F/A-18

Legendary “Sled Driver” Brian Shul tells the story behind his famed SR-71 Blackbird Ground Speed Check

Legendary “Sled Driver” Brian Shul tells the story behind his famed SR-71 Blackbird Ground Speed Check

“‘Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?’ There was a longer than normal pause … ‘Aspen,… Read More

2 weeks ago

Naval Aviator explains why the F/A-18 has its rudders deflected inward during cat shot

One interesting thing about the F/A-18 is that during the cat shot its rudders are deflected inward. The F/A-18 Hornet… Read More

4 weeks ago

Chief Petty Officer explains why the US Navy gave up plans to fit conformal fuel tanks on its F/A-18 Super Hornet fleet

In 2018 the Pentagon announced that Boeing had been awarded a contract for the design, development, test and integration of… Read More

2 months ago

US Navy issues Boeing $200 million to keep its F/A-18E/F production line humming ahead of a congressionally mandated 20 Super Hornet strike fighter buy

The Jun. 1, 2023 Defense Department contract announcement says that the contract modification specifically “procures critical long lead material and… Read More

4 months ago

That time a Boat Captain asked to a US Navy F/A-18 pilot to buzz his ship “Like Tom Cruise Did On Top Gun”

Matt Wirt, a US Coast Guard Charter Captain from Wilmington got a surprise fly-by guest on Aug. 29, 2018 after… Read More

5 months ago

US Navy F/A-18 pilot tells the story of when he and his wingman were able to RTB after their Hornets collided during air combat training

The F/A-18 Hornets involved were 162454 (‘AF 03’ – this is the blue one) and 162475 (‘AF 12’ – the… Read More

5 months ago

Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation raises concerns over of the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet IRST Block II

The F/A-18 Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Block II operational testing is delayed until 2QFY24 due to hardware… Read More

8 months ago

F-4 Pilot tells the story of when his Phantom II Outran an F/A-18 Hornet and Zoomed at 82,125 Feet per Minute

‘When the Hornet maxed out at Mach 1.6 (didn’t make its max), I was approaching Mach 2 and closing rapidly,’… Read More

9 months ago

From the F-14 retirement to dogfighting against the F/A-18: former Tomcat RIO answers your questions

‘The Hornet and Super Hornet would be challenging opponents in an engagement. As a baseline initial move, the F-14 Tomcat… Read More

10 months ago

From the F-35A Lightning II debut to the F/A-18 Hornet demo team with Schlieren Effect: cool video features the highlights of 2022 Swiss Air Force’s Axalp Air Power Demonstration

The 2022 edition of the Swiss Air Force’s Axalp Air Power demonstration marked the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II’s debut.… Read More

11 months ago

US Navy Super Hornet makes first flight with Litening targeting pod. The Litening will replace the ATFLIR legacy targeting pods on the F/A-18 fleet.

Northrop Grumman’s Litening advanced targeting pod has successfully completed its first test flights on the US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.… Read More

1 year ago

Intruder Vs Legacy Hornet: Naval Aviator who flew both explains why the A-6 was like a ’65 Ford F-100 while the F/A-18 was like an ’84 Pontiac Fiero

‘I'm tremendously thankful to have flown both and while the Hornet got me in and out of combat, I'll always… Read More

1 year ago

F/A-18 Super Hornet on USS Harry S. Truman blown off deck in Mediterranean Sea due to unexpected heavy weather

A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) aircraft carrier sailing in the Mediterranean Sea… Read More

1 year ago

After a Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Super Hornet caused $180,000 in building damage while performing the “sneak pass,” the team had to change their show

The sneak pass maneuver has been safely performed for decades at air shows around the country, and the El Centro… Read More

1 year ago

First RAAF Pilot to Clock 4,000 Hours on F/A-18 Strike Fighters

Squadron Leader Daniel Grealy’s milestone includes 1500 hours on F/A-18A/B Hornets and 2500 hours on F/A-18F Super Hornets. In a… Read More

1 year ago

Top Gun: Maverick takes us on its Mighty Wings

The sequel to the 1986 classic delivers the goods and none too soon. 36 years after the release of the… Read More

1 year ago