Hornet Acceleration and Altitude

Horns · January 28, 2018

I'm trying to get a feel for what to expect from the Hornet's flight characteristics, so the questions below are framed to allow me to compare it to the Viggen. I know the Hornet is typically flown much higher but I may fly familiar Viggen-style strike missions while I get used to the new bird, and then work on adjusting to the Hornet's typical mission profile.

1. What is the Hornet's approximate max speed at sea level?

2. How does the Hornet's acceleration from 350 to 550 knots compare to the Viggen 650 to 1000 km/h?

3. Is the Hornet stable, maneuverable and responsive enough to employ at very low altitude (30 feet over flat terrain, 20 feet over ocean) at cruise speed?

4. What is the Hornet's usual operating altitude for A/A, A/G and moving between waypoints?

Thanks for reading.

mhe · January 28, 2018

All these figures would probably vary quite heavily with weight?

Horns · January 28, 2018

All these figures would probably vary quite heavily with weight?

You may have a point. Can anyone advise what a standard strike mission loadout might be for the Hornet?

AegisFX · January 28, 2018

The f18 natops manual should have the info. Can't think of it off the top of my head though.

mvsgas · January 28, 2018

Does this help?

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=190912

Horns · January 28, 2018

The f18 natops manual should have the info. Can't think of it off the top of my head though.

Cheers. I have looked through the natops manual for flight envelope specifics and diagrams as well as loadout information, haven't found anything yet but I will keep looking.

Does this help?
https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=190912

Thanks, that does help a lot, that answers the question about acceleration and it also tells me that if I want decent speeds I'd better stick to the altitudes where the Hornet performs best.

Figaro9 · November 11, 2019

According RW datas the hornet with 402 engine (max thrust, 2aim 9, 2aim 120, 60%fuel) accelerates:

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 21seconds.

at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 34.6 seconds

at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 55.8 seconds

I can see 2 possibilities how this test was done:

1) steady flight at M0.8 and test altitude. In that case the dcs f18 performs.

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 24.8seconds (+3.8sec).

at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 39.2 seconds (+4.6sec)

at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 62.2 seconds (+6.4sec).

2) acceleration from below tested speed thru the speed range. In that case results in dcs are as follows

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 22.5seconds (+1.5sec).

at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 35.8 seconds (+1.2 sec)

at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 58.5 seconds (+2.7 sec)

Does anybody know how those tests are done rw?

bbrz · November 11, 2019

3. Is the Hornet stable, maneuverable and responsive enough to employ at very low altitude (30 feet over flat terrain, 20 feet over ocean) at cruise speed?

Nope. Still suffers from the suck-down-phenomenon at very low altitude.

Arctander · November 11, 2019

According RW datas the hornet with 402 engine (max thrust, 2aim 9, 2aim 120, 60%fuel) accelerates:

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 21seconds.
at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 34.6 seconds
at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 55.8 seconds

I can see 2 possibilities how this test was done:

1) steady flight at M0.8 and test altitude. In that case the dcs f18 performs.

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 24.8seconds (+3.8sec).
at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 39.2 seconds (+4.6sec)
at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 62.2 seconds (+6.4sec).

2) acceleration from below tested speed thru the speed range. In that case results in dcs are as follows

at 5k ft from M0.8 to M1.08 in 22.5seconds (+1.5sec).
at 20k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 35.8 seconds (+1.2 sec)
at 35k ft from M0.8 to M1.2 in 58.5 seconds (+2.7 sec)

Does anybody know how those tests are done rw?