- Yes but in the British TT
- Yes but in the US TT
- Yes but in a potential future Canadian TT
- No
- As a researchable TT aircraft
- As a Premium aircraft
- As an Event/BP aircraft
- I said No!
McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet
Hello and welcome to my suggestion for the CF-18 hornet (officially known as the CF-188)! I feel this would be a valid addition to the game as not only is it the backbone of the RCAF but it is also the largest export version of the F/A-18 Hornet with 138 aircraft built.
History
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The CF-18 was born out of the Canadian “New Fighter Aircraft Programme” in 1977 when the F/A-18 Hornet competed with several other aircraft including the Panavia Tornado, Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the Dassault Mirage F1.
The Original CF-18 aircraft were largely identical to their American counterparts including all of the equipment required for carrier operations including a tail hook and wing folding mechanisms. The main difference however is the installation of a night identification light mounted on the gun loading door in the port side of the aircraft, the CF-18 also differs with the addition of a painted “false canopy” on the underside of the aircraft.
Specifications and Armament
Spoiler
General Specs
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Length: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
- Height: 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
- Wing area: 400 sq ft (37 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 65A005 mod; tip: [NACA 65A003.5 mod]
- Empty weight: 23,049 lb (10,455 kg)
- Gross weight: 37,150 lb (16,851 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 51,550 lb (23,383 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engine, 10,000 lbf (44 kN) thrust each dry and 16,000 lbf (71 kN) each with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 979.5 kn (1,127.2 mph, 1,814.0 km/h)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
- Combat range: 290 nmi (330 mi, 540 km) hi-lo-lo-hi
- Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,100 mi, 3,300 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
Armament
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Nine weapon/store stations (2 x Wingtip, 2 x Wing (Inboard/ Outboard), 2 x Fuselage, 1 x Centreline) carrying up to 13,700 lb (6,215 kg) of payload
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Guns
- 1 × 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon (578 rounds, firing rate of 4,000 or 6,000 rpm)
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Missiles and Rockets
- Aim-9M/X Sidewinder (2 x Wingtip Pylons, 2 x dual mounts on outboard Pylons)
- Aim-7F/M Sparrow ( 4 x Wing Pylons, 2 x Fuselage Mounts)
- Aim-120 AMRAAM ( 4 x LAU-115 Dual mounts on Wing Pylons, 2 x Fuselage Mounts)
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Rockets
- AGM-65 Mavericks ( 4 x Wing Pylons)
- CVR7 rockets ( 4 x Dual Mounts on Wing Pylons (152 Rockets in total))
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Bombs
- Mk 80 series unguided/ retarded bombs (Centreline and Wing Pylons)
- GBU-10, -12, -16, -24, -49 laser guided bombs (Wing Pylons)
- Jdam GPS bomb guidance kits (Centreline and Wing Pylons)
- AGM-154 JSOW glide bombs (4 x Wing Pylons, 8 If using dual mounts)
- Mk 20 Rockeye/ BL-755 Cluster Bombs (Centreline and Wing Pylons)
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Avionics/ other
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Countermeasures: 4 x SUU-42 Bins under Fuselage (up to 120 Chaff/Flare packets)
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Radar: AN/APG-65 or AN/APG-73 Radars (the AESA AN/APG-73 Radars were added in an upgrade package)
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RWR: AN/ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver
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TGP: AN/AAS-38 Night Hawk or AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Targeting pods
Pictures
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Canadian CF-18 carrying Aim-9 Sidewinders and Aim-7 Sparrows alongside three additional fuel tanks
Potential Standard camouflage for the Hornet
Canadian Air Force demonstration team livery during a 2016 aerial performance
Livery of a CF-18 painted in celebration of Canadas 150th anniversary
Canadian Pilot Standing in front of his aircraft, the False canopy is clearly visible on the underside of the Aircraft
Instruments and Avionics in the Backseat of a CF-18B
Front cockpit of the CF-18 (Both Standard and B variants)
Close up of where the Flares are located on the F-18C/D and CF-18
CF-18 in game
Spoiler
Whilst functionally the CF-18 would be almost identical to the early F/A-18 Hornets that will almost definitely come to the US TT, it would provide a unique piece of history both for fans of the F/A-18 Hornet and of Canadian aircraft in general (I am both).
Whilst in the US TT it wouldn’t offer much over the standard F/A-18 Hornet Due to the similarities between the two, however in the British TT it would provide a unique and competitive Fighter for the end of the naval line after the Phantom FG1 and seeing as the British TT has had similar additions such as the ADATS I feel it is worth mentioning. However it also goes without saying that if a Canadian TT were to come in the future that the CF-18 should go there as it is the penultimate Canadian Jet fighter.
Sources
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McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet - Wikipedia
https://archive.ph/20080117035732/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/cf18/specs_e.asp
https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/aircraft/cf-188.html
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - Wikipedia
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/boeingcf18hornetmult/?cf-view