In July 2022, strong winds and rain blew an F-18 Super Hornet off the deck of the carrier Harry S. Truman. The aircraft went overboard, sinking about 9,500 feet below the surface. The Navy used a CURV-21 deep ocean salvage vehicle to obtain and salvage the aircraft.
The focus on salvaging the aircraft prompted some questions on the importance of the craft. What exactly is the F-18 Super Hornet? Who makes the F-18 Super Hornet? How fast is the F-18 Super Hornet? How much does an F-18 Super Hornet cost? Thereโs no way you already know the answer to all those questions, so weโre going to take a deeper look into the aircraft carrier they pulled from deep. Hereโs the comprehensive guide to the F-18 Super Hornet.
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F-18 Super Hornet: Background
The F-18 Super Hornet was first developed by McDonnell Douglas Corporation in 1978. This model was the F/A-18A Hornet. Variants of the aircraft were created by Boeing Defense, Space, and Security. This resulted in the development of the current model F-18 super hornet.
The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets are currently manufactured by McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Boeing. The aircraft is a dual-engined fighter jet. Since itโs a twin-engine fighter, if something were to happen to one engine, it would still be able to fly.
Pretty cool, right? Thatโs not all.
The FA-18 Super Hornet is now sometimes referred to as the โbackbone of the U.S. carrier air wing.โ It has impressive stats that make the aircraft an integral addition to the military.
The FA-18 Super Hornet: Top Stats
The F-18 Super Hornet has impressive stats under its belt. The fighter jet is currently in service and likely wonโt retire anytime soon. From high speed to impressive range, why would anyone want to retire this monster of an aircraft? Here are some of the stats that prove the sheer bad*ssery of this plane:
F-18 Super Hornet Top Speed
- 1,190 mph at 40,000 ft
F-18 Range
- 1,458 mi
Combat Range
- 449 mi
- Has four 1,000-pound bombs and two AIM-9s
Rate of Climb
- 44,882 ft/min
Service Ceiling
- 50,000 ft
The F-18 Super Hornet is ready for battle. The fully armed aircraft includes a 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan with 412 rounds. It also has the capacity to carry 17,750 lb. It has the provisions to carry different combinations of missiles and bombs. Some that can be included on the aircraft are:
Different Missiles
- AIM-9 Sidewinder (short-range air missiles)
- AIM-120 AMRAAM (medium-range air missiles)
- AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air missiles)
- AGM-65E/F Maverick (air-to-ground missiles)
Different Bombs
- JDAM bombs
- Mk 80 series of unguided bombs
- Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
- CBU-78 Gator mine system
This isnโt a comprehensive list of everything that can be included on the plane. Itโs only a start to what the aircraft is capable of carrying.
The F-18 Super Hornet in combat is a valuable asset for the military. It has a quick takeoff from ships and can drop bombs before returning.
The Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornet Pilots
Thereโs even more important military history connected to the F-18 Super Hornet and the Blue Angels. Amanda Lee was the first female Blue Angels pilot to man the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. She flew the F/A-18E/F as a demonstration pilot. Although she wasnโt the first female pilot to ever exist within the demonstration group, she was the first of the Angels to fly this particular aircraft.
Itโs safe to say the F-18 Super Hornet is a pretty cool fighter jet used in the military. From its impressive features to top performance speed, the fighter jet is no doubt a valuable asset to the military.
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Image: Steve Mann – stock.adobe.com