MSFS McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

Expert Overview

This F/A-18 Hornet mod brings the classic FSX model to Microsoft Flight Simulator with remarkably enhanced visuals and carefully reworked details, maintaining smooth performance throughout. Created by experienced developer Cayden Nguyen, the aircraft features fully upscaled textures to 8K, resulting in sharper repaints like the iconic Blue Angels and USMC liveries. Although many of the cockpit elements are not currently interactive, you can still appreciate its impressively detailed external model and enjoy the nostalgic appeal of this renowned jet.

From my own in-sim testing, the Hornet adds a thrilling fast-jet dimension to MSFS, even with its partial functionality. The gear automatically retracts in certain spawns and the engines can take a bit longer to fire up, but these quirks don't detract from the overall excitement. It’s a timeless favorite that has been thoughtfully upgraded, and while not a study-level aircraft, it offers an exhilarating supersonic experience for virtual pilots seeking a military jet fix in the new simulator environment.

This mod was installed, tested and reviewed by Adam McEnroe for Fly Away Simulation. Adam is an FS mod expert. Read his bio here.

A fun pack produced by developer Cayden Nguyen bringing the FSX/Acceleration model and included repaints to Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 release as a port-over.  While a port-over, the developer has ensured that this pack performs in exceptional detail in the new sim with upscaled/upgraded textures for repaints and much more.

?The developer has announced that all of the textures have been upscaled to 8K to be more fluid and compatible with the new sim release.  Also, the legacy model has been converted and also modified - it's not a simple conversation (that anyone can do).

Repaints included;

• Blue Angels
• USMC

All of the textures based on the FSX model have been upscaled and recreated in 8K format compatible with the new MSFS specs.

The developer notes;

This is not a perfect study level aircraft as of right now there are no clickable switches, most panels aren't working, the gear is up by default when you spawn at a gate or ramp and when you spawn on a runway and, the engines take about 1-2 minutes to start up.

Installation

Simply download the F/A-18 Hornet zip file and extract both the "FA-18_Hornet" and, "legacy-vcockpits-instruments" into your MSFS Community Folder.

Additional notes from the developer;

The FSX F/A-18 Hornet was converted using MSFS Legacy Importer by Alex Marko. https://www.nexusmods.com/microsoftflightsimulator/mods/117

Microsoft Flight Simulator © Microsoft Corporation. F/A-18 Hornet was created under Microsoft's "Game Content Usage Rules" using assets from Microsoft Flight Simulator X Acceleration Expansion Package, and it is not endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft. https://www.xbox.com/en-us/developers/rules

Update (Sim Update 5)

This mod has not been tested (and may not work in Sim Update 5 of MSFS).  Please test and report back in the comments sections below.  Thank you for your comments.  If compatibility is not found, we will await an update from the developer but you will still be able to download this mod and make it usable in previous (non-updated) versions of MSFS.

Developer: Cayden Nguyen (Arkid77)