Hobby Master HA3561 | F/A-18A Hornet "75 Sqn. Commemorative Design 2021" A21-18, RAAF, 2021

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet

Designed as a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk and the A-7 Corsair II and as a complement to the F-14 Tomcat, the F/A-18 first flew on November 18, 1978. Perhaps best known as the aircraft of the US Navy's Blue Angels, this carrier-capable, supersonic, all-weather fighter has many roles, including fighter escort, fleet air defense and close air support. The F/A-18 is a versatile aircraft: it can operate from carriers or land bases and a single switch converts it from fighter to strike mode. During Operation Desert Storm, the F/A-18 proved that, on a single mission, one aircraft could serve as both fighter and a bomber.

Specifications for the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B
Role – Fighter/Attack
Manufactured – 1980 to 1987
Numbers Produced
A – 371 B – 40 
Crew
A – 1 B – 2 
Dimensions
Length – 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m) Wingspan – 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m) Height – 15 ft 4 in (4.66 m) 
Weight
Empty – 28,000 lbs (12,700 kg) Gross – 38,000 lbs (17,240 kg) Maximum Take-off – 56,000 lb (25,400 kg) 
Performance
Engines – 2 X GE F404-GE turbofans producing 10,600 lb.s.t. dry & 15,800 lb.s.t with afterburning per engine Fuel Internal – 1,670 U.S. gal (6,322 l) External – As many as 3 X 330 U.S. gal (1,249 l) drop tanks Maximum Fuel – 2,660 U.S. gal (10,070 l) Maximum Speed – Mach 1.8 1,190 mph (1,915 km/h) @ 35,000 ft (10,670 m) Landing Speed – 150 mph (241.4 km/h) Combat Ceiling – 50,000 ft (15,240 m) Maximum Range – 2,875 miles (4,627 km)
ARMAMENT
1 X 20 mm M61A1 cannon in nose PLUS Hard Points 4 X under-wing 2 X fuselage corner stations 1 X center-line 2 X wing-tip To carry AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles Or AIM-7 Sparrow Missiles Plus Up to 3 external fuel tanks and other assorted ordnance