Why does everyone hate the hornet gah damn lmao
Tomcat bros and the harrier bros as well
So a proven and very mature aircraft did better in the categories its niche is in?
And let me guess, they assumed the base attack would go through, when in reality there would be way more defenses around the base farther back and the distance makes it harder to strike that base.
Its very good for small bases and LHD operations but lacks in range and payload, avionics, upgrade potential, and reliability
Because it offers nothing that the other jets couldn’t do better.
No, AV-8B was brand new not even finished at this time.
They did multiple tests where NATO allies where attacking and defending as if it was a real war.
Tell me what’s harder to destroy a carrier with F-18 a massive fixed runway or an opening in the woods or a random road.
Harriers had a FOB 37 miles away from the combat on average vs 125 miles for the F-18.
If you are in a desperate firefight and you need air support who are you calling?
yet in range and payload its still not far off F-18. While also being able to conduct sorties at 2X the rate.
Only because of the proximity to the battlefield. As for your earlier question, I would take the harrier, but the F-18 is better for higher level targets
How, it doesn’t do anything the harrier can not. Its not even really any faster when loaded up too.
The range and payload, the hornet can bring large cruise missiles and anti ship missiles and move them farther while launching them from a greater altitude
not in 81.
So you agree that the harrier had less growth potential for a major conflict. Its amazing for stuff like the Falklands or the middle east but against a major power I don’t think it’s as useful
It has more.
There are hard physical limitations on upgrades from the size and maximum weight of the airframe
Mhmm and why did they make the super hornet hmm.
The Legacy Hornet was a borderline failure.
Speaking of limited airframe capabilities, what small airframe was later modified to incorporate a radar and AMRAAM, and ECM capabilities.
According to?
The people who operated it…
It had a rough start in the early to mid 80’s but definitely not a failure
That’s why the redesigned one from the 1990s is being retired basically the same time as the harrier? While the one from the 80s is already gone yet the Harrier isn’t?
The fact that it lacked all of the fundamental qualities that were looked for/needed that the F-14 had previously covered (besides cost and space saving).
1 Like
Reliability, maintenance time. The f-14 was far bigger and heavier for a ~1000lb bigger payload on hard points that were less suited for strike stuff
They are retiring the AV-8B later this year. The super hornet will go on to 2040’s and legacy hornet up to 2030 with the USMC