Hi all,
I’ve gotten an Academy 1/32 F/A18C Operation Iraqi Freedom kit recently and am about to start work on the weapons payload. What’s a realistic typical ground attack payload like?
The kit comes with a whole lot of options in terms of payload. I’m wondering what’s realistic or what’s the maximum payload a F/A-18C would carry?
I sort of like the looks of the Hornet with 2 wing-tip sidewinders, 2 JDAMs and a Paveway II & Paveway III each with a centreline tank, but this looks really heavy and I really wonder if it’s realistic at all.
The kit comes with GBU31 JDAM, GBU10 Paveway II, GBU24 Paveway III, Mk 82 500lb bombs, AGM65E Maverick, AGM88 HARM, AGM 84D/E Harpoon, SLAM, AIM7,9 & 120 missiles.
So many options…
Some suggestions please? Thanks in advance…
–
Eric
Hi Eric,
There are a lot of options operationally as well! The Hornet’s load-out will have alot to do with several factors: The mission/target, perceived threats, range requirements/tanker availability, and “bring-back” limitations if it has to land on the carrier with un-expended weapons. Osprey Publication’s Combat Aircraft #46 is called US Navy Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and it should be a great resource.
Over OIF, the F/A-18C often would carry a 500 or 1000 lb GBU (Paveway laser bombs) on one wing, often in conjunction with a JDAM or a HARM missile on the other wing. (Typically with drop-tanks on the inner wing pylons). Sometimes, they operated with an “assymetrical” load-out, with a center-line tank and one wing tank, leaving one wing with two available pylons free for weapons (2 GBUs, 2 JDAM or combo of each). The Osprey book has several photos like this. One F/A-18C from VFA-113 had a center-line tank, a wing tank on the inner-pylon of the right wing, with a JDAM on the outter pylon. The left wing had a 500lb. GBU on each pylon. It looked pretty cool[swg]. Hope this helps Eric!
Frank
As Frank said, the weapons load out on the F/A-18 varied considerably depending on the mission requirements. One thing to keep in mind is that weapon stations 4 and 6 on the cheeks or corners of the fuselage were nearly always loaded with sensors and/or guidance pods to work with the GBUs and missiles. Since there was virtually no air to air opposition, carrying Sparrows or AAMRAMs on the cheeks was not necessary or desireable.
If you do an internet search on a particular weapon designation, such as AGM-84, several of the sites give photos of the mounted weapons and which sensor goes with which weapon.
I occasionally get a little “insider trading information” from my daughter. She is an aeronuatical engineer with Boeing in St Louis working on the EA-18G Growler. That is the replacement for the Grumman EA-6B Prowler. Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) had their 65th Anniversary in October and had an Open House for employees and their families. We got to tour the F/A-18, T-45 and C-17 assembly lines. I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. They had a number of very large propaganda photos on the walls in the offices, several of which showed massive weapons loads on F/A-18s. I was unsuccessful in my efforts to get them to let me take one home.[8D][alien]
As Frank said, the weapons load out on the F/A-18 varied considerably depending on the mission requirements. One thing to keep in mind is that weapon stations 4 and 6 on the cheeks or corners of the fuselage were nearly always loaded with sensors and/or guidance pods to work with the GBUs and missiles. Since there was virtually no air to air opposition, carrying Sparrows or AAMRAMs on the cheeks was not necessary or desireable.
If you do an internet search on a particular weapon designation, such as AGM-84, several of the sites give photos of the mounted weapons and which sensor goes with which weapon.
I occasionally get a little “insider trading information” from my daughter. She is an aeronuatical engineer with Boeing in St Louis working on the EA-18G Growler. That is the replacement for the Grumman EA-6B Prowler. Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) had their 65th Anniversary in October and had an Open House for employees and their families. We got to tour the F/A-18, T-45 and C-17 assembly lines. I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. They had a number of very large propaganda photos on the walls in the offices, several of which showed massive weapons loads on F/A-18s. I was unsuccessful in my efforts to get them to let me take one home.[8D][alien]
erickw,
Get Tony Holmes book from Osprey on Hornet Units in OIF, Part One. Lots of real good standard conventional loadouts in the book. There were to many to list here and the “North War” loads were different than the “South War” loads. He is working on the Med Carrier North War units now.