On this day in aviation history: In 1978 a Hornet buzzes around for the first time. Designed as an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft, to replace the A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, F-4 Phantom II and to supplement the F-14 Tomcat, the single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the United States’ first true strike-fighter. It was designed for traditional strike applications like close air support and interdiction without compromising its fighter capabilities. The F/A-18 first demonstrated those capabilities during Operation DESERT STORM, shooting down enemy fighters and bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same mission. It also broke previous records for availability, reliability, and maintainability. The Hornet was designed to have reduced maintenance needs in service, and as a result required far less downtime than its heavier counterparts, the F-14 Tomcat and the A-6 Intruder. Its General Electric F404 engines were also designed with operability, reliability and maintainability in mind. A four person crew can remove an engine in under 20 minutes! Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide, and from 10 aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navys Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron began flying the aircraft in 1986. The F-18 also comprises the aviation strike force for seven foreign countries including Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland. Not bad for an aircraft that made its first flight 36 years ago today.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:36:17 +0000
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