McDonnell-Douglas / Northrop F / A-18 Hornet is an on-board fighter and attack aircraft capable of operating in all weather conditions. The roots of the F / A-18 go back to 1974 and the F-17 prototype, which was of interest to the US Navy command this year. The contract for the serial construction of the aircraft was concluded in 1976. In order to accelerate the work, the Northrop concern entered into cooperation with the McDonnell-Douglas concern. As a result, on November 18, 1978, the test flight of the prototype took place, and a year later, successful landings on the aircraft carrier. Since 1982, the aircraft has been delivered to linear units with General Electric F404-GE-402 engines as the propulsion unit. The plane is produced in several versions. The first were the F-18A (fighter) and F-18B (training). Foreign orders from Spain, Canada and Australia appeared quickly. In 1987, a version of the F-18C was created, adapted to the use of AMRAAM missiles. A year later, the F / A-18D, a two-seat version of the F-18, entered service in all weather conditions, and could be used as an attack aircraft. On its basis, the reconnaissance version of the R / F-18D was created. The newest versions (the so-called Super Hornet) -F / A-18E and F / A-18F are very modified versions of the F / A-18D. They are characterized by an increased length of the fuselage, wingspan and their surface. They also have new General Electric F414 engines and a decidedly expanded and modernized avionics. They were presented for the first time in 1995. The EA-18G Growler electronic warfare plane was also created on the basis of the F-18. All versions of the F / A-18 met with favor of pilots, they are characterized by low failure rate, ease of use and very good flight parameters. Hornets took part in the operation against Libya in 1986 and in the Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Technical data (version F / A-18 C): Maximum speed: 1915 km / h, speed of climb: 254 m / s, practical ceiling 15 240 m, maximum range: 3340 km, operating radius: 280-740 km, armament: fixed- Single 20mm M61A-1 six-barrel cannon, underslung - up to 7700 kg of cargo.
Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (abbreviation VFA-103) is an American in-flight air unit created in May 1952. Currently, the most characteristic hallmark of the VFA-103 aircraft is the pirate flag, in English called Jolly Rogers, on the horizontal stabilizers. It was also the source of the squadron's unofficial name. The first aircraft on which the VFA-103 pilots flew were the FG-1D Corsair. In 1957, the unit was rearmed with the F-8 Crusader, as one of the first in the US Navy. At the turn of 1964/1965, the VFA-103 began to be armed with the new F-4 Phantom machines. In 1983, however, it was rearmed with the new Grumman F-14A Tomcat fighters, armed with AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. Currently, the basic aircraft of the unit is the F / A-18F Super Hornet. Strike Fighter Squadron 103 pilots took an active part in the Vietnam War (1964 / 195-1975) and in both Persian Gulf Wars (1990-1991 and 2003).