Lance Lemcool, e-mail, 04.02.2026 20:51 I stand humbly corrected...

Charles Caldwell, e-mail, 12.09.2012 22:14 Few people know the story of how mid level officers in the Pentagon realized the Air Force cannot buy the number of F-15's needed to defend America. They knew generals don't want a more affordable fighter so they hid the development of the F-16 in research contracts. The Air Force didn't want the A-10 either to protect ground troops. The secretary of defense forced the projects on the air force. When request for proposals came out Northrop wanted to be part of the contest and built the YF-17 with two engines. Navy officers were afraid they will be forced to buy naval F-16's and had a rush program to develop their "affordable fighter". I don't know if Northrop realized to sell the design to the navy they need a navy contractor or if Douglas asked to partner to sell the contract. A great book is about John Boyd - believe rest of title is he revolutionized war in the air and on the ground. The first F-16 had direct costs of about $10 million with 6 borrowed engines from the navy for the two prototypes, borrowed radar from other airplanes, and may have had ejection seat from another airplane to get it in the air. Boyd is also known for the OODA loop (not sure of spelling) used to gain air superiority over enemy pilots in fighters before the F-15, F-16 and F-18. With the exception of the A4 older generation fighters didn't have the wing area to have excellent maneuverability to fight better in dogfights. Boyd was questioned about fuel payload on the F-16 by a general and he quoted specifications in pounds to say it has less range so the design spec cannot be sabotaged to be less than the F-15. When in fact the design was designed to stay airborne longer or close to where needed longer to fight longer if needed. After retired Boyd studied ground warfare success. And was invited by VP Cheney to advise him about his thoughts on invading Iraq. Schwarzkopf's first order of battle was for a WWI type fight that may take years and thousands of lives to win. The second order of battle was more a Panzer like operation to find entry to take over Iraqs command and control centers. Winning the war in around 110 days with only around 100 Americans dead in the invasion. The book is an interesting read on Pentagon infighting over programs.

Scott, e-mail, 23.02.2012 18:14 Actually Lance, it did replace the F-4. But it was in the MarinecCorps not the Navy. I was in one of those squadrons. VMFAV-115 was the first east coast squadron to retire its phantoms and stand up as an F/A-18 squadron.

Eric Ray, e-mail, 30.05.2011 06:51 I worked at McDonnell in the St. Charles avionics laboratory in 1978-79. Was at the flight line the evening the Hornet was first fired up and taxied. I saw the first flight. I did FA-18 ACL integration testing. Sat in the cockpit of the #3 aircraft and pushed the ACL button on the UFC. I never got to see the ACL land an aircraft on a carrier. Suppose it worked just fine.

Dakota, 12.05.2011 22:16 I'm doing a project over this and i need some real good information over this aircraft

Lance Lemcool, e-mail, 17.03.2011 23:45 Incorrect info in the above write-up. F/A-18's never replaced the F-4. When they were first introduced they replaced the A-7 Corsair. Eventually, the A-4 Skyhawk and A-1 Spad went away too, although most of these squadrons had transitioned to the A-7. Agree with Russ. The F/A-18 can't even be in the same airspace as the A-6 intruder vis-a-vis attack role.

E. Adam, 25.02.2011 23:26 The FA-18 Hornet is not only a superb and reliable air-to-air and air-to-surface multi-role aircraft, It was the first production tactical aircraft with a 'Glass Cockpit' and fully electronic Helmet Mounted Display and Tracking System.

sachit kshatriya, e-mail, 21.11.2010 12:11 coolest aircraft ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Cpt. Fucko, e-mail, 24.08.2010 22:37 Hey....the plane put the F-14 out of business, whaddaya expect? lol Good plane though.

Dylan, e-mail, 18.03.2010 16:47 man this web is like so dumb there is no information :)::):):):):)xD

justin, e-mail, 18.03.2010 16:40 y is there no good info on here??

James, e-mail, 11.06.2008 03:53 The F/A18 has got to be the most versitle combat aircraft ever built. Its relative flexibality and affordability puts the stealth aircraft to shame.

Ken Langford, e-mail, 15.05.2008 03:40 Having over 8,000 hours in high performance tactical jet aircraft at the time in 1983, my first flight in the Hornet was the culmination of what I believe a fighter airplane should be. I still believe it.

Russ Early, e-mail, 23.04.2008 05:28 The F/a-18 may have filled the hangers and ramp space at NAS Oceana, and Taken the Deck space on U.S. Carriers but in no way has it or will it ever fill the role of the A-6 Intruder.