet and Marker

Air Force Museum of Canada.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, 2nd Iraq • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1982.

Location. 44° 6.847′ N, 77° 33.011′ W. Marker is in Quinte West, Ontario, in Hastings County. It is in Astra. It can be reached from Portage Drive south of Gander Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker and aircraft are in the National Air Force Museum of Canada's Memorial Air Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 220 RCAF Road, Quinte West ON K0K 3V0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario

and specifically in Southeastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 429 Bison Squadron

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(a few steps from this marker); Canadian Fighter Pilots Who Fought in the Battle of Britain (a few steps from this marker); No. 6 RCAF Group (a few steps from this marker); Spitfire (a few steps from this marker); 437 Transport Squadron (a few steps from this marker); F-86 Sabre (within shouting distance of this marker); RCAF Police and Air Force Security Services (within shouting distance of this marker); Fighter Air Crews of World War II and Korea (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quinte West.

More about this marker. Admission required, and the outdoor Air Park is closed during inclement weather.

Also see . . .
1. CF-188 Hornet. (Submitted on May 18, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. National Air Force Museum of Canada. (Submitted on May 18, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.