Mercedes Mullins
The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-capable multirole fighter aircraft designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas. The Hornet has been noted to have a limited combat radius and runs out of fuel relatively fast. The Super Hornet, an upgraded version of the Hornet, can carry additional fuel in up to five external fuel tanks and can also be configured as an airborne tanker for refueling other aircraft. The Advanced Super Hornet prototype, which was not pursued, featured conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) that would have allowed for an additional 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) of fuel.
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What You'll Learn
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can carry five external fuel tanks
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a strike fighter aircraft that can carry out air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It is a larger and more advanced variant of the F/A-18 Hornet, designed to address the limitations of its predecessor, including its combat radius. The Super Hornet has an impressive fuel capacity, owing to its ability to carry additional fuel in up to five external fuel tanks.
The Super Hornet's ability to carry extra fuel externally significantly enhances its range and endurance. This capability is particularly advantageous for long-duration missions or operations far from refuelling bases. With these external fuel tanks, the Super Hornet can carry a total of 29,000 pounds (13,000 kilograms) of fuel, including the internal tanks.
The external fuel configuration typically includes an external 330 US gallon (1,200 litres) tank with a hose reel on the centreline. This centreline tank is supplemented by four additional external fuel tanks, each with a capacity of 480 US gallons (1,800 litres). These external tanks not only increase the Super Hornet's fuel capacity but also contribute to its operational flexibility.
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's ability to carry five external fuel tanks underscores its versatility and adaptability to various mission requirements. This fuel capacity also enables the aircraft to undertake aerial refuelling, serving as an airborne tanker for other aircraft. The Super Hornet's design, with its external fuel tank configuration, ensures that it can effectively meet the demands of extended missions and support other aircraft in their operations.
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The aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a highly versatile aircraft, capable of being adapted for various missions. One of its notable capabilities is its ability to be configured as an airborne tanker, providing aerial refuelling support to other aircraft. This functionality enhances the Super Hornet's operational flexibility and extends the range of the supported aircraft.
The Super Hornet's tanker configuration includes an external air-to-air refuelling system, allowing it to transfer fuel to other planes while in flight. This system typically consists of an external centreline hose-and-drogue refuelling unit and additional fuel tanks. The external tank mounted on the centreline can hold up to 330 US gallons (1,200 litres) of fuel, while four other external tanks can each carry 480 US gallons (1,800 litres), contributing to a substantial total fuel capacity.
The ability to refuel aircraft in the air is a significant advantage, ensuring that planes returning from missions with low fuel can be topped up before landing. This refuelling capability extends the range and endurance of the supported aircraft, enabling them to remain airborne for longer durations or to reach more distant targets. The Super Hornet's aerial refuelling capability also allows for more efficient fuel management, as aircraft can take off with less fuel to reduce weight and then refuel in the air to complete their missions.
The Super Hornet's design has considered the importance of improving bring-back weight, providing a more flexible margin than its predecessor, the legacy Hornet. This enhancement allows the Super Hornet to carry more fuel and munitions, increasing its effectiveness in strike missions. The aircraft's ability to serve as an airborne tanker further contributes to its tactical advantage in the battlefield, ensuring that multiple targets can be engaged without individual aircraft running out of fuel.
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The Hornet has a limited combat radius
The Hornet's limited range has been recognised since its inception, with the "Hornet 2000" concept proposed in the 1980s aiming to address this issue by increasing the aircraft's size to allow for more fuel and more powerful engines. However, these changes were not implemented due to the end of the Cold War and subsequent military budget cuts.
The Super Hornet, an improved variant of the Hornet, offers a more flexible margin to bring back stores and can be equipped with conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) to increase its fuel capacity. The use of CFTs can expand the combat range by a significant amount, up to 260 nautical miles (300 miles or 480 km). However, there are also drawbacks to consider, such as increased wave drag and the associated negative impact on transonic acceleration.
The Hornet's role as a strike fighter capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground/surface missions means that its range is a crucial factor in its operational effectiveness. While the Super Hornet has made improvements in this regard, the original Hornet continues to have a limited combat radius that can restrict its performance in certain situations.
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The Hornet can go 500 miles at sea level before needing to refuel
The Hornet's fuel capacity is a crucial factor in its operational capabilities. According to a user on Reddit, the Hornet can go approximately 500 miles at sea level before needing to refuel. This estimate is based on the aircraft's performance with a specific loadout, including four mavericks and a centreline tank.
It's important to note that the Hornet's range can vary depending on various factors, including altitude, speed, and loadout. At higher altitudes, such as 36,000 feet, the Hornet's range can increase significantly, reaching up to 990 miles before needing to refuel. Therefore, pilots typically climb to higher altitudes to optimise their fuel efficiency and maximise their range.
The Hornet's fuel capacity can be enhanced through the use of external fuel tanks. The aircraft is designed with three plumbed fuel tank stations – stations 3, 5, and 7. Typically, the Hornet can carry up to three external fuel tanks, including a centre tank and two wing tanks. This configuration allows for creative loadout arrangements, such as the "double ugly" setup, where one centreline and one wing tank are utilised, freeing up space for additional payload.
Additionally, the Hornet's derivative, the Super Hornet, introduced even greater fuel capacity and flexibility. The Super Hornet can carry up to five external fuel tanks, significantly extending its range. Furthermore, the Super Hornet can be equipped with an aerial refuelling system (ARS) or a "'buddy store," enabling it to refuel other aircraft, a capability that enhances its tactical versatility.
In conclusion, while the Hornet's range is influenced by various factors, it is generally accepted that at sea level, it can cover approximately 500 miles before needing to refuel. This range can be extended through the use of external fuel tanks and by optimising altitude and speed. The Super Hornet, with its enhanced fuel capacity and refuelling capabilities, further underscores the importance of fuel efficiency and flexibility in modern military aircraft design.
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The Super Hornet has improved bring-back weight compared to the original Hornet
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a modernised and improved version of the original Hornet, also known as the F/A-18 Hornet or F/A-18C/D Hornet. The Super Hornet is a largely new aircraft, addressing the limitations of the previous F/A-18 models. One of its key improvements is its increased bring-back weight capability.
The Super Hornet has a larger internal fuel capacity, carrying 33% more fuel than the original Hornet. This increased fuel capacity contributes to a significant enhancement in the aircraft's mission range and endurance. Specifically, the Super Hornet boasts a 41% increase in mission range and a 50% improvement in endurance compared to its predecessor.
The ability to carry more fuel is due to the Super Hornet's larger size. It is about 20% larger and 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) heavier than the original Hornet. This increase in size and weight allows for greater fuel capacity and contributes to the improved bring-back capability.
The Super Hornet's enhanced bring-back capability also extends to its ability to recover unused weapons. The aircraft can return to an aircraft carrier with a larger load of unspent fuel and munitions, which is referred to as its "bring-back" capability. The Super Hornet can bring back in excess of 9,000 lb (4,100 kg), showcasing a significant improvement over the original Hornet.
The design improvements in the Super Hornet, including its increased bring-back weight capacity, make it a more attractive option compared to the previous Hornet models. The Super Hornet's ability to carry more fuel and munitions contributes to its extended mission range and endurance, making it a more capable and versatile aircraft for various operations.
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Frequently asked questions
The F/A-18 Hornet can carry up to five external fuel tanks. The aircraft can also be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air-to-air refuelling system.
The Super Hornet has a total fuel capacity of 29,000 pounds (13,000 kg) with the Aerial Refuelling System (ARS), which includes an external 330 US gallons (1,200 litres) tank and four external 480 US gallons (1,800 litres) tanks, along with internal tanks.
The range of the Hornet depends on various factors such as altitude, payload and speed. At sea level, the Hornet can fly approximately 500 miles before hitting 2000 lbs of fuel. At 36,000 feet, the range increases to about 990 miles.
The Hornet has a limited combat radius compared to other aircraft like the Super Hornet, Phantoms, A-7s, A-6s and F-14s. The Super Hornet variant has a larger wing and a longer fuselage, allowing it to carry more fuel and improving its range.
