Bellwood in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

F/A-18 Hornet

circa November 2025

1. F/A-18 Hornet Marker

Inscription.

F/A-18 Hornet. .

General Characteristics , Service: Navy and Marine Corps , Primary function: multi-role attack and fighter aircraft. , Contractor: Prime, McDonnell Douglas; major subcontractor, Northrop. , Date deployed: November 1978. Operational - October 1983 (A/B models); September 1987 (C/D models). , Cost: $29 million. , Propulsion: Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines. 17,700 pounds static thrust per engine. , Length: 56 feet. , Height: 15 feet 4 inches. , Wingspan: 40 feet 5 inches. , Weight: Maximum takeoff gross weight, 51,900 pounds. , Airspeed: Mach 1.7 , Ceiling: more than 50,000 feet. , Range: 1,252 miles , Crew: A, C and E models, one; B, D and F models, two , Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick Missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon; Joint Direct Attack Munition; various general purpose bombs, mines and rockets.

, The F/A-18 is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation's first strike fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities., The newest model, Super Hornet, is highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike. Compared to the original F/A-18 A through D models, Super Hornet has longer range, an aerial refueling capability, increased survivability/lethality and improved carrier suitability., The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities and versatility during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same mission, and breaking all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability., Hornets taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, recovering successfully, being repaired quickly, and flying again the next day proved the aircraft's survivability. The F/A-18A and C are single seat aircraft. The F/A-18B and D are dual-seaters. The B model is used primarily for training, while the D model is the current Navy aircraft for attack, tactical air control, forward air control and reconnaissance squadrons. The newest models, the E and F were rolled out at McDonnell Douglas Sept. 17, 1995. The E is a single seat while the F is a two-seater., The first operational cruise of Super Hornet, F/A-18 E, was with VFA-115 onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on July 24, 2002, and saw initial combat action on Nov. 6, 2002, when they participated in a strike on hostile targets in the "no-fly" zone in Iraq., This aircraft arrived in Richmond in 2005 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

General Characteristics
Service: Navy and Marine Corps
Primary function: multi-role attack and fighter aircraft.
Contractor: Prime, McDonnell Douglas; major subcontractor, Northrop.
Date deployed: November 1978. Operational - October 1983 (A/B models); September 1987 (C/D models).
Cost: $29 million.
Propulsion: Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines. 17,700 pounds static thrust per engine.
Length: 56 feet.
Height: 15 feet 4 inches.
Wingspan: 40 feet 5 inches.
Weight: Maximum takeoff gross weight, 51,900 pounds.
Airspeed: Mach 1.7
Ceiling: more than 50,000 feet.
Range: 1,252 miles
Crew: A, C and E models, one; B, D and F models, two
Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick Missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon; Joint Direct Attack Munition; various general purpose bombs, mines and rockets.

The F/A-18 is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation's first strike fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support

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without compromising its fighter capabilities.

The newest model, Super Hornet, is highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike. Compared to the original F/A-18 A through D models, Super Hornet has longer range, an aerial refueling capability, increased survivability/lethality and improved carrier suitability.

The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities and versatility during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same mission, and breaking all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability.

Hornets taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, recovering successfully, being repaired quickly, and flying again the next day proved the aircraft's survivability. The F/A-18A and C are single seat aircraft. The F/A-18B and D are dual-seaters. The B model is used primarily for training, while the D model is the current Navy aircraft for attack, tactical air control, forward air

F/A-18 Hornet Marker & Display Aircraft image. Click for full size.

circa November 2025

2. F/A-18 Hornet Marker & Display Aircraft

control and reconnaissance squadrons. The newest models, the E and F were rolled out at McDonnell Douglas Sept. 17, 1995. The E is a single seat while the F is a two-seater.

The first operational cruise of Super Hornet, F/A-18 E, was with VFA-115 onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on July 24, 2002, and saw initial combat action on Nov. 6, 2002, when they participated in a strike on hostile targets in the "no-fly" zone in Iraq.

This aircraft arrived in Richmond in 2005 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, 2nd Iraq.

Location. 37° 24.828′ N, 77° 26.187′ W. Marker is in Bellwood, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It is on U.S. 1 0.1 miles south of L Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on post at Defense Supply Center Richmond and is not accessible to civilians without sponsored access or authorized escort. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6090 Strathmore Rd, Richmond VA 23237, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Bellwood Elk Herd (about 300 feet away); F-15 Eagle (about 400 feet away); F-14A Tomcat (about 400 feet away); Here Stood Quarters 1, Building 25 (about 600 feet away); The Gregory Burial Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); AH-1 Cobra (approx. 0.2 miles away); UH-1 Iroquois (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bellwood Elk (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellwood.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Bellwood Elk Herd (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2025. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2025. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.