Multirole fighter aircraft F/A-18E SUPER HORNET COBI 5805 - Top Gun 1:48

MODEL F/A-18E SUPER HORNET^{TM |} COBI 5805A

The F/A-18 carrier-based fighter model features movable control surfaces, detachable landing gear and an opening cockpit canopy to seat a specially modified half-figure of the pilot “Maverick”. An additional fuel tank and six air-to-air missiles are mounted under the fuselage. The model can stand on its own landing gear or be safely displayed on a stand with a description, which is included in the package. The building set from the Top Gun Maverick collection is produced under license from Paramount Pictures Corporation. 

Did you know:

The aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas in the 1970s was intended to replace the aging F-4 Phantoms in the U.S. Marine Corps. The requirements for a new aircraft were clear: performance, survivability, and cost. With a history dating back to 1920, McDonnell created an exceptionally reliable fighter with perfectly shaped leading edges of the wings. The first flight took place on November 18, 1978. Compared to predecessors such as the F-4 Phantom II, A-7 Corsair II and other aircraft of the time, the Hornet featured modern shapes still used in various forms today. The F-18 fighter is made of 21% titanium alloys, 31% aluminum alloys, and 19% carbon composites. Engineers maximized the use of large parts, reducing the number of components from 14,100 to 8,100 pieces. They also managed to reduce the radar cross-section from the typical 400 m² of the F-14 to just 1.02 m². Although it is not yet stealth technology, the aircraft is still difficult to detect by radar. During fly-by-wire operation, overload is limited to +7/-1.7G, but the airframe can withstand up to an incredible +12/-4.9 G.

The E Super Hornet^TM version is adapted as a carrier-based aircraft for the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The aircraft can carry up to five external fuel tanks and can also serve as a tanker for other aircraft. Although the official name is Super Hornet^TH, the U.S. Navy uses the nickname Rhino. The United States Navy operates a total of 325 F/A-18 aircraft in the E version. The Czech company Aero Vodochody also participates to a small extent in the development and production of Super Hornets. More than 650 units have been produced in several versions so far. If you want to acquire one, be prepared to pay approximately 73 470 000 €. And as the saying goes, if you can afford the monkey, you must also afford the bananas—because one flight hour costs 17 143 €.

Technical specifications:

• wingspan 13.62 m, length 18.38 m, height 4.88 m
• weight 14,552 kg (empty)
• maximum takeoff weight 29,937 kg 
• powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 jet engines with afterburner, thrust 2 × 97.9 kN
• maximum speed 1.8M (2,205 km/h)
• service ceiling 15,240 m
• rate of climb 254 m/s
• range 2,246 km (3,035 km with external tank)
• armament: 6-barrel M61 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon and 6 hardpoints for air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs.
• crew 1

About the movie Top Gun Maverick:

• A loose sequel to the famous film Top Gun starring Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
• Preparation for filming began as early as 2010 with pilot flight training.
• The title Top Gun Maverick was proposed by actor Tom Cruise.
• The film characters training for the special mission are real U.S. Navy pilots.
• The riskiest scene is an extremely low flyby, for which filmmakers had to request special permission from the U.S. Navy.
• Paramount Pictures paid the Department of Defense 11,374 USD per hour for the use of aircraft.
• More than 800 hours of footage were recorded during filming, resulting in the final 131-minute movie.
• The premiere was originally planned for July 12, 2019, but due to the COVID pandemic it was repeatedly postponed until it finally reached cinemas on May 27, 2022.
• The film also has a notable Czech contribution, as Aero L-39 Albatros jet aircraft from Aero Vodochody were used in actor training.

From the memories of director J. Kosinski:

“In the final shot I needed a dramatic low flyover above the runway. Only the most experienced pilot could perform it. Before takeoff I told him: I want you to fly so low that I could touch the aircraft with a microphone on a five-meter pole. The pilot calmly replied: alright, but it’s going to be trouble. The crew positioned themselves halfway down the runway and we went for it. Shortly after takeoff, a roaring aircraft appeared along the runway axis. The speed at which it passed over our heads was unexpected. The powerful engines blew away all the equipment, some of which was never found again, and the hot exhaust gases fused the sound engineer’s windbreaker to his hoodie. And yes, it was a problem. When the air force granted us permission for a low flyby, they meant a minimum altitude of 150 meters according to military regulations. We didn’t know that. The brave pilot was severely reprimanded and banned from flying for a month.”

About the building set :

• COBI building set 5805A F/A-18E Super Hornet ^TM is made of 560 high-quality ABS parts
• scale 1:48
• number of figures 0 
  
• collection Top Gun
• Pad Printed - no stickers
• accurate design
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands