The F-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable multirole combat jet designed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. Though the aircraft was designed by McDonnell Douglas, it was developed from Northrop Grumman’s YF-17 lightweight fighter aircraft. The F-18 Hornet was developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, though it is also used by the Air Forces of several other nations such as Australia, Spain, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, and more. The F-18 was designed to be a highly versatile aircraft due to its advanced avionics, cockpit displays, excellent aerodynamic characteristics, and its ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. The Hornet can perform fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance.
Country :
United States
Manufactured :
1983 to: Present
ICAO :
NA
Avionics :
Ratheon APG 73
Engine :
2 × General Electric F404-GE-402
Power :
17,750 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed :
1034 knots - 1,915 Km/h
Approach Speed :
NA
Travel Range :
1,800 Nautical Miles - 3,334 Kilometers
Fuel Economy :
0.68 nautical mile / gallon - 0.333 kilometres / litre
Service Ceiling :
50,000 feet
Rate of Climb :
12 feet/minute - 0.06metre/second
Take Off Distance :
457 metre - 1,499.33 feet
Landing Distance :
1311 metre - 4,301.13 feet
Max Tak eOff Weight :
113,646 Kg - 250,544 lbs
Max Payload :
7,030 Kg - 15,498 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity :
2,625 gallon - 9,937 litre
Baggage Volume :
NA
Seats Economy/General Class :
2 seats
Seats Business Class :
0
Seats First Class :
0
Cabin Height :
NA
Cabin Width :
NA
Cabin Length :
NA
Exterior Length :
17.1 metre - 56.10 feet
Tail Height :
NA
Fuselage Diameter :
NA
Wing Span Rotor Diameter :
12.3 metre - 40.35 feet
The F-18 Hornet is powered by two
General Electric F404-GE-402 engines that prodive 17,750 pounds of force. These allow the aircraft to travel at a top cruising speed of 1,034 knots (1,189 mph) for a maximum range of 1,800 nautical miles. It has a rate of climb of 50,000 feet per minute and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. The Hornet has a fuel tank capacity of 2,625 gallons and a fuel economy of 0.68 nautical miles per gallon. For its avionics, the F-18 Hornet utilizes the Raytheon APG 73 system.
McDonnell Douglas, the manufacturer of the F-18 Hornet, was an American aerospace and defense manufacturer and contractor. The company was formed through the 1967 merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft Company. Throughout McDonnell Douglas’ history, the company developed and produced a number of well-known commercial and military aircraft such as the DC-10 airliner, the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter, and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole fighter. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997 and now operates under the Boeing brand name.
