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F/A-18E Super Hornet of VFA-115 (Eagles) taxis down the runway _ MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 28 Nov 2017. (USMC)

F/A-18E Super Hornet of VFA-115 (Eagles) launches from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), waters south of Japan, 28 Nov 2017. (USN)

FA-18E Super Hornet of VFA-195 (Dambusters) launches from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), waters south of Japan, 28 Nov 2017. (USN)

FA-18E Super Hornet of VFA-195 (Dambusters) lands MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, 28 Nov 2017. (USMC)

CF-188 Hornet (aka CF-18) of the RCAF is inside a hangar getting its landing gear fixed due to a blown tire during its landing, Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, 29 Nov 2017. (ANG)

CF-188 Hornet (aka CF-18) of the RCAF flies over the 2016 Shaw Air Expo & Open House, Shaw AFB, SC, 21 May 2016. (USAF)

FA-18D Hornet of VMFA(AW)-225 (Bats) is being prepared for a training exercise @ MCAS Miramar, Ca., 30 Nov 2017. (USMC)

Čini mi se da smo ovaj video imali ovde ali ga sad ne vidim :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUifhhPLxpU

The first flight of the original F/A-18A Hornet

We just delivered the final F/A-18 Block II Super Hornet to the U.S. Navy. Hear from F18 SuperHornet chief test pilot Elliott “Hemo” Clemence about what game-changing capabilities the Block II brought for more than a decade, plus what the next-generation Block III will provide the U.S. Navy and international partners.

U.S. Marines with Marine Air Group-31 participate in exercise Jaded Thunder 17 with F/A-18 deep air support training at Salina, KS., Feb. 22, 2017. VMFA(AW)-224 participated in Jaded Thunder, a joint service exercise, to complete training requirements and prepare for future deployments.

Thrust Vectoring - on an F18 Hornet!  The Story of the NASA Dryden HARV Project:

The F-18 HARV or High Alpha Research Vehicle was a NASA testbed used to study performance at high angles of attack or alpha.  The aircraft flew from 1989 to 1996 in a 3 phased research program that progressively added modifications to the Hornet.  Let’s take a look at the specifications of the F-18 HARV.


Specifications

Length:  56 FT (17.1 M)
Height:  10 FT 6 IN (3.2 M) AT CANOPY
Wingspan: 37 FT 5 IN (11.4M)
Maximum speed: initially Mach 1.8 (1,190 MPH/1,915 KMH), subsonic with later modifications
Phase 1 weight:  31,980 LB, WITH 6,480 LB OF INTERNAL FUEL  14,506 KG / 2939 KG
Phase 2 and 3 weight: 36,099 LB ALSO WITH 6,480 LB OF INTERNAL FUEL  16,374 KG / 2939KG

 
Engines: Thrust Class
Each General Electric
EACH F404-GE-400 turbofan engines, each producing 16,000 LB of thrust  71.17 kN WITH afterburner.


The aircraft that would become the F-18 HARV was actually a pre production F/A-18 and the sixth one ever built.  Having been assigned  Bureau Number 160780, this particular F18 was chosen as a testbed because it had a spin chute installed as the NAVY had used it to evaluate spin performance and recovery.  Under NASAs use the aircraft was designated number 840.

The HARV program was a joint effort between NASA's Dryden, Ames, Langley and Lewis research centers.  By the time NASA received the aircraft, it had been cannibalized for spare parts so extensively by the Navy it was assumed that the aircraft would never fly again.  In fact, the engineers cataloged 400 missing parts and virtually no documentation of the existing wiring system.  To get 840 airworthy, the mechanics and technicians had to cut out the existing wiring, find substitute parts, assemble and rewire the aircraft.  By the time they were done, the words “Silk Purse” were painted on the fuselage, a take on the expression you can't make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Royal Maces” of VFA-27 launches a high-speed anti-radar missile (HARM) as part of a joint force sinking exercise (SINKEX) targeting the decommissioned frigate USS Curts (FFG 38) as part of Exercise Valiant Shield 2020.  An EA-18G Growler assigned to the “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 launches a high-speed anti-radar missile (HARM) as part of a joint force sinking exercise (SINKEX) targeting the decommissioned frigate USS Curts (FFG 38) as part of Exercise Valiant Shield 2020. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in the cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

A land-based version of the Hornet known as the F-18L was also planned. Since it did not have to carry any equipment for carrier-based operations, the F-18L was expected to be significantly lighter and better-performing than the carrier-based version. Although no orders had actually been received, it was anticipated that the F-18L would be an attractive proposition for those foreign air forces who wanted and could afford an aircraft with greater capabilities than those of the F-5.

As part of the original partnership arrangement between McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, it had been agreed that McDonnell Douglas would be the prime contractor for the carrier-based F-18A version of the Hornet, with Northrop being the prime contractor for the F-18L land-based version. The partnership between these two aerospace giants did not always go smoothly, and strains between the two corporations began to show almost immediately. In particular, a major disagreement arose over sales of the F-18L. It seemed that whenever foreign purchasers showed an interest in acquiring the land-based version of the F-18, McDonnell would immediately mount an active sales effort, putting the carrier-based McDonnell F-18 in direct competition with the land-based Northrop F-18L. Northrop management became very unhappy about what it perceived to be McDD's violation of the terms of their agreement, and in October 1979, a series of lawsuits was launched, with Northrop claiming that McDonnell was unfairly using Northrop technology developed for the F-18L to sell its own F-18A abroad. Northrop also charged that McDonnell was trying to sell Israel a version of the F-18 that competed directly with the Northrop F-18L. Northrop asked the courts to restrain McDonnell from trying to sell to any foreign government any version of the F-18 which took advantage of Northrop technology to the detriment of the latter company. The case dragged on in the courts for years, and was not settled until April of 1985. At that time, it was agreed that McDonnell Douglas would be prime contractor for all existing and future versions of the Hornet, and Northrop terminated all work on its F-18L land-based version.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew assigned to the 50th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron conducts air-to-air refueling with a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler and F/A-18E Super Hornets, assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Reslove Sept. 30, 2020. U.S. Navy Super Hornets from the "Mighty Shrikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), are refueled by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 as they fly over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Oct. 2, 2020.

U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 1, 2020. Marines with VMFA-312 and Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA (AW)) 533, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, take part in a rotational unit deployment program to supplement Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12. The deployment enables MAG-12 to maintain its obligation to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the U.S. while facilitating the safe transition for VMFA-242 from F/A-18D Hornets to F-35B Lightning II.

https://youtu.be/M24vAQ1f1UY

F-18 HARV

During the late 1980s, NASA decided to deepen its understanding of flight at high angles of attack, or alpha. For this purpose, it created the High Angle-of-Attack Technology Program, or HATP.

A unique aircraft was selected among thousands to participate in the program. It was the infamous F-18 Hornet. Previously used by the Navy for testing purposes, the chosen example was the sixth Hornet built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

However, the aircraft had been severely cannibalized for spare parts throughout the years, and it was so mangled that the Navy believed it would never fly again.

Still, the engineers carried on and believed in what would eventually be remembered as the legendary F-18 High Angle-of-Attack Research Vehicle, providing the foundations on how to handle all future American fighter aircraft...