Developed by McDonnell Douglas in the 1970s, the aircraft was intended to replace the retiring F-4 Phantoms of the US Marine Corps.
The brief for the new Marine Corps aircraft was clear: performance + survivability and cost.
McDonnell, with a history dating back to 1920, created an extremely reliable fighter with perfect wing leading edge shaping.
First flight took place on 18 November 1978.
Compared to its predecessors such as the F-4 Phantom II, A-7 Corsair II and other aircraft of the time, the Hornet had modern shapes still in use today.
The F-18 fighter is made of 21% titanium alloy, 31% aluminum alloy and 19% carbon composite.
The designers used large parts as much as possible, reducing the number of parts from 14,100 to 8,100.
The C version is fitted with newer avionics for night missions.
The reduction in radar reflectivity from 400 m2 for the F-14 to 1.02 m2 makes the aircraft difficult to see for radar.
Overstress during fly-by-wire is limited to +7/-1.7G, but the airframe can sustain up to an incredible +12/-4.9G.
Aero Vodochody, a Czech company, is also involved in the development and production of the Super Hornet.
A little over 1,400 have been produced in various versions so far.
If you want to buy one, you have to prepare about 72 000 000 €.
Technical parameters:
span 12.3 m, length 17.1 m, height 4.7 m
weight 11 200 kg (empty)
maximum take-off weight 23 400 kg
power unit 2 x General Electric F404-GE-402 turbojet engines with afterburner with a thrust of 2x 79.2 kN
maximum speed 1,8M (1 915 km/h)
maximum flight level 15 000 m
climb rate 254 m/s
range 2,246 km (3,035 km with auxiliary tank)
armament 6 barrel M61A1 Galting 20mm calibre rotary cannon and 6 slings for air-to-air, air-to-surface and smart bombs
