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Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-18E/F>HA5107

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E 166776, VFA-31, Dec 2008 "Santa CAG"
Ha5107
General Background
The McDonnell Douglas Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role carrier-based aircraft. The “E” variant is single-seater while the “F” variant is a tandem-seat configuration. The “E” is a much larger, more advanced and more capable variant of the F/A-18C. The Super variant can carry a larger array of weapons as well as more of them and is capable of returning to the carrier while still carrying unspent munitions, a big savings in dollars. The first F/A-18E flight was in 1995 and began delivery to the USN in 1999.
The Aircraft
In late October 2006 VF-31 “Tomcatters” completed their last F-14 operation and converted to the new McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet. Equipped with the new aircraft VF-31 became VFA-31. The first VFA-31 deployment took place in September 2008 on board USS Theodore Roosevelt and after a short visit to South Africa sailed to support Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. With being deployed over Christmas F/A-18E 166776 had a Santa hat and present added to their Felix logo. On March 21, 2009 USS Theodore Roosevelt was relieved by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Specifications :
Role: Multi-role attack and fighter
Crew: F/A-18E x 1 / F/A-18F x 2
Dimensions
Length: 60.3 ft (18.5 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.87 m)
Wingspan: 44.9 ft (13.68 m)
Weight: Maximum Gross Take-off 66,000 lbs (29,932 kg)
Performance
Power Plant: 2 x F414-GE-400 turbofans
Thrust (Static): 22,000 lbs (9,977kg) per engine
Ceiling : 50,000 ft +
Speed: Mach 1.8 +
Armament: 1 x M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon (internal)
Possible External Payload: AIM 7 Sparrow
AIM-120 AMRAAM
Harpoon
HARM
Shrike
SLAM
SLAM-ER
Walleye
Maverick
JSOW (Joint-Stand-Off Weapon)
JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions
An assortment of bombs, mines and rocket