question about an f-18?

Question

i seen the front and back seat of the cockpit of an f-18 but in the photo there was a control stick in the front and one in the back is that so the navigator can take over flying too?

Answer 1

Yes, similar to the F-15 and F-16 AF models, the F-18 has a model with a back seat. The co-pilot can easily control the aircraft from back there since he has most of the displays that the pilot has. In certain configurations, the guy in the back is actually a weapons systems operator who takes care of all the target accquisition.

Answer 2

Ok, here is the REAL answer.
The first F/A-18's were A and B
A-One Seat
B-Two seat

Next version
C-One Seat
D-Two Seat

Latest verions
E-One Seat
F-Two Seat (replacement for the F-14's)

G-Two seat (nick named the Growler to replace the E/A-6B Prowler) that specializes in electronic warfare

The second seat is used is for the WSO (Weapons System Officer).

Any two seat can be configured as a 'trainer'. The stick can be added to the rear seat in about 30 minutes. But most trainers are B's because they don't have the latest bells and whistles that the D's of F's have. Pluse, most crashes happen in training so they don't want to take the chance with a brand new aircraft.

Answer 3

IIRC the F-18s are single seat, so that sounds like a trainer. On the other hand the f-4 had the facility to have a stick installed for the back seat, in the UK that was mostly used for OCU so that the instructing pilot could fly the plane when the student needed help or a demo.

Answer 4

the aircraft you are talking about is the dual version of the F18, it is used for pilot training and upgrading so an instructor can ride along in the back and have full control capability. it is not there as some have suggested so that someone in the back can take over if the pilot becomes incapacitated. In the event of pilot incapacitation, you are told in your preflight briefing that if you loose contact with your pilot or he becomes incapacitated, YOU are to eject, PERIOD.

30 years in the military. I was an F18 Maintainer

Answer 5

F/A 18's were built in one- and two-seat configurations. The two-seaters are used mostly as trainers but do maintain their combat capabilitiy and are dual control aircraft.

Answer 6

Most single seat fighters have two seat models designed as trainers.

All F4 aircraft were dual seat and dual control.

Answer 7

I could be wrong but I think what you saw was a training aircraft specially built with the second seat/dual control.

Answer 8

There are currently 6 different versions of the F-18.

A is one seater B is two
C is one seater D is two
E is one seater F is two

G is in development and is a jamming aircraft. It will be a two seater

Answer 9

i think what dan, (two answers above) said was what you saw
if the main pilot is incapacitated in anyway (unconscious, seizure, etc...) or, the pilot just needs someone to 'take the wheel while he sneezes or stretches or after he fails the test, the nav./trainer can take over.

Answer 10

yep that's not an f-18.