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Length 10 in. - Wingspan 7.125 in.
The F/A-18 "Hornet" is a single- and two-seat, twin engine, multi-mission fighter/attack aircraft that can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases. The F/A-18 fills a variety of roles: air superiority, fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, reconnaissance, forward air control, close and deep air support, and day and night strike missions. The F/A-18 Hornet replaced the F-4 Phantom II fighter and A-7 Corsair II light attack jet, and also replaced the A-6 Intruder as these aircraft were retired during the 1990s.
The multi-mission F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" strike fighter is an upgrade of the combat-proven night strike F/A-18C/D. The Super Hornet aircraft are 4.2 feet longer than earlier Hornets, have a 25% larger wing area, and carry 33% more internal fuel which effectively increases mission range by 41% and endurance by 50%. The Super Hornet also incorporates two additional weapon stations. This allows for increased payload flexibility by mixing and matching air-to-air and/or air-to-ground ordnance. The aircraft can also carry the complete complement of "smart" weapons, including the newest joint weapons such as JDAM and JSOW. The F/A-18 Super Hornet has begun to and will eventually replace the F-14 Tomcat in future program years.
The Navy’s first F/A-18E Super Hornet fleet squadron at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, CA, received its “safe for flight” certification in June 2001. This certification meant that Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, the “Eagles,” was ready to train as an operational squadron in preparation for the Navy’s first operational deployment of Super Hornets in the summer of 2002 with the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group and Carrier Air Wing 14. The squadron successfully completed a comprehensive series of inspections and reviews of its training, maintenance and safety programs. With an inventory of six aircraft, a full compliment of pilots and a complete administrative structure, VFA-115 is capable of operating autonomously.
