Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3558
F/A-18A Hornet A21-39, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, Dec 2020 "33 Years Hornet of 77 Squadron of RAAF"
General Background
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.
The Aircraft
F/A-18A Hornet A21-39 was ordered by the RAAF in late 1981 and delivered in late 1988 and went into service with 3 Squadron. Eventually the aircraft was transferred to 77 Squadron at the RAAF base in Williamtown, NSW. In 2020 this aircraft was given a special paint scheme consisting of a dark green spine and tail with “1985-2020 33 Years Hornet” painted in white on the tail. The inside surface of the tails had an oriental lion image, the same as on the 77 Squadron crest.
Hobby Master HA3558, F/A-18A Hornet A21-39, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, 1:72
Role – Fighter/Attack
Manufactured – 1980 to 1987
Numbers Produced
A – 371 B – 40
Crew
A – 1 B – 2
Dimensions
Length – 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m) Wingspan – 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m) Height – 15 ft 4 in (4.66 m)
Weight
Empty – 28,000 lbs (12,700 kg) Gross – 38,000 lbs (17,240 kg) Maximum Take-off – 56,000 lb (25,400 kg)
Performance
Engines – 2 X GE F404-GE turbofans producing 10,600 lb.s.t. dry & 15,800 lb.s.t with afterburning per engine Fuel Internal – 1,670 U.S. gal (6,322 l) External – As many as 3 X 330 U.S. gal (1,249 l) drop tanks Maximum Fuel – 2,660 U.S. gal (10,070 l) Maximum Speed – Mach 1.8 1,190 mph (1,915 km/h) @ 35,000 ft (10,670 m) Landing Speed – 150 mph (241.4 km/h) Combat Ceiling – 50,000 ft (15,240 m) Maximum Range – 2,875 miles (4,627 km)
ARMAMENT
1 X 20 mm M61A1 cannon in nose PLUS Hard Points 4 X under-wing 2 X fuselage corner stations 1 X center-line 2 X wing-tip To carry AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles Or AIM-7 Sparrow Missiles Plus Up to 3 external fuel tanks and other assorted ordnance
