The McDonnell-Douglas/Northrop F/A-18 Hornet is an airborne fighter and attack aircraft capable of operating in all weather conditions. The roots of the F/A-18 go back to 1974 and the F-17 prototype, which this year interested the command of the US Navy. The contract for serial construction of the aircraft was concluded in 1976. In order to speed up the work, the Northrop concern entered into cooperation with the McDonnell-Douglas concern. As a result, a test flight of the prototype took place on November 18, 1978, and a year later - successful landings on the aircraft carrier. Since 1982, aircraft have been supplied in line units with General Electric F404-GE-402 engines as powerplants. The plane is produced in several modifications. The first were the F-18A (fighter) and F-18B (training). Foreign orders from Spain, Canada and Australia appeared quickly. In 1987, a version of the F-18C was created, adapted for the use of AMRAAM missiles. A year later, the F/A-18D, a two-seat variant of the F-18, entered service in all weather conditions and could be used as an attack aircraft. On its basis, a reconnaissance variant of the R/F-18D was created. The latest versions (the so-called Super Hornet) - the F/A-18E and F/A-18F are heavily modified versions of the F/A-18D. They differ in the increased length of the fuselage, the span of the wings and their surface. They also have new General Electric F414 engines and significantly expanded and upgraded avionics. They were first presented in 1995. The EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft was also created on the basis of the F-18. All modifications of the F/A-18 met the favor of pilots, they were distinguished by low resistance to failures, ease of operation and very good flight parameters. "Hornets" participated in the operation against Libya in 1986 and in the operation "Desert Storm" in 1991. Technical data (F/A-18 C version): Maximum speed: 1,915 km/h, rate of climb: 254 m/s, practical ceiling 15,240 m, maximum range: 3,340 km, range: 280-740 km, weapons : stationary - a single 20-mm six-barreled gun M61A-1, suspended - up to 7700 kg of cargo.
