Key Points – The US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has a top speed of Mach 1.6 (1,190 mph), which is slower than some adversaries like Russia’s MiG-31 and China’s J-15 carrier jet, as well as its predecessor, the F-14 Tomcat.
-However, speed isn’t its only attribute.
-According to former USMC pilot Louis Gundlach, the Hornet family excels in maneuverability, boasting a superior instantaneous turn rate and excellent high-alpha flight performance, making it a formidable dogfighter.
-While outclassed in climb rate and acceleration by jets like the F-15 and F-16, its reliability, proven combat record, and maneuverability are considered key strengths.
What Is the Speed Like In an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet Fighter?
I could never fly on a fighter jet. I get dizzy on the simplest of carnival rides. Roller coasters are out of the question, and if I flew on a modern fighter, I would definitely lose my lunch.
I once got air sick on a conventional civilian prop plane flying low and slow. So I marvel at fighter jet pilots.
Compared to what I did in the U.S. Army as a knuckle-dragging grunt, these guys and gals who pilot the fastest airplanes in the world are the real stars of the military.
And what about U.S. naval aviators who fly the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet?
We are talking about the airplanes that do carrier takeoffs and landings.
Imagine doing this maneuver at night, like they often do. And one only needs to watch the sequel to Top Gun to see the Super Hornets in action (even that movie turned my weak stomach).
What Kind of Speed Can the Super Hornet Hit?
But how fast do Super Hornets fly?
The F/A-18 E/F can hit 1,190 miles per hour or MACH 1.6. That is about average for modern fighters that are non-stealthy. Compared to the Russian MiG-31 Foxhound, which can go MACH 2.83 or 1,864 miles per hour, the Super Hornet is on the slow side. China’s J-15 Flying Shark non-stealth carrier-borne fighter, comparable to the F/A-18 E/F, has a top speed of 1,400 miles per hour or MACH 1.8. That’s slightly faster than the Super Hornet.
Moreover, the airplane that preceded the F/A-18, the F-14 Tomcat, was also faster at 1,544 miles per hour or over MACH 2.
What if the Super Hornet Is Too Slow?
Is this a problem? It appears the Super Hornet is slower than the competition. But speed isn’t everything. Just take a look at the Blue Angels. An excellent documentary on the elite Naval demonstration team shows how maneuverable and precise the Super Hornet can be. Maybe this is more important in a dog fight.
Plus, the Super Hornet has a lengthy combat record during the Global War on Terror when it flew multiple combat sorties over Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Super Hornet is also reliable in many different types of flight situations. Its ability as a bomber is underrated, and this type of close air support has saved the lives of countless Army soldiers and Marines over the years.
Let’s Hear It From a Hornet Pilot
Former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Louis Gundlach flew most of the variants of F/A-18s throughout his career, taking off from land and carriers. Hush-Kit caught up with Gundlach in a wide-ranging interview with the marine aviator, and he had some interesting things to say about the Hornets he flew.
Hornet Is Great at Maneuvers
On maneuvers, the Hornets were top-notch. “The Hornet’s instantaneous turn was as good or better than any jet that I flew against,” Gundlach said.
“The Hornet had a good, sustained turn, but it was outclassed by jets with better thrust to weight like the F-15C and F-16. This was especially true at higher altitudes when the Hornet was loaded with drop tanks and pylons. A completely slick Hornet was a dog-fighting machine.”
“The Hornet was excellent at high alpha flying, Gundlach explained. “The Hornet was better than any jet I flew against in high alpha maneuvering flight.”
How About Climbing and Acceleration?
When asked about the climb rate, Gundlach was less enthused. “Once again, the Hornet was OK, but outclassed by F-14Ds, F-15Cs, and F-16s. The F-16s out at Buckley ANGB in Denver would do an Immelmann on takeoff at the end of the Runway. They had to hit a certain altitude which I believe was above 11K MSL. I tried to do it in a Hornet once [F/A-18C with a centerline tank and two pylons] … nope, I did not make it. I was wallowing around at 10K ft and 100kts trying to comply with Departure’s new instructions. Good thing the Hornet was forgiving and was good at high alpha flight.”
On acceleration, Gundlach said, “The Hornet was fair but outclassed by many other jets.”
There you have it. One pilot agreed that the Hornet family is better at maneuvers than acceleration and climb rate. It is less speedy than other aircraft from other countries in its class.
But I’ll bet that Gundlach and his Marine Corps and Navy mates still feel they could take an older Hornet or Super Hornet and go up against anything the Russians or Chinese could throw at them – stealth or non-stealth.
The quality and experience of the American pilots are superior to those of aviators from China or Russia. The Americans would be flying a slower airplane, but the combat record of the F/A-18 family is superb. The pilots like Gundlach have fond memories of pushing the Hornet to the extremes and living to tell about it.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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