command patchVT-86 Sabrehawks // Training Air Wing Six

F/A-18D Hornet

Aircraft Profile

F/A-18D Hornet

Primary Functions - Attack and destroy surface targets, day or night, under all weather conditions; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all weather conditions.

Features - Marine F/A-18D aircraft are unique within the Department of the Navy because the Marine Corps employs the F/A-18D as a tactical strike aircraft while the Navy uses it as a trainer. Marine F/A-18Ds may be land-based from prepared airfields, or they can operate from expeditionary airfields (EAF). They may also be sea-based, operating from the decks of Navy aircraft carriers.

AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Length56 feet
Height15 feet 5 inches
Wingspan37 feet 6 inches
Thrust16,000 pounds per engine
Empty Weight23,000 pounds
Maximum Takeoff Weight51,900 pounds
Maximum AirspeedMach 1.8
Ferry Range1,800 nautical miles
Combat Range
(fighter mission)
400 nautical miles
Combat Range
(attack mission)
575 nautical miles
Service Ceiling50,000 feet
Crew2

Armament - Nine external wing stations, comprising two wingtip stations for AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; two outboard wing stations for an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9 Sidewinders, AMRAAMs, AGM-84 Harpoons and AGM-65 Maverick missiles; two inboard wing stations for external fuel tanks or air-to-ground stations; two nacelle fuselage stations for Sparrows or AN/AAS-38 Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) pods; and a center station for fuel tank or air-to-ground weapons such as GBU-10 and -12 laser guided bombs, Mk 80 series general purpose bombs, and CBU-59 cluster bombs. An M61 20mm six-barrel gun is mounted in the nose and has a Boeing director gunsight.

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