Aggressor Supporter Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 I remember a long time ago (obviously can't remember where) reading that the export Hornets had a 9-G capability. Vaguely, I recall because the export Hornets were land based versions and didn't need all the extra weight of our naval Hornets thus can pull the 9-Gs. The only foreign Hornet demo I've ever seen in person is the Canadian tac demo, but I don't remember hearing the announcer saying how many Gs it can pull when doing the minimum radius turn if at all. If anyone with knowledge of the export Hornet users such as Canadian, Australian, Spanish, Finnish etc can shed some light on this is appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Williams Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Other than some aircraft lacking the carrier launch bar strut, I'm not aware that foreign Hornets are structurally any different than USN/USMC versions. While there was talk of a "land-based" Hornet early in the program, it ever came to fruition. As originally conceived, Northrop (who designed the YF-17 that lead to the Hornet) would sell the lighter land based F-18L, while MDD would sell the heavier carrier based F/A-18. However, MDD competed with Northrop for foreign contracts, and after some lawsuits, Northrop dropped out and MDD took over the entire Hornet program and sold "their" version of the Hornet to everyone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Agree with Dave, RAAF Hornets were built to the USN Spec minus the launch bar (though now its being refitted due to nose wheel shimmy problems). Structually they are the same as USN/USMC aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I think the only difference is ours last longer due to not having the stress of carrier operations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NaOH Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Same aircraft as the US ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I think (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that USN/USMC Hornets physically CAN pull 9G's, they are just restricted to less in order to make the airframes last longer. As was pointed out, same aircraft, but the carriers take a heavy toll on them. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I think the only difference is ours last longer due to not having the stress of carrier operations. Wrong, taxing three miles to the end of the runway with a full load of bombs and fuel in Cold Lake is much more stressful than a catapult launch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I think (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that USN/USMC Hornets physically CAN pull 9G's, they are just restricted to less in order to make the airframes last longer. As was pointed out, same aircraft, but the carriers take a heavy toll on them. Aaron Correct, we restricted the Gs to prolong the life of our jets. Whenever one of our pilots pulled 8 plus g's we grounded the jet and did checks on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I have a book which states that export C/D-model (Finnish, Malaysian, Kuwaiti and Swiss) Hornets can in fact pull 9G. The book I read it in is "F/A-18 Hornet - A Navy success story", by Dennis R. Jenkins, published by Aviation Week books. It says nothing about the US Hornets being able to pull 9G though... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I *think* the Finnish and Swiss Hornets are also designated, F-18 ... Not F/A-18 ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 ^ Officially, yes. At least here in Finland. Also the media seems to use this designation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Can't help you with the G's but if you want to see awesome video footages of Swiss Hornets, get the "Ice Hornet" video by Lionel Charlet: http://www.air-shop.ch/eshop/product_info....Ice-Hornet.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I *think* the Finnish and Swiss Hornets are also designated, F-18 ... Not F/A-18 ... That's just a paper designation because these aircraft are strictly used for the air defence role by these air forces (at the moment). Structurally, they are identical to their dualrole brethren. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 (at the moment) Exactly. That doctrine might change in the near future though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) It's a good thing the export Hornets are structurally similar. Now that Switzerland has it's OWN AIRCRAFT CARRIER. :bandhead2: Edited June 25, 2009 by ChernayaAkula Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cadfael Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Early in the CF-18's career we had one pull around 11 G's, but he was heading straight down just before doing it. McAir came up and virtually disassembled the aircraft to see how much damage had been done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunliner Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I think I had read (via our own Scooby IIRC) that the CAF has had to replace the fuselage 'barrels" due to the torsion or similar stress from taxying (taxiing?) long distances. Haven't heard of similar problems with USN Hornets. -Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cadfael Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 The Navy has been replacing C/D model centre barrels since 2001 due to the increased operations tempo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 The Center Barrel work here in the US may be coming to an end though with that money being used to go towards the purchase of more Super Hornets instead... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Thanks to everyone for your inputs and experiences. I've learned something new about the Hornet today. Can't help you with the G's but if you want to see awesome video footages of Swiss Hornets, get the "Ice Hornet" video by Lionel Charlet:http://www.air-shop.ch/eshop/product_info....Ice-Hornet.html I've read about that video before and heard about the great aerial footage. Just might order it. It's a good thing the export Hornets are structurally similar. Now that Switzerland has it's OWN AIRCRAFT CARRIER. :lol: :lol: I guess those Swiss Hornets is going to need that JATO thing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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