McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet – Fotografie & Video

Tá McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Sršeň je dvoumotorový nadzvukový víceúčelový bojový letoun schopný za každého počasí navržený jako stíhací i útočný letoun (odtud označení F/A). F/A-18 byl navržen společnostmi McDonnell Douglas (nyní Boeing) a Northrop a byl odvozen od YF-17 v 70. letech 20. Hornet je také používán vzdušnými silami několika dalších národů a od roku 1986 letovou demonstrační letky amerického námořnictva, Modrými anděly.

Zdroj: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet na Wikipedii

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft (hence the F/A designation). Developed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter’s YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations and, since 1986, by the U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.
The F/A-18 has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph or 1,915 km/h at 40,000 ft or 12,200 m). It can carry a wide variety of bombs and missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground, supplemented by the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon. It is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines, which give the aircraft a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The F/A-18 has excellent aerodynamic characteristics, primarily attributed to its leading edge extensions (LEX). The fighter’s primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), air interdiction, close air support and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.