iscover
The two seat F/A-18Bs of 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) are primarily used for type conversion training. However the two seat Hornet retains full combat capability, with only fuel being removed to accommodate the second seat. (Defence PR)
Aircraft of the ADF — A21 MDC F/A-18 Hornet
0 comment
A21 – McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Australia reduced its shortlist to only two candidates for the Mirage replacement in November 1979. To fill the Tactical Fighter Force (TFF) requirement, the RAAF was to select between the General Dynamics (now Lockheed) F-16 Fighting Falcon and the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. On October 20 1981, the Hornet was chosen as the RAAF’s next generation fighter.
The F/A-18 was a descendant of the Northrop YF-17, which had been the loser to the F-16 in the 1974 USAF Light Weight Fighter competition. On May 2 1975, the US Navy announced its selection of a McDonnell Douglas-Northrop YF-17 based design for its new fighter project, which became the F/A-18 Hornet. This multi-mission aircraft, with the unique “F/A” designation signifying both fighter and attack, resembled the YF-17, scaled up by about 12%. The YF-18 prototype first flew on November 18 1978.
The Australian Government contracted to buy 75 of the McDonnell Douglas fighters for the RAAF in November 1981. This order was for 57 single-seat F/A-18As (serialled A21-1 to A21-57) and 18 two-seat F/A-18Bs (A21-101 to A21-118). The Hornet gave the RAAF’s Tactical Fighter Group (TFG) several firsts, including a pulse doppler look-down radar with a shoot-down capability, an inertial navigation system, and a Head Up Display.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
