McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 HORNET

The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role combat aircraft manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (part of Boeing since 1997). The first flight took place in November 1978, followed by entry into service in January 1983.

As one of the best-known fighter jets in the world, the F/A-18 Hornet has been produced over 2,000 times since 1980. The supersonic multi-purpose combat aircraft was primarily designed for use on the large US Navy aircraft carriers and can also be refuelled in flight.

Characteristic features are the eye-catching strakes (the part of the wing that runs forward along the fuselage), which enable particularly high angles of attack of over 50° in flight, and the reliability of the technical systems with relatively short maintenance times. The bubble-shaped dome and three multifunctional displays in the cockpit give the pilot a very good overview, and the turning characteristics of the twin-engine Hornet are among the best in the world in visual air combat.

In the course of time, several other countries such as Australia, Finland, Canada, Spain, and Switzerland also acquired the F/A-18 Hornet, although they use the aircraft exclusively from airfields on land.

At AIRPOWER24, an F-18 Hornet from the Swiss and Finnish Air Forces will be in the Flying Display to delight aviation fans.

McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 HORNET

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