F/A-18 "Classic" Stars & Stripes Structured Twill Cap

The F/A-18 Hornet is a multirole fighter and attack aircraft developed for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, entering service in 1983. Designed as a carrier-capable, all-weather strike fighter, it combined air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities in a single airframe. The Hornet was a product of the 1970s Lightweight Fighter program and drew heavily from Northrop’s YF-17 design. Powered by twin engines and equipped with fly-by-wire controls, the F/A-18 offered high manoeuvrability, reliability, and ease of maintenance. It served in multiple conflicts including Operation Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Variants include the single-seat F/A-18A and C and the two-seat B and D models. The Hornet replaced the A-7 Corsair II and the F-4 Phantom II in Navy service. Over 1,480 Hornets were built before production shifted to the larger F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. While retired from U.S. Navy carrier service, legacy Hornets still serve with the U.S. Marine Corps and several allied nations. Why are the stripes vertical? Great question - and you're absolutely right that the U.S. flag is usually displayed with horizontal stripes. But in this design, we’ve reimagined the flag as an artistic tribute rather than a literal representation. We chose to depict the flag as if it were hanging vertically from above, similar to how it might appear draped at a hangar entrance or suspended during a ceremony. This vertical orientation allows the iconic silhouette of the aircraft to really shine -with the red and white stripes running the length of the fuselage, it creates a bold, centred look while still honouring the flag’s spirit and symbolism.