The McDonnell Douglas Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role carrier-based aircraft. The “E” variant is single-seater while the “F” variant is a tandem-seat configuration. The “E” is a much larger, more advanced and more capable variant of the F/A-18C. The Super variant can carry a larger array of weapons as well as more of them and is capable of returning to the carrier while still carrying unspent munitions, a big savings in dollars. The first F/A-18E flight was in 1995 and began delivery to the USN in 1999.

F/A-18E 165536 assigned to VX-31 “Dust Devils”, an Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at China Lake, California. Next, the aircraft became part of “Top Gun’ located at NAS Fallon, Nevada.

• Role: Multi-role attack and fighter
• Crew: F/A-18E x 1 / F/A-18F x 2
• Dimensions
• Length: 60.3 ft (18.5 m)
• Height: 16 ft (4.87 m)
• Wingspan: 44.9 ft (13.68 m)
• Weight: Maximum Gross Take-off 66,000 lbs (29,932 kg)
• Performance
• Power Plant: 2 x F414-GE-400 turbofans
• Thrust (Static): 22,000 lbs (9,977kg) per engine
• Ceiling: 50,000 ft +
• Speed: Mach 1.8 +
• Armament: 1 x M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon (internal)
• Possible External Payload
• AIM 7 Sparrow
• AIM-120 AMRAAM
• Harpoon
• HARM
• Shrike
• SLAM
• SLAM-ER
• Walleye
• Maverick
• JSOW (Joint-Stand-Off Weapon)
• JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions
• An assortment of bombs, mines and rocket