McDonnell CF-18 Hornet in Detail

The sun shone, the band played, military men snapped rigid salutes, and there were many speeches, but the real star of the event was the airplane - the CF-18.

A few minutes past noon on Wednesday, July 28, 1982, the McDonnell Aircraft Co. rolled out the first of 138 CF-18 fighters for the Canadian Armed Forces at its St. Louis, Mo. factory.

The CF-18s will be the first all-new fighters for the Forces in more than two decades and the acquisition program is the largest in the Canadian military's history at $5,194 million. The purchase of the CF-18s, associated weapons, spare parts and training, as well as new support services and equipment (including electronic flight simulators), formally known as the New Fighter Aircraft (NFA) program, officially got under way in April, 1980 with the signing of the supply contract, after delays, discussions, changes of government and studies dating back to 1967, when the need for new equipment was first recognized.

Beginning in October, 1982, when the CF received its first CF-18, Canadians will be assured of again operating the most capable fighter aircraft in the world. The advances, mostly in electronics, over the past few years of the Hornet's development have permitted a comparatively small fighter such as the Hornet to offer versatility in roles, high performance, and an exceptionally high degree of reliability and maintainability. Other leading fighters of the day may be marginally better in some aspect or another, but probably none rates as well across the board. Canada's decision to buy the Hornet , questioned in the very early days of the program, seems to have been vindicated by more recent events.

Initial U.S. Hornet squadrons have found the aircraft a pleasure to fly, and are impressed with the high aircraft availability. The decisions by Australia and, more recently, Spain, to buy 75 and 84 F-18s respectively have further enhanced the airplane's reputation and will help reduce McDonnell Douglas Corp. overheads for the entire production run.

Donald Malvern, president of McDonnell Aircraft said at a news conference following the roll-out, that the F-18 program will probably reach more than 2,500 aircraft over the next 15 to 20 years. Canada's order is less expensive than later orders, and the contract contains provisions for the purchase of additional aircraft at comparatively low prices, if desired by Canadian authorities.

Canada's investment in the CF-18 is large, by any standards and, as the federal government's policy on offshore procurement demands, is balanced with a program of industrial benefits.

McDonnell F-18A Hornet Specifications

The F/A-18A is a two company joint development program to provide the U.S. Navy with a replacement aircraft for the current F-4, and the A-7 Corsair II. The fighter is a more advanced model of the Northrop P-530 which formed the basis for the YF-17 prototype. The 17 first flew on the 8th of June, 1974, as one of two competing designs in a light weight fighter study. The F-18 definitive aircraft will have increased wing area from the YF-17, with a wider and longer fuselage, and an enlarged nose for a larger radar, as well as some 4400 pounds of additional fuel. The current YF-17 has been designated as the F-18 Hornet prototype, and the first 18 to the above standard will fly during 1978. It is anticipated that 881 of these will be delivered to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp. The 18-A version is 60 percent produced by McDonnell Douglas, and 40 percent by Northrop.

The fighter is twin engined, powered by two General Electric F-404 low by pass turbojets. They produce 16,000 pounds of thrust each in afterburner. The Hornet airframe uses about 55 percent aluminum, about 14 percent steel, 8 percent titanium, and 10 percent composite materials. Roll control is provided by ailerons coupled with differential movement on the horizontal tail- plane. The ailerons also can be drooped for approach and landing, along with the trailing edge flaps, thereby reducing landing speed. The twin vertical stabilizers are each fitted with a single piece rudder for lateral control, and the all moving tailplane also provides pitch control in the conventional manner. All controls are fly by wire, with four redundant channels; as well there is a hydromechanical backup to this electrical system. The F-18A is a single seat fighter, employing "a hands on stick and throttle" weapon control system.The aircraft is fitted with a multimode radar coupled with three TV tube displays in the cockpit, and a head up display. The radar is a pulse Doppler type, having a track while scan capability. The aircraft is also equipped with an inertial navigation platform, as well as two digital computers for mission control. Standard missiles will be the AIM-7 and AIM-9, and the F-18 is fitted internally with the M-61 20mm cannon. The fighter can carry up to 19,000 pounds of external stores.

Prime Contractor McDonnell Aircraft Company division, McDonnell Douglas Corporation
Type Single-seat, twin-turbofan aircraft for fighter and attack missions.
Powerplant Two General Electric F404-GE-400 low by- pass turbofan engines; each in the 16,000 pound thrust class; thrust-to-weight 8-l.
Length 56 feet
Height 15.3 feet
Wingspan 37.5 feet
Wing Area 400 square feet
Speed Mach 1.8 plus (Mach 1+ at Intermediate Power).
First Flight November 1978
Crew One (two in trainer version)
Range Combat, 400 + Nautical Miles; Ferry, 2000 + NM
Combat Ceiling 50,000 feet (approx.)
Fuel 11,000 pounds internal (approx.), 16,000 pounds with external tanks (approx)
Gross Weight 35,000 pounds (approx.), fighter escort mission
Armament Up to 19,000 pounds maximum on nine stations - two wing-tip for Sidewinder heat - seeking missiles; two outboard wing for air- to-ground ordnance; two inboard wing for Sparrow radar-guided missiles, air-to-ground or fuel tanks; two nacelle fuselage for Sparrow missiles, or sensor pods; one centerline for weapons, sensor pods, or tank. Internal 20mm cannon mounted in nose.

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