The time has come to begin development on a rework of one of Infinite Flight’s most legacy aircraft, the F/A-18. The F18 has a long history of service in militaries around the world. With that, comes many variants! This is where you come in.
You, the community, have an opportunity to cast a vote below for the F/A-18 variant that’ll enter development.
Why the F/A-18?
Our military fleet is in need of some love. While not the most widely used set of aircraft in Infinite Flight, fighters and military cargo planes have a strong group of passionate virtual aviators flying them. The F/A-18 is a popular fighter jet included with the app download and is the most-selected military aircraft a new user will fly which makes it the perfect aircraft to enter development, following a string of recent airliners. It is one of the most widely used fighters by militaries around the world, making it a popular choice for military VO’s. Lastly, the abundance of data available for the F/A-18 makes it a great choice for a military rework.
Why the C or E variant?
We’ve decided to host a poll between two of the most popular single-seat variants of the F18 because of their operational roles vs its two-seater counterparts which serves almost exclusively as a training platform (F/A-18B). Both the F/A-18C & E have their own unique characteristics and operators which make them perfect for a head to head community poll.
F/A-18C Hornet
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The F/A-18C is a multi-role fighter used primarily in the fighter or attack configuration with the ability to carry heavy payloads to engage a wide variety of targets. Used by militaries around the world, this agile single-seat fighter has been the aircraft of choice to fulfill just about every role!
Potential liveries/operators for the F/A-18C are more abundant and diverse, to include the US Navy Operational and Demonstration Squadrons (Blue Angels 1992-2020), US Marine Corps, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Kuwait Air Force, Spanish Air Force, Finnish Air Force, and the Swiss Air Force.
F/A-18E Super Hornet
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The F/A-18E Super Hornet is a single-seat fighter that improves on it’s smaller (25%) F18C predecessor. With a higher payload, longer range, and upgraded avionics, this multi-role fighter is truly an engineering marvel.
As a newer variant, the F/A-18E has few operators with less global representation. Liveries may be included from the US Navy Operational and Demonstration Squadrons (Blue Angels 2020-Present) and Kuwait Air Force.
Technical Comparison
| Specification | F/A-18C Hornet | F/A-18E Super Hornet |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas & Boeing | Boeing |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Max Speed | M1.8 | M1.6 |
| Range | 1,089NM | 1,275NM |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000ft | 50,000ft |
| Fuel Capacity | 10,860lb internally | 14,700lb internally |
| Dimensions | Span 40’4"/Length 56’1"/Height 15’5" | Span 44’8"/Length 60’1"/Height 16’ |
| Weight | Empty: 23,000lbs/MTOW: 51,900lbs | Empty: 32,081lbs/MTOW: 66,000lbs |
| Payload | 13,700lb (9 hardpoints) | 17,750lb (11 hardpoints) |
| Powerplant | 2 x F404-GE-402 turbofans | 2 x F414-GE-400 turbofans |
- F/A-18C Hornet
- F/A-18E Super Hornet
0 voters
NOTAM
Topic comments must remain respectful and relevant to the F/A-18 variant poll. Off-topic and inappropriate comments will be flagged and hidden.
All aircraft-specific features are TBD and development timelines are subject to change.
