Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas Corporation (Boeing)
Cooperation: Northrop Corporation
Number of aircraft procured: 34
Number of aircraft still in service: 33 (J-5231 crashed on 07 April 1998)
Registration:
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet: J-5001 till J-5026 (26 aircraft)
Boeing F/A-18D Hornet: J-5231 till J-5238 (8 aircraft)
Cooperation: Northrop Corporation
Number of aircraft procured: 34
Number of aircraft still in service: 33 (J-5231 crashed on 07 April 1998)
Registration:
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet: J-5001 till J-5026 (26 aircraft)
Boeing F/A-18D Hornet: J-5231 till J-5238 (8 aircraft)
With a total length of 17 meters, the F/A-18 is a little longer than the Mirage IIIS, and its span of 12 meters exceeds the F-5E Tiger II’s by 4 meters. The Swiss F/A-18 version weighs 17 tons, approximately two and a half times as much as the Tiger. It can easily load 7 tons, about six times the useful load the retired Hunter was able to carry. Two engines provide for a thrust of 16 tons, which is three and a half times as much performance as the engines of the F-5. Five thousand litres of fuel allow flights of more than one hour duration.
From October 1996 on, the hornets left the assembly bays at Emmen. Delivery was completed by the end of 1999. Squadron 17 was the first front squadron to retrain to the Hornet from June 1997 on, followed in the spring of 1998 by Squadron 18. Last but not least, retraining was concluded by Dübendorf based Squadron 11, in 1999. These three squadrons are part of the Surveillance Wing.
After his professional schooling and according to his potential and the requirements, the pilot of the Surveillance Wing is admitted to F/A-18 conversion courses. Basic training of six months includes theory, system knowledge, simulator and flight training, aerial combat exercises in visual flight, airborne interception exercises and engagement of ground and aerial targets. Another six months will be necessary to teach the pilot the art of navigation, independent interception and identification of aerial targets of all kinds as well as engagement of multiple targets and much more.
The main reason the Swiss Air Force choose the F/A-18 Hornet after a thorough evaluation was the top performance of this aircraft. The Hornet has a very short reaction time from its alert position, very good aeroplane performance and flying characteristics and is able to accelerate extremely fast, reaching sonic speed within seconds. Its extremely good manoeuvrability in curvilinear flight is important in aerial combat in visual flight conditions and is proven to be of the best worldwide
Its high performance radar allows the F/A-18 to detect and simultaneously engage multiple low flying targets with its long-range guided missiles, by day and night and under bad weather conditions. The Hornet is also well tested in electronic warfare. This aircraft, developed to operate from aircraft carriers, is very well suited for our mountainous regions and narrow valleys as well as our short runways.
Technical Data
| Engine: | 2 General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofans |
| Maximum thrust without afterburner | 10,440 daN |
| Maximum thrust with afterburner | 15,660 daN |
| Unladen weight : | 11,325 kg |
| Max. take-off mass (MTOM): | 23,590 kg |
| Max. take-off mass (MTOM) unloaded: | 16,100 kg |
| Length: | 17.1 m |
| Height: | 4.6 m |
| Wing span: | 11.7 m |
| Thrust-to-mass ratio: | 1.07 |
| Max. speed at sea level: | 1,330+ km/h |
| Max. Mach: | 1.8+ |
| Service ceiling: | 16,000+ m |
| Radar: | APG-73 |
| Armament: | 1 20mm M61A1 Gatling cannon |
| Air-to-air: | 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders 4 AIM-120B AMRAAM (LL Lwf AIM-120B) |
| Hard points: | 9, up to 6,400 kg |
| Hard points for loads: | Air-to-air missiles, drop tanks, travel pod, FPR pod |
| Internal equipment: | Mission computer, ECM, chaff/flare dispensers |
Photographs
Additional photographs of this type of aircraft are available here
Upgrades
- Upgrades / additional equipment (in german)
Further information
Squadrons F/A-18 Hornet