McDonnell-Douglas / Northrop F / A-18 Hornet - an airborne fighter and attack aircraft capable of operating in all weather conditions. The roots of the F / A-18 date back to 1974 and the prototype F-17, which the US Navy command became interested in this year. The contract for the serial construction of the aircraft was signed in 1976. To accelerate the work, the Northrop concern entered into cooperation with the McDonnell-Douglas concern. As a result, on November 18, 1978, a test flight of the prototype took place, and a year later, successful landings on an aircraft carrier. Since 1982, the aircraft has been supplied to line installations with General Electric F404-GE-402 engines as a power plant. The aircraft is produced in several modifications. The first were the F-18A (fighter) and F-18B (trainer). Foreign orders quickly appeared from Spain, Canada and Australia. In 1987, the F-18C version was created, adapted for the use of AMRAAM missiles. A year later, the F/A-18D, a two-seat all-weather variant of the F-18, entered service and could be used as an attack aircraft. It was based on the reconnaissance version R/F-18D. The latest versions (the so-called Super Hornet) - F/A-18E and F/A-18F - are highly modified versions of the F/A-18D. They are characterized by an increased fuselage length, wingspan and their surface. They also have new General Electric F414 engines and significantly expanded and modernized avionics. They were first introduced in 1995. The EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft was also created on the basis of the F-18. All versions of the F/A-18 have met with the pilots' favor, they are characterized by low failure rate, ease of use and very good flight parameters. Hornets participated in the operation against Libya in 1986 and in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Technical data (version F/A-18 C): Maximum speed: 1915 km/h, climb rate: 254 m/s, practical ceiling 15,240 m, maximum range 3340 km, range 280-740 km, Armament: stationary - single 20-mm six-barreled M61A-1 cannon, suspended - up to 7700 kg of cargo.
