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Wasn't the A/F-18 almost dropped during development because of its lack of legs? And isn't the F-18 a development of the F-17 from the mid-70's? It's impossible to kill these lousy aircraft programs. Don't start me on the Osprey.

And not only that--but I think F-18's are pretty homely, especially compared to an F-14.

Northrup developed the F/17 in the 1970's. It was the prototype for the F/18. The original is in an naval air museum (or was in the mid 1980s). That was in Pensacola, Florida.

There can be a lot of politics around military procurement.

The Navy did NOT want a single-engine fighter (the F-16), based on their experience in Vietnam. Twin-engine aircraft made it home with engine damage--while their single-engine brethren with the same damage went down.

Northrup developed the F/17 in the 1970's. It was the prototype for the F/18.

Truth be known, the YF-17 lost a competitive flyoff to the F-16 as the lightweight fighter compliment to the F-15. The Air Force rated it second best 30 years ago