Somewhere over the Mojave desert and near 29 Palms EAF as this Black Knights F/A-18A is supporting another Mojave Viper exercise

No markings on this legacy fiscal year 1984 Hornet. The aircraft was deliverd to the US Navy in 1989. It was assigned to the NSAWC with modex 42 in 2007, was overhauled in 2011, returned as 42 to the NSAWC that became NAWDC in 2015. The Hornet was moved to VFA-204 in a grey/grey adversary scheme in 2016. Stored with the 309th AMARG since 30 May 2018.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWDC) was just renamed from Naval Strike and Air Warfare Centre (NSAWC) and the centres aircraft were carrying a mix of designations, this 164033 was already carrying the new abbrivation of the tail, but F/A-18F 165805/104 on the right hand side was not re-abrrivated :-) yet.

This 1976 YF-18A is the 6th McDonnell Douglas built single seat prototype and was delivered to the US Navy on 31 Jan'80 with code 6 to the Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River (MD). It served the NATC up to 22 Oct'84 when it was transferred to NASA. Initially it carried its BuNo and "NASA 840", in 1985 it received registration N840NA. The Hornet was used from 1987-1996 as a High Alpha Research Vehicle with thrust-vectoring vanes, research flight control system and forward fuselage strakes. Since 2003 it is preserved at the Virginia Air & Space, Hampton (VA). Here pictured at Dryden FRC.

Stored at the flightline of NAS Fallon

Picture was taken from a USAF KC-135 over Poland

At the time this picture was taken 3 Sqn was already disbanded, the Hornet belonged to 77 Sqn.