Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-18E/F>HA5119

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

On June 22, 1955 VF-213 “Black Lions” was formed and on April 2, 2006 was re-designated VFA-213 when the unit transitioned to the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. VFA-213 is based at NAS Oceana, Virginia and assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight with call-sign “Lion”. In January 2017 VFA-213 departed on board the USS George H.W. Bush in support “Operation Inherent Resolve” and from February 10 until March 9, 2017 carried out operations from the Mediterranean Sea. The carrier now sailed to the Persian Gulf and operated there from March 23, until May 22, 2017.

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