F-18 ID help?

[Bluedharma]

Greetings everyone!

I need a little help finding the "Tail Number" for this aircraft.




I have it as an unknown right now because I am not sure how to create the correct profile for it on airport-data.com

F-18s are hard for me because I am not sure where to look for the correct ID.
On F-16s and others.. it is much easier.
86-0358
The year and the number are right there.

I have looked at several sites and I can not even locate the info on this.
http://www.globemaster.de/tailcodes.html

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html
Can anyone help me to correctly ID this and create a proper profile?

Best Regards,
_________________
Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographers/Bluedharma;1045/
bluedharmaairportdata@gmail.com

[Glenn E. Chatfield]

The ID on Navy and Marine birds is usually on the side of the tail under the horizontal stabilizer. In these photos, the numbers are not visible. The number on the nose is usuall the aircraft number in a squadron or something; at least that's what I've been able to deduce. It usually has no bearing on the BuNo. Sometimes the last four of the BuNo will be seen on the vertical fin, but I haven't seen that on fighters.

Glenn

[Bluedharma]

Glenn,
Thank you for your help! I really am lost when it comes to correctly getting the ID on these aircraft ( f-18 ).
This was the only shot I have that has a possible number.

I think it is 16373...
or 15343?
but it is hard to tell.

I looked on the page...
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/thirdseries22.html
for 16373****
Lots of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C but I can not find any VFA-204...

and this site says...
http://www.scramble.nl/mil/show/showreports/neworl99.htm
F/A-18A VFA-204:
162863/AF-406

Strange that I can't find the number.

Anyway... thank you for your help!

Best Regards,
_________________
Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographers/Bluedharma;1045/
bluedharmaairportdata@gmail.com

[Bluedharma]

Glenn,
Your answer was perfect.
After a search (and a few different number combos..) I was able to find it.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet
163113 507/A419
AF-406 assigned to VFA-204 - The River Rattlers.

Thanks again!

Best Regards,
_________________
Live the Good Life
Bluedharma
http://flickr.com/photos/bluedharma/
http://www.airport-data.com/photographers/Bluedharma;1045/
bluedharmaairportdata@gmail.com

[Glenn E. Chatfield]

It looks like maybe 163113, which is in the block for F/A-18s. While older BuNo will have fewer numbers, all machines in the past 50 years have 6 digits. That should give you something to search with! (I gotta get back to work - I'm on a break!)

Glenn

[Glenn E. Chatfield]

Hey, I did a quick google before going back to work - I found your plane. It is indeed 163113
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-F-A-18A/1310437

Glenn