i may be wrong, but i think what you have there is a yellowjacket (Paravespula).
a hornet is somewhat larger (although that part is a bit hard to judge from the pics alone) and the darks of its thorax are more brownish than black. also, i doubt you'd want to mess around with a hornet on a glass.. it's quite respect-commanding. :)

very cool pics. insect anatomy is quite amazing! *_*