F/A-18C (LOT 20) ??? What is it ?

[Timotsuky]

All in the title :)

[CheeseCake]

are you asking what a lot is?

[Svsmokey]

Google is your friend...

[macedk]

Is is the type or build

 

Like block number for the f-16 :)

[Timotsuky]

Is is the type or build

 

Like block number for the f-16 :)

 

 

Ok thanks! That was what i was thinking about ;)

[Kev2go]

Is is the type or build

 

Like block number for the f-16 :)

 

 

Basically what he said.

 

Il also throw in that the lot 20 were produced in 1998. And irr c these were the last 10 Hornets that went to the us navy.

 

Lot21 was technically the last batch of 8 legacy hornet but to finalize lend ov contract for export ( think it was Finland)

 

 

Otherwise lot21 series were the first of the early super Hornets produced.

Edited November 24, 2018 by Kev2go

[Magot]

I remind that lot20 was only 10 hornets type C. (Next 8 hornets lot20 was type D)

That all. And type C lot20 never used on CVN-74.

 

List of all Hornets C/lot20 serials

165399	C	VFA-34/AA-212, 1998. CVN-69 ’98, 4-DEC-99, VFA-34 A/C night ramp strike CVN-73 ’00, CVN-72 ’04-05

165400	C	VX-9, VFA-131 CVN-69 ‚06-07
165401	C	VFA-34 CVN-69 ’98, CVN-72 ’04-05
165402	C	VFA-34 CVN-72 ’04-05
165403	C	VFA-83 CVN-69 ’98, CVN-73 ’00, VFA-34 CVN-72 ’04-05
165404	C	VFA-83, transferred to VFA-131 in 2003, CVN-69 ‘06-07
165405	C	VFA-34 CVN-72 ’04-05
165406	C	VFA-34 CVN-73 ’00, CVN-72 ’04-05
165407	C	VFA-131 CVN-69 ‚06-07
165408	C	VFA-34 CVN-72 ’04-05

[Timotsuky]

Thanks for those great answer guys, i've learn a lot

[Alfa]

Could also be mentioned that a "Lot" is the production within one fiscal year, which in turn is subdivided into blocks(often three).

 

The reason why the lot is significant, is because new features/updates usually are applied per lot. In the case of Lot 20, it means that the aircraft was produced in FY 98. However, the DCS version has post-production features that were applied later(around 2004-2005).

Edited November 22, 2018 by Alfa

[Eldur]

Is is the type or build

 

Like block number for the f-16 :)

 

Actually a lot is a bunch of blocks. In this case however lot 20 just has one block which is #51. A total of ten F/A-18Cs is that, S/N 165399 thru 165408 and eight Ds, S/N 165409 thru 165416.

Lot 16 for example contains blocks 41, 42 and 43. All the numbers are listed in the NATOPS manual.

[exnihilodub]

Google is your friend...

 

this is the first result that shows up when I google it.

Edited August 19, 2019 by exnihilodub
Fixed post hyperlink due to wrong quote

[mvsgas]

From what I can gather, lot number seem to be year of acquisition, so Lot 20, is the 20 annual acquisition number. This would be similar to the first two number on USAF tail number.

 

So you have the Mission Design Series:

From DOD instruction 4120.15-L from May 2004, with change 1 from August 2018 (which has no distribution restriction and can be found in the DOD.gov website)

F=fighter

C2.2.2. Modified Mission (aircraft only - optional). This symbol is used to identify

modifications to the basic mission of an aircraft and appears to the immediate left of the basic

mission symbol. Only one modified mission symbol shall be used in any one MDS.

 

A= attack

C2.2.4. Basic Mission (required). This symbol identifies an aerospace vehicle's primary

function or capability. For standard aerospace vehicles (e.g., bombers, fighters), it appears to the mmediate left of the design number separated by a dash. For nonstandard aerospace vehicles, it appears to the immediate left of the vehicle type symbol.

 

-18

C2.2.6. Design Number (required). This number identifies major design changes within the same basic mission. It appears to the immediate right of the basic mission symbol or vehicle type symbol, separated by a dash. Design numbers run consecutively beginning with "1" for each category.

 

C

C2.2.7. Series (required). This symbol identifies the first production model of a particular design number and later models representing major modifications that significantly alter the aerospace vehicle systems' components or change the logistics support of the vehicle. Consecutive series symbols, starting with "A," appear to the immediate right of the design number. To avoid confusion, do not use the letters "I" and "O" for this symbol.

 

Block 51 (Yes, F/A-18 also have blocks, like most if not all Fighter aircraft built in the US)

C2.2.9. Block Number (aircraft only). This number identifies a production group of identically configured aircraft within a particular design series. The numbers are assigned in multiples of five (01, 05, and 10). The Military Departments may reserve intermediate block numbers for field modifications.

 

Serial number (Bureau number on the Navy or Bu number)

C2.2.10. Serial Number. This number identifies a specific aerospace vehicle. Each Military Department determines its own method for assigning serial numbers.

Also this number are different from the manufacturer serial number. (Think of it like a license plate for a car; and the manufacturer number as the vin number for a car)

 

So that is the MDS=F/A-18C block51 Bu 165399 thru 165408

 

The lot number info is harder to find, I found this on an accident report:

For purposes of this report, FA-18A-D will be referred to as “Legacy Hornet” and are further divided by Lot number, roughly one new Lot per year, from Lot 1 through 21; FA-18E/F will be referred to as “Super Hornet”; and the EA-18G will be referred to as “Growler”. FA-18E/F and EA-18G are also further subdivided into annual Lots from 22 through 37.

 

So, direct comparison to USAF and US Navy

USN____________USAF

F/A-18C_________F-16C

Block 51_________Block 50

Lot 20___________First two number on the tail

Bu number_______ Last four number on the tail

Edited August 19, 2019 by mvsgas
spelling

[Apar]

So I cant use FA-18C in mission editor and can only Fly Lot20?

 

[HammerUK9]

Correct, only the F/A-18C Lot 20 in the ME is flyable.