Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-18E/F>HA5121
F/A-18E Blue Angels 165666, US Navy, 2021
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 2018 the USN decided to supply the “Blue Angels” with early production Super Hornets. In
2012 F/A-18E 15666 c/n 1517/E020 was assigned to VFA-106 “Gladiators” as AD-114 and
painted in the squadrons 1967 Vietnam War A-4 Skyhawk colors. In 2018 the aircraft was
transferred to VFA-146 “Blue Diamonds” as NH-302. In 2020 165666 became part of the USN
“Blue Angels” Demo Team. In January 2021 the aircraft wore the number 3 but in February the
number was changed to 1. 2021 will mark the 75th Anniversary of the “Blue Angels”.
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 |