F/A-18 Hornet - Navy Carrier Multirole Fighter

The world's premier naval fighter originated as a more sophisticated naval derivative of the Northrop YF-17 that was pitted against the General Dynamics YF-16 in the US Navy's Air Combat Fighter programme of 1976. The YF-17 was selected by the US Navy and eventually adopted as the F/A-18 Hornet. Even though the YF-16 lightweight fighter lost this compwetition for the naval fighter, it was adopted by the US Air Force as the F-16. The first of 11 trials Hornets made its maiden flight on 18 November 1978. Production of the initial F/A-18A single-seat version eventually totalled 371 aircraft, the first US Navy squadron receiving its aircraft in 1983.

The F/A-18 offers much greater weapons delivery accuracy than its predecessors, and is a genuinely multi-role aircraft, with remarkable dog-fighting ability. Its advanced APG-65 multi-mode radar has become the benchmark fighter radar.

For air superiority role the original F/A-18A Hornet was armed with AIM-7 Sparrow short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles and improved versions of AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles. For ground attack role it used AGM-62 Walleye, AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-84E SLAM missiles. For anti-shipping role it carried AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The F/A-18 could also carry AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, that could be used against hostile air defense systems. There was also an M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel 20 mm cannon.

The F/A-18 made its combat debut during the El Dorado Canyon action against Libya in April 1986, and was heavily committed to action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The F/A-18A was superseded by the F/A-18C, which remained the principal single-seat production model up to 1999, some 347 having been ordered for US service. The first F/A-18C made its maiden flight on 3 September 1986. This version introduced compability with the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the IIR version of the AGM-65 Maverick missile, as well as improved avionics and a new NACES ejection seat.

After 137 baseline F/A-18Cs had been delivered, production switched to a night attack version with equipment including GEC Cat's Eye pilot's night vision goggles compatibility, an AAR-50 TINS pod, Kaiser AVQ-28 raster HUD, externally-carried AAS-38 FLIR targeting pod and color multi-function displays. The first night-attack Hornet was delivered on 1 November 1989.

The Hornet's versatility has led to substantial export sales. Canada was the first foreign customer, taking delivery of 98 single-seat CF-188A aircraft, while Australia followed with an order for 57 AF-18A. Spain purchased 60 EF-18As (local designation C.15) and later acquired 24 former US Navy F/A-18As from late 1995. F/A-18Cs have been delivered to Kuwait (32 KAF-18Cs), Switzerland (26) and Finland (57).

Hope you enjoy!!

📬Wanna send me something? My PO Box: Matthew James 210A - 12A Street N Suite #135 Lethbridge Alberta Canada T1H2J

🎮 Twitch: matsimus_9033

⛔️ (DISCLAIMER: This video is for entertainment purposes only. The views and opinion come from personal experience or information from public accessible sources.)

[_Matsimus_]

Wanna hang out for future live stream interactions, gaming and chats with me!! Come to Twitch and remember to follow!

[F-DSuperTomcat]

I asked my dad (worked on F-14s in late 90s, early 2000s in the US Navy) how he felt about this plane, seeing as he loved the tomcat, he said "I hate it. It cant fight and maneuver at the same time and it cant carry the Phoenix". I love him

[cameronhuddleston]

RIP the f14. I was crushed to see it go

[TheNinjaDC]

Hornet: “This isn’t even my final form.”

Super-Hornet: 😡

[enzoacorda]

as much as I am obsessed with the Hornet, it's plagued by its short legs and payload. It's a jack of all trades but a master of none

[FighterAceee]

You got me with the arrestor hook being there "just in case"

[TheNinjaDC]

Also worth noting, a big reason behind the Super Hornet's recent foreign sales renaissance is it's a modern 4th gen (+) aircraft, but with an extremely low maintenance and flight cost compared to similar crafts.

[darthbalgarus]

I work at a USAF base that sees RCAF planes on a somewhat regular basis. The first time I saw CF-18 on my paperwork it was exceptionally confusing before someone explained that it is a Canadian plane, and not in fact an F-18 that also carries cargo

[kellyarnsdorf]

YF-17 had incredible lift and demonstrated longer range and load out in a very small air frame. Its payload and range was amazing!! It was Northrops attempt to make a light strike aircraft and build off their experience and the known drawbacks of the F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger. Namely loiter time, load out, and range. McDonald seeing its great multipurpose potential, and getting the green light from Northrop who was going broke, made a bigger aircraft that we know today as the F/A-18.

[christopherdilloway]

F-14 was my first love, but came to really like the Hornet with 91 Gulf War. Always have the highest respect for the men and women who fly from carriers. Nice video

[steelgear]

It should be mentioned that the F/A 18 A, B, C and D (Hornet) has a different airframe from the F/A 18 E, F and G (Super Hornet). Some of the big differences are the size of the wings, fuselage, the size and shape of the intakes and shape of the LEX. The Hornet and the Super Hornet are effectively different aircraft inspite of the visual similarities.

edit: The G version is called the Growler.

[BigMathis]

I love the super hornet. That's why I built it in besiege.

[Perktube]

I joined the navy just as the Hornet was introduced. I had to guard a hangar where they had the aircraft they replaced, an F-4. The mechanics loved the toughness of the F-4, being able to drop a toolbox on its wings. The Hornet had some sort of composite wings, and were easier to damage by accident.

[theScottishKoala]

The Hornets really have that "ugly-sexy" thing nailed, don't they? Always been one of my favorite jets, behind the F-14!

[jimmay]

As a Legacy F/A-18C veteran airframer for 10 years, it will always be my favorite. It was much better at the Air Interceptor role than the Super Hornet, thus given the duty on my 2 deployments. C-Models don't need afterburners to catapult launch (unlike Super Hornets) and make tighter manuevers. My squadron, VFA-83, was selected to help train the new F-22 pilots in Air Combat. Our deployment experienced pilots kicked their asses a few times, proving tech isn't everything.
Best feeling on carrier deployments are when our Hornets catapult launch with full bomb loadouts, and come back empty with vulcan 20mm muzzle blasts streaking the nose. Mission objective, "Warheads on Foreheads."

[angelgames]

The F/A18 is my favorite fighter, i live near a Spanish F/A18 base.

[enzoacorda]

The TINS and AAS-38 were no longer used after the 90s. OIF/OEF Hornets switched to the LITENING. It's usually mounted on the stations behind the intake and when it is, a Hornet would fly with an asymettrical loadout because the drop tank beside it would obscure the view. Sometimes they also mount it on the centerline station

[etherealessence]

I will always have a soft spot for the f/a 18. i absolutely love its profile

[cattledog]

"Or, as the Good Reverend would say: Why we are on this particular mission, we'll never know. But I do know, here today, that the Black Knights will emerge victorious once again."

[abalduj]

Recently found this channel, oh boy! Dude you possible one of the few who does honest review and keep neutral! Absolutely love this