Home

American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

Fighters For The Missile Era

A-18, YF-17

Page 19

An attack version, the A-18, was announced in June 1976 to replace the A-7 Corsairs in the Navy’s 24 attack squadrons. This version had nine weapons stations and electronics chosen for ground targets. An F-18L designation was promulgated for a lighter land-based version offered for export to NATO in November, but no buyers appeared then. NORTHROP YF-17

In September 1978, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) VADM Frederick C. Turner, chose the unusual designation F/A-18 to represent the naval strike fighter. Jack Krings flew the first F/A-18A Hornet on November 18, 1978, at St. Louis, and armament included a 20-mm M61 with 400 rounds in the nose, two AIM-9L Sidewinders on wingtip rails, and a pair of AIM-7F Sparrows under the engine nacelles.

Five other stations could be used for three 330-gallon drop tanks with two more Sparrows or four more Sidewinders. Ground attack weapons could include a choice of four Mk 84 or ten Mk 82 bombs, four AGM-65E or AGM-88 air-to-ground missiles, two B61 nuclear bombs, eight rocket pods, or four laser-guided bombs for precision strikes when a FLIR heat seeker and a laser spot tracker replaced the Sparrows. Up to 13,700 pounds of stores could be lifted, and a retractable refueling probe was provided. McDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18A (1981)

Computer-controlled leading and trailing edge wing flaps are part of the digital fly-by-wire system. Hughes APG-65 multi-mode radar, ASN-130 navigation set and defensive chaff/flare dispensers helped the pilot.

Since the high cost of Grumman’s F-14 limited that two-seater program to 18 of the Navy’s fighter squadrons on the larger carriers, the first Hornets were expected to equip the remaining six Navy fighter squadrons on the Midway-class ships and 12 Marine fighter squadrons would get single-seat F/A-18As to replace their F-4 Phantoms. Production plans for these 18 squadrons, plus six reserve squadrons and an annual attrition of 4.5 percent, were expanded with the decision to replace all 24 light attack squadrons with Hornets.

While a Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) was commissioned as VFA-125 in November 1980, VMFA-314 did not become the first operational F/A-18A Marine squadron until January 1983. Navy Fighter Attack squadrons retained the VFA designation although renamed Strike Fighter squadrons on March 25, 1983. A-7E units converted to F/A-18s as VF-113 and VF-125 first deployed on the Constellation on its February to August 1985 WESTPAC cruise.

The St. Louis factory produced 380 single-seat F/A-18A Hornets and 41 two-seat F/A-18B trainers. McDonnell also built 98 CF-18As and 41 CF-18B trainers for Canada from October 1982 to September 1988, and 57 AF/A-18A Hornets with 18 AF/A-18Bs assembled in Australia, beginning in June 1985. Spain began receiving 60 F-18A (C.15) fighters and 12 CE.15 trainers in July 1986.

[ B- 24 / Home ] [Back] [ Continue]

Want information on other Combat Planes? Search the rest of our site.