Posted on Apr 16, 2023
The US Navy's Super Hornets are having trouble keeping up with the rest of the military's fighter...
263
16
2
6
6
0
Though the US Navy's Hornet and Super Hornet fighters share a name and look similar, they are far from the same plane.
The earliest version of the Hornet, the F/A-18A, first flew in 1978. The Super Hornet — which includes the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F — made its maiden flight in 1995.
Despite having a similar name, the Super Hornet is essentially a new aircraft, with a bigger airframe, more powerful engines, a longer range, and the ability to carry a larger payload.
When it comes to readiness to fly, however, the older Hornet beats its younger cousin. In fact, the F/A-18E/F has lower availability rates than US Air Force jets, and that has experts wondering about the long-term viability of the Super Hornet fleet.
The earliest version of the Hornet, the F/A-18A, first flew in 1978. The Super Hornet — which includes the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F — made its maiden flight in 1995.
Despite having a similar name, the Super Hornet is essentially a new aircraft, with a bigger airframe, more powerful engines, a longer range, and the ability to carry a larger payload.
When it comes to readiness to fly, however, the older Hornet beats its younger cousin. In fact, the F/A-18E/F has lower availability rates than US Air Force jets, and that has experts wondering about the long-term viability of the Super Hornet fleet.
The US Navy's Super Hornets are having trouble keeping up with the rest of the military's fighter...
Posted from businessinsider.comPosted in these groups: 
Flying
Flying
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 2
5
5
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The earliest version of the Hornet, the F/A-18A, first flew in 1978. The Super Hornet — which includes the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F — made its maiden flight in 1995.
Despite having a similar name, the Super Hornet is essentially a new aircraft, with a bigger airframe, more powerful engines, a longer range, and the ability to carry a larger payload.
When it comes to readiness to fly, however, the older Hornet beats its younger cousin. In fact, the F/A-18E/F has lower availability rates than US Air Force jets, and that has experts wondering about the long-term viability of the Super Hornet fleet.
The Super Hornet has mostly replaced the Hornet as the Navy's carrier-based fighter. The service is also adding the F-35C to its carrier air wings. But the Marine Corps will continue flying F/A-18C/D Hornets until they are replaced by the F-35B.
Two US Navy maintainers performing maintenance on a F/A-18E Super Hornet.
Sailors replace a valve on an F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard USS Nimitz in December 2022.US Navy/MCS3 Kevin Tang
Because the Super Hornet entered service in 1999 — a decade later than the original Hornet — it's a newer plane and thus tends to have higher average availability, which the Congressional Budget Office defines as the "percentage of time an aircraft can be flown on training or operational missions.""...
..."The earliest version of the Hornet, the F/A-18A, first flew in 1978. The Super Hornet — which includes the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F — made its maiden flight in 1995.
Despite having a similar name, the Super Hornet is essentially a new aircraft, with a bigger airframe, more powerful engines, a longer range, and the ability to carry a larger payload.
When it comes to readiness to fly, however, the older Hornet beats its younger cousin. In fact, the F/A-18E/F has lower availability rates than US Air Force jets, and that has experts wondering about the long-term viability of the Super Hornet fleet.
The Super Hornet has mostly replaced the Hornet as the Navy's carrier-based fighter. The service is also adding the F-35C to its carrier air wings. But the Marine Corps will continue flying F/A-18C/D Hornets until they are replaced by the F-35B.
Two US Navy maintainers performing maintenance on a F/A-18E Super Hornet.
Sailors replace a valve on an F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard USS Nimitz in December 2022.US Navy/MCS3 Kevin Tang
Because the Super Hornet entered service in 1999 — a decade later than the original Hornet — it's a newer plane and thus tends to have higher average availability, which the Congressional Budget Office defines as the "percentage of time an aircraft can be flown on training or operational missions.""...
(5)
(0)
4
4
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
(4)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google