Dissing the F-18?

Question

I was watching 10 best fighters of alltime. How come the F-18 hornet isnt on the list? Isnt the Navys leading strike fighter?

Answer 1

Without knowing what was on the list, it's hard to say. i'm guessing that the modern fighters on the list were the F15 and F14 from the Western arsenal. Right now I would rank the F22 and F18E/F Super Hornet as the current best fighters in the world. I'd say the Hornet (F18 A/C) would have some trouble making the top 10 list. What makes a modern fighter good is more then maneuverability. Although it is very maneuverable, the Hornet is mediocre at many things and terrible at others. The baby Hornet (as opposed to the Super Hornet AKA Rhino) absolutely sucks when it comes to legs (combat radius), especially if it happens to be carrying ordinance. Think of the range limitations of an F16 and then compound the problem by adding another engine. The APG 65 radar isn't the best, and that can be a deal-breaker in a modern fighter. It is one tough little bird, though, and a pair of them scored two A/A kills enroute to a successful bombing mission at the beginning of Desert Storm.

And to correct a few mistakes in some of the comments above: the Navy continues to fly the F18 A/B/C Hornet. Check the CVW2 website. The Super Hornet is NOT a modified Hornet. From the cockpit aft it is a new jet, despite an uncanny resemblence to it's little brother.

Answer 2

The F-18 has not served in a major world changing conflict other then the Cold War, nor was it the best fighter at the time. The F-15 Eagle was designed to be the superior fighter, therefore it would probably get more recognition. While the Hornet is a fine aircraft with an excellent service record, it does not have the notoriety of the F-4 Phantom, the P-51D Mustang, the Spitfire, the Mig-21, the F-86, the Me 262, and other assorted famous fighter aircraft that served with distinction or represented great technoligical leaps forward. The F-18 is slated to be replaced not by the F-22 as some on this question claim, but the seagoing variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter which has V/STOL (vertical/short take off and landing) capability. The F-15 Eagle and variants are going to be replaced by the F-22 Raptor.

Answer 3

Well, when the F/A-18 first came out it was notorious for "short legs": insufficient range with a weapons load (Combat radius: 330 miles). Sure it was versitile being a strike-fighter, but it ALSO was NOT all-weather when introduced.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet cures SOME of the problems: with a combat radius: ~350 miles)... and it is the ONLY Fighter or Strike-fighter the US Navy currently owns since the F-14 retired.

The Navy will NOT be using the F-22 Raptor: a great bird, but unable to function on a carrier (girlie-landing-gear). The Navy plans to add the F-35C Lightning II naval variant of the JSF in 2012 (Combat radius: 600 nmi).

As I recall: the show you watched had some qualifications such as life, export, and combat experience included in how they chose the birds.

Answer 4

The F-18 is the F-18, The Super Hornet is a later modification of the standard F-18.

The F-18, as are all our first line 'fighter aircraft' serves multiple roles/missions. It is more than good for what it is designed for, though it is not particularly innovative, It is just one heck of a great plane. Low maintenance compared to the F-14 it has finally fully replaced, much less expensive to acquire, designed to be upgraded, just a great plane. The TV show that does these rating on 'Top Ten' weapons is just a show, they use pretty interesting criteria but they are also using history as a major factor, so not everything can be fit into their 'play book'.

Answer 5

I mean the FA-18 Super Hornet, may be rad in all. But the best strike fighter is the Air Force's new toy- The F-22 Raptor Sealth Fighter. It can fly basically undected and can easily wipe out any Navy jet. Sorry about the boastful attitude, but hey I'm an Air Force Brat & jet engine mechanics kids. I saw the F-22 fly during an airshow and it out did everything that the FA-18 did 100 fold.

Answer 6

What's an F-18? Is that the same thing as an FA-18 Super Hornet?

Answer 7

its not on list because the navy will soon be getting the F-22. so the navy could care less about the F-18

Answer 8

The F-18 isn't primarily a fighter, it's a fighter bomber.

Answer 9

Multi-role aircraft, not a true interceptor-fighter plane.

Answer 10

the f-18 dosent have anything really special. but i dont know what the top ten are.