Author Topic: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration  (Read 92712 times)

Offline Rickshaw

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #175 on: November 28, 2019, 08:38:12 PM »
Does anybody have a comparison drawing showing the major differences between the proposed F-18L versus the built F/A-18A?  Such as where the undercarriage was intended to go, etc.?

Offline M.A.D

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #176 on: December 24, 2019, 06:25:10 PM »
I was under the impression that the F/A-18 undercarriage design was due to the requirement that Sparrows could be loaded while the wings were folded, i.e. on the fuselage, resulting in the need for a complex retraction process to clear the Sparrows fins.  Theoretically a simpler, but still strengthened gear design could be used if the Sparrows were deleted or moved to the wings.

This is the only reference I have been able to find to that at this stage:  https://www.facebook.com/avgeekery/posts/the-hornets-main-landing-gear-is-one-of-the-most-complex-used-by-a-fighter-jet-a/1497778590309126/

Nice find GTX and very interesting!👍

M.A.D

Offline kitnut617

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #177 on: December 24, 2019, 10:34:21 PM »
I believe the conformal fuel tanks have been trialled but that no operator has actually ordered/used them yet.



Some info here:  https://aviationweek.com/awin/upgrade-fa-18-fuel-tank-gains-ground

I would have to say it's not your typical conformal tank, the position of it would mean the shape would have to work as part of the wing aerodynamics right ?

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #178 on: April 10, 2020, 03:20:20 AM »



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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #179 on: April 10, 2020, 03:37:18 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #180 on: April 10, 2020, 05:40:07 AM »
Germany's Air Force Is Going All in On the F/A-18 Super Hornet and more Eurofighters. Here's why.  By Charlie Gao, 20200328
Is this old news or something new? 

I found several other articles on this but the sources were a bit dodgy.  This link appears to be a bit more legit. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg


Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #182 on: April 11, 2020, 01:43:45 AM »
Found this morning:

This Man Owns The World's Most Advanced Private Air Force After Buying 46 F/A-18 Hornets
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32869/this-man-owns-the-worlds-most-advanced-private-air-force-after-buying-46-f-a-18-hornets?fbclid=IwAR3Ps8mVidcFWYvvVt_8JNS9ERlGQjgrl8F-HUHV8Uir69IjMcZuFZ-6oaM

Was reported on a little while ago.  I have actually been aware of the pending sales since last year but was not at liberty to tell.  There are some other ongoing aspects which have not made it to the media yet also but... :icon_swat:
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #183 on: April 11, 2020, 01:57:24 AM »
Germany's Air Force Is Going All in On the F/A-18 Super Hornet and more Eurofighters. Here's why.  By Charlie Gao, 20200328
Is this old news or something new? 

I found several other articles on this but the sources were a bit dodgy.  This link appears to be a bit more legit.

It has been reported but as far as I know there has been no official sale.  For something such as this it will be formally announced that permission is granted via the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.  There is nothing there yet re Germany and the Super Hornet though that doesn't mean something isn't in the works.

For some interesting whiffs though here are two that are there:

  • Government of Canada – F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft with Support:  WASHINGTON, Sep. 12, 2017 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Canada of ten (10) F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, with F414-GE-400 engines; eight (8 ) F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft...
  • Brazil – F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft:  WASHINGTON, August 6, 2009 – Today the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Brazil of 28 F/A-18E Super Hornet Aircraft, eight F/A-18F Super Hornet Aircraft, 72 F414-GE-400 installed engines...

Personally, I feel that Germany is stupid not to select the F-35 but I also understand that domestic issues would be heavily influencing this...
« Last Edit: April 12, 2020, 01:47:19 AM by GTX_Admin »
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #184 on: April 11, 2020, 02:01:32 AM »
And here's a profile Logan did for above:

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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #185 on: April 11, 2020, 02:04:54 AM »
Once upon a time there was talk of a French F/A-18C buy:






« Last Edit: April 11, 2020, 02:06:27 AM by GTX_Admin »
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #186 on: April 11, 2020, 02:12:26 AM »






« Last Edit: April 11, 2020, 02:15:28 AM by GTX_Admin »
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #187 on: April 11, 2020, 04:01:29 AM »











All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #188 on: April 11, 2020, 08:06:54 AM »
Germany's Air Force Is Going All in On the F/A-18 Super Hornet and more Eurofighters. Here's why.  By Charlie Gao, 20200328<...>
<...>
Personally, I feel that Germany is stupid not to select the F-35 but I also understand that domestic issues would be heavily influencing this...

Same.
To me, the split Eurofighter/Super Hornet buy is anything but the surprise decision the article makes it out to be. It really was the only way to keep everybody onside. Getting F-35s (which the Luftwaffe apparently would have preferred) would have upset the French (with whom we're planning to build a sixth-gen fighter in the future) and Airbus. Getting Eurofighters and/or Rafales (don't know whether the Rafale was actually considered) would have upset the Americans. It also would have made integration of US nuclear bombs either very expensive (Eurofighter) or maybe even impossible (Rafale). Getting just Super Hornets would have upset Airbus.
The Luftwaffe will get their new aircraft and like them.
The split Eurofighter/Super Hornet buy is the only way nobody's getting hurt. Maybe not just figuratively speaking, but quite literally. Getting the "soft" electronic attack Growler means Germany can continue to supply recce aircraft and "electronic warfare" instead of dropping actual bombs. We can still claim we're doing our part while leaving the dirty deeds to, um, everybody else.  :-X
Cheers,
Moritz

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Offline elmayerle

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #189 on: April 11, 2020, 12:16:24 PM »
Going back to the late-70's/early-80's, Swedish F/A-18A/B in three-tone green splinter camouflage as JAS-38? 

Or, today, if the neighborhood gets rougher (a more aggressive Russia, say), Swedish Super Hornets as something of a Hi/Lo mix with the JAS-39?

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #190 on: April 12, 2020, 03:49:05 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Volkodav

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #191 on: April 12, 2020, 08:10:59 PM »
I believe there was talk of an Israeli F/A-18 buy in the 90s, not sure if it was C/D of E/F being considered.  Similar time frame South Korea srelected the Hornet over additional F-16 but later reversed the decision following sticker shock over the Hornet.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #192 on: April 13, 2020, 03:52:46 AM »
I believe there was talk of an Israeli F/A-18 buy in the 90s, not sure if it was C/D of E/F being considered.  Similar time frame South Korea srelected the Hornet over additional F-16 but later reversed the decision following sticker shock over the Hornet.

I seem to recall that Israel did consider the Super Hornet about 15yrs ago but I am not sure how serious that looking was.
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #193 on: April 13, 2020, 04:37:21 AM »



All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #194 on: April 14, 2020, 05:04:25 AM »
Once upon a time there was talk of a French F/A-18C buy:






I have to do it  :-* :-*

Paint is on the way, kit is out of the stash, decals available from a Kinetic Super Etendard and I found a pair of Magic II and another one of Super 530D. Let's go for this, in parallel with the "Garuda One" F-15E   :P

Thanks Greg  8)

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #195 on: May 25, 2020, 03:56:26 AM »
Interesting tidbit in a Govt file on the HMAS Melbourne replacement options post the inability to get HMS Invincible.  Note the comment re F/A-18s.



Hmmm...RAN FAA F/A-18 as a subtle whiff to confuse people.
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Offline tahsin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #196 on: May 26, 2020, 04:40:19 AM »
Only if l could remember whether l really did read that it would take 700 million dollars to qualify the EFA for nukes. F-18 is a contender merely by being present and yes, with the reported Chinese bomber Americans will now start testing nukes for the F-35 to be ready by 2040?

Offline Volkodav

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #197 on: May 26, 2020, 07:13:08 AM »
Interesting tidbit in a Govt file on the HMAS Melbourne replacement options post the inability to get HMS Invincible.  Note the comment re F/A-18s.



Hmmm...RAN FAA F/A-18 as a subtle whiff to confuse people.

Did you see the suggestion about a conventionally powered CDG or a modified CTOL LHA / LHD?

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #198 on: May 27, 2020, 02:12:00 AM »
Did you see the suggestion about a conventionally powered CDG or a modified CTOL LHA / LHD?

Yes, though I was only focused on the statement about the carrier being capable of taking the F/A-18s.
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Offline Volkodav

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Re: F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #199 on: May 27, 2020, 09:16:05 AM »
Did you see the suggestion about a conventionally powered CDG or a modified CTOL LHA / LHD?

Yes, though I was only focused on the statement about the carrier being capable of taking the F/A-18s.

There was an article I read years ago by a couple of RAAF officers suggesting a coal slurry fired GT powered bare bones aircraft carrier able to operate RAAF F/A-18s