The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather
night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production
flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production
switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-
seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in
flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.

RAAF F/A-18B serial A21-103 was built as c/n 0215/ATF103 and along with A21-104 were flown
by C-5 Galaxy to Australia arriving on June 6, 1984. These two aircraft were re-assembled and
when A21-103 rolled out on November 16, 1984 it was considered the first Australian built
Hornet. After flight testing A21-103 was delivered to 20 CU (Conversion Unit) at Williamtown on
May 17, 1985. On January 1, 2005 the aircraft was with the RAAF 3 Squadron at Williamtown.

Specifications for the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B

Role – Fighter/Attack

Manufactured – 1980 to 1987

Numbers Produced
A – 371
B – 40

Crew
A – 1
B – 2

Dimensions
Length – 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
Wingspan – 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m)
Height – 15 ft 4 in (4.66 m)

Weight
Empty – 28,000 lbs (12,700 kg)
Gross – 38,000 lbs (17,240 kg)
Maximum Take-off – 56,000 lb (25,400 kg)

Performance
Engines – 2 X GE F404-GE turbofans producing 10,600 lb.s.t. dry & 15,800 lb.s.t with
afterburning per engine
Fuel
Internal – 1,670 U.S. gal (6,322 l)
External – As many as 3 X 330 U.S. gal (1,249 l) drop tanks
Maximum Fuel – 2,660 U.S. gal (10,070 l)
Maximum Speed – Mach 1.8 1,190 mph (1,915 km/h) @ 35,000 ft (10,670 m)
Landing Speed – 150 mph (241.4 km/h)
Combat Ceiling – 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
Maximum Range – 2,875 miles (4,627 km)
ARMAMENT
1 X 20 mm M61A1 cannon in nose
PLUS
Hard Points
4 X under-wing
2 X fuselage corner stations
1 X center-line
2 X wing-tip
To carry AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles
Or
AIM-7 Sparrow Missiles
Plus
Up to 3 external fuel tanks and other assorted ordnance

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