Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-18E/F>HA5122

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 July 1, 2003 VF-2 became VFA-2 “Bounty Hunters” and converted from the F-14D to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. VFA-2 is based at NAS Lemoore, California and use NE as their tail code and “Bullet” as their callsign. From 2001 until 2020 the improved Block II F/A-18F’s were produced and equipped with AESA radar. F/A-18F NE100/165916 c/n F062 wears a patriotic red, white and blue stripe around the front portion of the fuselage called the “Langley Stripe” in reference to the markings of aircraft flown from the first USN carrier USS Langley.

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