F-18 Super Hornet (wallpaper 3) aircraft photo gallery | AirSkyBuster

image dimensions : 1092 x 682

F-18 Super Hornet (wallpaper 3). F-18 Super Hornet aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. F-18 Super Hornet airplane pictures collection 3. The Super Hornet was first ordered by the U.S. Navy in 1992. The Navy would also direct that this fighter replace the aging F-14 Tomcat, essentially basing all naval combat jets on Hornet variants until the introduction of the F-35C Lightning II. The Navy retained the F/A-18 designation to help sell the program to Congress as a low-risk "derivative", though the Super Hornet is largely a new aircraft. The Hornet and Super Hornet share many design and flight characteristics, including avionics, ejection seats, radar, armament, mission computer software, and maintenance/operating procedures. In particular the initial F/A-18E/F retained most of the avionics systems from the F/A-18C/D's then current configuration. The Super Hornet first flew on 29 November 1995. Initial production on the F/A-18E/F began in 1995. F-18 Super Hornet (wallpaper 3). F-18 Super Hornet aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. F-18 Super Hornet airplane pictures collection 3. Flight testing started in 1996 with the F/A-18E/F's first carrier landing in 1997. Low-rate production began in March 1997 with full production beginning in September 1997. Testing continued through 1999, finishing with sea trials and aerial refueling demonstrations. Testing involved 3,100 test flights covering 4,600 flight hours. The Super Hornet underwent U.S. Navy operational tests and evaluations in 1999, and was approved in February 2000. The Navy considers acquisition of the Super Hornet a success with it meeting cost, schedule, and weight (400 lb, 181 kg below) requirements. Despite having the same general layout and systems, the Super Hornet differs in many ways from the original F/A-18 Hornet. The Super Hornet is informally referred to as the "Rhino" to distinguish it from earlier model "legacy" Hornets and prevents confusion in radio calls. This aids safe flight operations, since the catapult and arresting systems must be set differently for the heavier Super Hornet. The "Rhino" nickname was earlier used by the F-4 Phantom II, retired from the fleet in 1987. F-18 Super Hornet (wallpaper 3). F-18 Super Hornet aircraft images wallpaper gallery 3. F-18 Super Hornet airplane pictures collection 3.