{"product_id":"hobby-master-f18d-ha3543","title":"Hobby Master HA3543 1:72 F\/A-18D \"Bengals\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eHobby Master HA3543 1:72 \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMcDonnell Douglas F\/A-18D Hornet\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eBuNo.164699, VMFA(AW)-224 \"Bengals\", 2009.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F\/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003enight fighter and attack aircraft. The F\/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F\/A-18As and in September 1987 production \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eswitched to the F\/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem- \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eseats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVMF-224 was commissioned on May 1 1942 flying Grumman F4F Wildcats. In 1951 the Bengals \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereceived their first jet, the F2H-2 Banshee. In 1952 the F2H-2 was replaced by the F9F-5 Panther \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand VMF-224 became VMA-224. July 1956 brought the A4D-1 Skyhawk and in 1965 they went to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVietnam. 1966 introduced the A-6A Intruder and the unit became VMA (AW)-224. March 1993 the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esquadron became VMFA(AW)-224 and received the F\/A-18D Hornet. In January 2009 the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBengals were based at Iwakuni and the in July returned to MCAS Beaufort.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobby Master","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43007460212963,"sku":"8744","price":179.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0632\/5000\/6243\/products\/hobby-master-ha3543-172-fa-18d-bengals-573401.jpg?v=1738274898","url":"https:\/\/www.mtsaviationmodels.com\/products\/hobby-master-f18d-ha3543","provider":"MTS Aviation Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}