037 - F/A-18 (Super) Hornet

Рет қаралды 41,133

5 жыл бұрын

What was it designed to do? What does it do well? What ordnance does it carry? Why does it look the way it does…?
…These are a few of the questions retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander Q “BBQ” Sterling answers while explaining the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet on this, our inaugural ‘aircraft series’ episode. These same questions will be posed to future guests on a variety of different military aircraft.
During the listener question segment, we discuss aircraft selection regrets, aircrew height and weight limitations, where Sunshine and Jell-O were on 9/11, and what the Mutha trophy is.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez. Episode artwork by Janek Krause.

Пікірлер: 85

@manni17b 5 жыл бұрын

BBQ could get a job at any radio station, that dude has a smooth voice

@MattWagner 5 жыл бұрын

Great stuff, learned a few things about the fences.

@patentthat 5 жыл бұрын

Morning Wags! Have a good day! Thanks for all you do :)

@bencatlin2459 5 жыл бұрын

This is good stuff. Vietnam ended just as I transitioned to real fighters. Had to switch aircraft. My grandfather started in flying before ailerons were fully deployed. His first trainer "bent the wing spars."

@mikeg2092 2 жыл бұрын

I've been cranking out these podcasts out of order and that is my favorite callsign story so far.

@FighterPilotPodcast 2 жыл бұрын

😎

@superfamilyallosauridae6505 5 жыл бұрын

In fact, for a short while the F-22 was designated F/A-22 and the USN internally refers to the F-35C as "F/A-35" at times.

@GumbosFlyingCircus 5 жыл бұрын

Nice overview...I like the "jack of all trades, master of none" description of a multirole fighter...is fun to fly in DCS World

@Express0083 5 жыл бұрын

I love working out while listening to these podcasts

@yxeaviationphotog 5 жыл бұрын

A bit of correction on the Aussie Hornets coming to the RCAF. The RCAF will take delivery of a mix of A and B models. 25 in total, of which, 18 will end up being operational.

@yxeaviationphotog 5 жыл бұрын

Great episode. Interesting story on holding alert at Fallon, on 9/11. Here in Canada, our Hornet squadrons did the same, including our Operational Training Unit.

@jebb125 2 жыл бұрын

Was on the flight test team during E/F EMD, on 911 the telemetry package was dropped and a gun was Installed. Alert was held on 15 minutes. VX23 legecy hornets also took part.

@fokjohnpainkiller 5 жыл бұрын

Oh this going to be great to listen to later today

@danwatkins9386 5 жыл бұрын

Always great! Never to much info.✈✈✈

@mattzoom8656 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome man

@andreyzhavoronkov6746 5 жыл бұрын

Great episode indeed! Thank you. If you have an opportunity at some later stage, it would be interesting to hear more about the plane. In depth into avionics, handling.. Maybe more C stories :)

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

Sure thing, Andrey.

@paulbarrett9951 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant facts and tribute to the F18 platform, what a weapon! Also BBQs call sign has to be up there with the best ways of how anyone got there's 😂😂😂 .

@Guysm1l3y 5 жыл бұрын

Great episode and good idea on the "brand" name.

@charlieghague 4 жыл бұрын

Hey there, Flyboys! Just discovered this channel and really enjoying the content. My uncle was a F-18 pilot and other members of my family flew for the military as well so this channel is right up my alley.

@FighterPilotPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

Outstanding, welcome Charlie! Be sure to check out our website (www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/) and for exclusive content head on over to our Patreon page (www.patreon.com/ftrpltpdcst). See you around the show!

@fyzy7 3 жыл бұрын

The LEX Fences are actually there to add even more energy to the main vortex and shift the speed&radius of the vortex so that when it hits the vertical fins, it doesn't oscillate at it's natural frequency.

@lawminx6213 4 жыл бұрын

ALWAYS wanted to fly in one of these. Amazing podcast from people truly in the know. Thanks to all 3 of you for this hugely interesting podcast.

@FighterPilotPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome, Law. 😎

@davistalhone9482 4 жыл бұрын

So much useful yet interesting information. Great work.

@FighterPilotPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

Davis Talhone 🙏

@davistalhone9482 4 жыл бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast Agree with you- I think the F-14 just has that vibe about it. I can say this as a civilian aviation aficionado of course, so no speak of actual performance or flight peccadillos to go on but just the sheer size of the plane, the swing-wing, Top Gun, the toys of the 80s (didn't know much about planes when I was watching Robotech and GI Joe and the like). It's an icon. The 18 is mean as hell but just doesn't have that instantly recognizable charm.

@FighterPilotPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

@@davistalhone9482 Totally agree.

@almightyIrie 5 жыл бұрын

i just love this podcast.. not only when you cover my favorite aircraft! that being said, will there be an Episode about my 2nd favorite Aircraft, the F-22, or is it just too classified to talk about in a more detailed manner?

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

Oh, there's always something we can talk about with any aircraft, like the F-22 (or even the SR-71...!)

@patrickchase5614 2 жыл бұрын

I have to admit, when I heard that his callsign was BBQ my "stereotype detector" went to 11. The actual backstory was both reassuring and not at the same time :-)

@Aaron-wq3jz 2 жыл бұрын

It’s happened before

@het61yt 5 жыл бұрын

It would be cool if you guys can interview some Royal Canadian CF-188 pilots. It would beinteresting to hear the difference of our roughly A+ varient equivelent fighters and how they are used and employed for Canada's defense and in combined operations with US allies

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

Gerard Heil we’ll try!

@antimonni 4 жыл бұрын

You guys did miss Finland on the first international users list but I can forgive you that giving it was mentioned later :) The Finnish Air Force got the C/D in -95 and it was then designated the F-18 due to political reasons mostly as it didn't have the A/G software afaik. It was later updated with Mid-Life Upgrade packages MLU1 and MLU2 that added newer avionics and bunch of other improvements including the A/G capability and the FiAF officially changed it to F/A-18 designation while acquiring JDAMs and JASSMs into their inventory. As you may already know the FiAF is currently in the middle of HX Challenge that aims to choose the replacement for it before 2030. Contestants include Saab Gripen E/F, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing Super Hornet and Lockheed F-35...

@BIGFOOTJEEPER92 Жыл бұрын

Goooooodddd morning fighter pilot podcast good One to start Monday off with the f18 hornet lol hope you all have a good Monday and a good week as always oregon is covered in smoke running out if jets to listen about lol

@rahulvinodpatil 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a little disappointed that there was no mention of the Super Hornet criticism that I've read about, including from some legacy Hornet drivers. Things like the wing drop, the ordnance vibration problems, the inability to go supersonic with a moderate ordnance load, or how those issues were fixed (if at all). Some legacy Hornet pilots comments I read were scathing - "we outran them, we outflew them, we ran them out of gas. I was embarassed for them" quote I remember well. The Super Hornet has some door/vent in the LEX to relieve the vortex strength that the fences on the legacy Hornet were retrofitted to solve the tail stress cracks. Nor was there any mention of the engine fires that, at least early A/B models, Hornets were prone to, read something to that effect in a book written early 90s which had a mention of lot of Hornets having to undergo engine swaps due to frequent fires. Also, the F-404 is or was regarded as a great engine because it could go from idle to full A/B in 3 seconds, something other engines which I infer as the F-100 and F-110 can't, is this still not possible in 2020s with the GE F-110-129 and PW F-100-229 motors?

@boyscoutguitarist3921 5 жыл бұрын

The F/A-18B was sometimes used as a photo bird when pilots would train with aim-9(s)

@SDsc0rch 5 жыл бұрын

what a great episode :) thumbs up!

@LRRPFco52 5 жыл бұрын

It wasn't until the past few years I found out why the YF-16 won the LWF competition. They actually had both test pilot teams switch birds so there wouldn't be bias built into the program. The YF-16 & YF-17 never flew against each other. Instead, they kicked the tires, made sure everything worked at Edward's, switched birds with the teams, then flew out to NV to do HAVE DOUGHNUT exploitation against the MiG-21. YF-16 small size, roll rate for reversals against the -21 in rear perch, rear visibility, and deceptive shape all factored in a majority of the pilots (including the Red Eagle feedback) favoring the -16 over the Cobra.

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@LRRPFco52 5 жыл бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast I remember the fly-off at Edwards at the time, (my dad worked on instrumentation for ED then), but don't remember any detailed explanation as to why the YF-16 was picked, other than maybe logistics streamlining with the F100 motor and the F-15 in USAF service. Makes sense now that it took 40 years for the -21 info to come out. Both the YF-16 & Cobra were hot rods with unprecedented climb and turn rates, excellent T/W. Both designs got weighed down a bit to become multi role fighters, which was a much different vision than the LWF guys had in mind. Either way, of the F-16A/C/D's 77 kills, the MiG-21 & MiG-23 have constituted the vast majority of manned TGTs for her, 44 of those in just 2 days over the Bekaa Valley in Israeli AF service in "82, being vectored to the low altitude contacts from flank aspect approach by E-2C and F-15Bs acting as Airborne controllers. F-15As flew higher altitude intercepts with the same flank aspect approach, since the Izzies G2'd the Syrian MiG RWR locations and knew there was side aspect weakness (no coverage). It was a pretty brilliant campaign from start to finish, resulting in all the SAM sites being destroyed, followed by well over 80 MiGs and Sukhois. Brutal. We were in W Germany by then, and I remember all the buzz about it. Love your show btw.

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

@@LRRPFco52 Wow, sounds like you need to write a book! (or maybe you already have...?). Great info, thanks for sharing.

@spookyNorbert 5 жыл бұрын

Vince! Guys! PLEASE do Viper vs Hornet!

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

As an episode?

@danieldunlap4077 5 жыл бұрын

He must not have been on the Kitty Hawk in 2004 when the wire pressure was set to the wrong aircraft causing the wire to snap during night CQs. Vfa-102 lost a bird that night luckily only a few people were severely injured but no deaths. The aircraft went to the water and the pilots ejected safely. Luckily because they were only doing CQs, there were minimal Flight Deck personal on deck.

@bpip000 4 жыл бұрын

Fun episode. In regards to the comment about what plane the Blue Angels flew before the F-18, didn't they transition from the A-4 to the F-18? I remember as a kid having a Blue Angels A-4 model plane.

@slickstrings 5 жыл бұрын

Damn this is difficult. I started to listen to the f5 episode. Then spotted this in the suggestions. Oh, no ill watch that first.... oh crap 4th gen vs 5tg?! Do i watch that first?

@raylauderback5126 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know if it counts, but the Royal Navy's FAA had F/A-2s. They named their upgraded Sea Harriers with the "Fighter Attack" prefix. 👍

@Planehazza 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent episode. I can't help but giggle a little bit at both your pronunciations of 'buttock' - a pair of Forest Gumps :)

@gusporterhouse 5 жыл бұрын

How a pilot named "Rod Sterling" didn't wind up with callsign "Twilight Zone" is a missed opportunity

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

True! Probably too much of a mouthful.

@modscientist9793 Ай бұрын

Oh my God I love the Navy LOL

@atf0013 3 жыл бұрын

Ayyy Delaware

@modscientist9793 Ай бұрын

So mech is like a limp mode for the F-18?

@aaronryan553 3 жыл бұрын

just curious but are you guys going to cover any of the German aircraft of world war 2?

@FighterPilotPodcast 3 жыл бұрын

The answer to any "are you going to cover" question is always the same: sure, if we can find a proper guest.

@mcmoose64 3 жыл бұрын

In Australian service they employ the ASRAAM and a helmet mounted sight.

@scottlink183 2 жыл бұрын

How about an update on the NEW Super Hornet?

@FighterPilotPodcast 2 жыл бұрын

Should cover the Block 3, true.

@Topgunphoto 3 жыл бұрын

Boy, does BBQ sound like Norm MacDonald from SNL.

@SkyhawkSteve 4 жыл бұрын

Cool! I saw the YF-17 fly at MCAS Yuma airshow around 1980 when I was an avionics guy on A-4 Skyhawks. At that time, I got a marketing booklet on the upcoming F-18 from the Douglas rep..... www.flickr.com/photos/kurtsj00/albums/72157639454074654 After getting out of the Corps, I got an engineering degree and got a job at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis. That was when the Blues transitioned to the F-18 and the C & D model came out, with the rudder reinforcements and the fence that modified the vortices coming off the LEX. I did spend a little time in the radar lab, which was interesting... they had a F-15 and a F-18 radar operating in their lab, aimed towards the airport. The F-18 radar was the first to have a hard drive, which allowed the radar software to be changed from A/A to A/G mode (if I recall correctly).

@wumbo9082 4 жыл бұрын

Hey, I have a question and i would love to hear the awnser for it :) First of all how many % E´s and how many % F Hornets are in the Navys arsenal? Are they like 50% E´s and 50% F´s? And the Second Question is: Why did the US Navy purchase not only F/A-18E but also F/A-18F fighterjets. I know the differences between the two "Version" but i am wondering why they choosed to purchase both of them? When the Strike Eagle was developed they just came up with the double Seater Version and never build a single Seater Strike Eagle. So why didn´t the Navy just bought F Versions but also E Versions? Are they using their F Versions primarly for A2G and their E Versions for A2A? And if so couldn´t the F Version just do that A2A task as well, maybe even better with a second pair of Eyes in the back? Would love to hear an awnser from you guys. Awsome Show, thanks a lot :)

@FighterPilotPodcast 4 жыл бұрын

I don't have the firm numbers on Es vs Fs but most air wings will have three E squadrons and one F, so more like 75/25. The Navy purchased both because there are some missions that are better suited to a two-seat model, such as forward air controller (airborne). Except for the FAC(A) mission, both types of squadrons perform all the missions.

@wumbo9082 4 жыл бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast Thanks for the quick awnser :)

@kendog52361 5 жыл бұрын

While it's probably not much use anymore, nor really thought about, often, I'm pretty sure the "Legacy Hornet" was certified for nuclear bombs. I'm not sure, though, whether the Super Hornet was "nuclear certified" or not, but I don't think it was/is.

@lucaswoods1155 4 жыл бұрын

Kenneth Hammer the Super Hornet is nuclear certified

@stevewilson4514 4 жыл бұрын

What special weapon did it carry? The B61?

@kendog52361 4 жыл бұрын

@@stevewilson4514 Currently, the Super Hornet isn't actually Nuclear Weapons Certified, yet. With the German Air Force selecting the Super Hornet to replace their Tornadoes for the NATO Nuclear Sharing Mission, part of the selection and adoption will include certifying the Super Hornet for nuclear Weapons. Also, as far as what weapon it will be carrying, it will be the B61 Mod 12, which will be the standard tactical nuclear bomb in US and NATO Service.

@stevewilson4514 4 жыл бұрын

Kenneth Hammer Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

@tabascoindy5005 Жыл бұрын

Sega Mega2 is preety awesome

@lucaswoods1155 4 жыл бұрын

I have about 1400 hours logged in the F/A-18C Lot 20 died a few hundred times committed fratricide about just as many times scored a few hundred kills competed a few campaigns got a few ribbons and awards in all I’ve probably cost the navy hundreds of millions of dollars in damaged or destroyed aircraft and other vehicles and objects (totally not talking about DCS or anything)

@MasterChief-sl9ro 4 жыл бұрын

Jesus Christ. I feel on the floor laughing so hard my stomach is still hurting. Bernie's Bitch Q.. Are you the Sauce or the Barbie Doll today....

@Magpie4000 5 жыл бұрын

You forgot the F/A-18 can carry CAPTOR mines guys !

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

It can?

@Magpie4000 5 жыл бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast I remember you guys mentioning that on one of the Facebook quizzes.

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

@@Magpie4000 Oh, that's the one that's like a mine but then has a torpedo inside that shoots out when something goes by. Diabolical!

@Magpie4000 5 жыл бұрын

@@FighterPilotPodcast yep enCAPsulated TORpedo

@realQuiGon 5 жыл бұрын

Great episode, but you forgot to put the AGM-45 Shrike and the AGM-62 Walleye on the weapons list, as they were in use with the F/A-18 in the early days. The Shrike has been used in combat by 18As in Operation Eldorado Canyon in Libya (1986) and here's an 18C carrying a Walleye over the Persian Gulf in 1992: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walleye_on_FA-18C_0.jpg And then there is the AGM-158C LRASM which now gets integrated on the Super Hornet.

@FighterPilotPodcast 5 жыл бұрын

We omitted the Shrike and Walleye because they are no longer in service. Had never heard of the AGM-158C--will have to look that one up. Thanks!

@jteaff6300 4 ай бұрын

I never appreciated these aircraft while I was in the Marine Corps, as an ARFF man. Too many other distractions as a young man! Regret not taking advantage of access to all these navy/marine corps aircraft.

@BVDxBEAR 2 жыл бұрын

F/A-22 raptor??

@FighterPilotPodcast 2 жыл бұрын

Sort of, for awhile…

@alexlascu2136 2 жыл бұрын

Top Gun maverick brought me here

@dictumfactum7784 25 күн бұрын

Your mutha award story is slightly wrong the award was created by Vf--124 flying then the F-8 crusader the award was given to F-8 squadrons. Then one day they ran out of F -8's. Then 124 continued the traditions through the tomcat squadrons. This award was only a west coast thing until VF 101 continued the tradition. Only then was it given to the east coast