McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

1. Overview

The F/A-18C Hornet is a single-seat, twin-engine, supersonic multirole combat aircraft designed for both fighter (F) and attack (A) missions—hence the designation F/A. It is primarily operated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, with extensive service in many allied air forces.

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing)

First flight (F/A-18): 18 November 1978

F/A-18C entered service: Late 1980s

Role: Air superiority, strike, close air support, SEAD, reconnaissance

Carrier-capable: Yes

The F/A-18C is an upgraded version of the F/A-18A, with improved avionics, radar, and weapons capability.

1. Airframe & Design
   General Characteristics

Length: ~17.1 m (56 ft)

Wingspan: ~12.3 m (40.4 ft)

Height: ~4.7 m (15.4 ft)

Empty weight: ~10,400 kg (23,000 lb)

Max takeoff weight: ~23,400 kg (51,900 lb)