Open: Saturday & Sunday: 10:30am to 4:00pm, Wednesday – Friday: 10:30am to 3:00pm.
McDonnell-Douglass F/A-18A “Hornet”
The F/A-18 entered service in 1983 with a Marine fighter/attacker squadron. The aircraft on display (Bureau# 162436) began its service with the Navy on 4 June 1985 as the 183rd F/A-18 built. It served in various locations with its last assignment with Marine fighter attack squadron (VMFA-321) at Naval Air Facility Washington, DC. In late 2003, the aircraft arrived at NAS-JRB Willow Grove and formally stricken from Navy/Marine Corps inventory.
The aircraft markings are from the personal aircraft of then Willow Grove Commanding Officer Capt. Lane Smith, past commanding officer of VFA-203, the Blue Dolphins, out of Atlanta, GA. Although the aircraft was supposed to go to NAS Lakehurst, after negotiations with The National Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida the DVHAA was able to secure the F/A-18A Hornet for permanent display at our museum on December 14, 2014.
This aircraft loan courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
Aircraft Specifications
Bureau #: 162436
Built: 1983
Crew: 1
Passengers: 0
Retired: 2003
Received: Dec 2014
Restored by:
Restored:
Length: 56′
Height: 15′ 4″
Wingspan: 40′ 5″
Weight Empty: 23,050 lbs
Weight Loaded: 51,000 lbs
Powerplant: F404-GE-402 turbofan engines
Thrust: 17,700 lbs per engine
Max Speed: 1,222 mph
Range: 2,000 miles
Manufacturer: McDonnel-Douglas
Armarment: M61A1 Vulcan 6 Cannon
Ordnance: 17,000 lbs
Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Status: On Display
Fairchild-Republic A10 “Thunderbolt” or “Warthog”
McDonnell-Douglas A4 “Skyhawk”
Grumman C-1A “Trader”
McDonnell-Douglass F/A-18A “Hornet”
Chance-Vought F7U-3 “Cutlass”
Republic F-84F “Thunderstreak”
Vought F8U-1 “Crusader”
Grumman F9F-2 “Panther”
North American FJ-4B “Fury”
Fokker D.VIII “Eindecker”
Bell H-13G “Sioux”
Piasecki HUP-2 “Retriever”
Pitcairn PA-8 “Super Mailwing”
Lockheed P-3B “Orion”
Kaman SH-2G “Sea Sprite”
Beechcraft T-34B “Mentor”
Lockheed P-80C / TV-1 “Shooting Star”
Bell UH-1V Iroquois “Huey”
Sikorsky UH-34D “Sea Bat” and “Sea Horse”
Convair YF-2Y “Sea Dart”
QH-50C Drone Anti-Sub Helicopter “D.A.S.H.”
McDonnell Douglas F-4 “Phantom”
The Exhibition
Located in Horsham Pennsylvania, The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum has a unique and historically significant collection of aircraft and artifacts. In addition to the aircraft, helicopters, and jets, our exhibition includes flight helmets, vintage and modern aviation flight gear, engines, air to air missiles, bombs, detailed aircraft models, vintage Martin Baker ejection seats, and flight simulators. Honoring those who have served our Nation, we are privileged to have an extensive collection of military service medals.
Our collection includes aircraft from the early days of flight, The First World War, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, and the ongoing defense of our Nation. Simply put, Wings of Aviation has one of the greatest collections of restored aircraft in the northeast.
Current Exhibit:
Consistently restoring and adding new aircraft to our collection, our exhibit includes the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, and Bell UH-1V “Huey”. Our indoor collection includes aircraft from the early days of flight, helicopters, aircraft from World War I, engines, helmets, Medals of honor, detailed models, flight gear, flight simulators, and more.
While the name Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum has a relatively short history, the beginnings of displaying aircraft at Willow Grove began shortly after World War II. In May 1946, Lieutenant-Commander David Ascher arrived at Naval Air Station Willow Grove… Read More
Located in Horsham Pennsylvania, Wings of Freedom is open year-round Wednesday through Sunday. We are located along Route 611 between Maple Avenue and County Line Road in Horsham, approximately thirty minutes north of Philadelphia. Plan Your Visit
THE MUSEUM | THE EXHIBIT | PLAN YOUR VISIT | HISTORY | LOCATION | MEMBERSHIP | DONATE | ADMISSION & TOURS
1155 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA, 19044
1.215.672.2277
info@wingsoffreedommuseum.org
The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum is open all year, with walk-ins always welcome, guided visits, and tours for large groups. Located in Montgomery County, we are right next door to Bucks, Delco, and Chester Counties, close to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York. With nature, parks, eateries, dining establishments, shopping, and theme parks close to the museum, Wings of Aviation is the perfect destination or ingredient of a family day out.
