Hobby Master HA5125 | F/A-18E Super Hornet 168363, VFA-27 "Royal Maces", CVW-5 CAG, USS Ronald

The McDonnell Douglas Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role carrier-based aircraft. The “E” variant is single-seater while the “F” variant is a tandem-seat configuration. The “E” is a much larger, more advanced and more capable variant of the F/A-18C. The Super variant can carry a larger array of weapons as well as more of them and is capable of returning to the carrier while still carrying unspent munitions, a big savings in dollars. The first F/A-18E flight was in 1995 and began delivery to the USN in 1999.

                                                                  The Aircraft:

On September 1, 1967 the Royal Maces were commissioned VA-27, originally designated the Chargers flying the Vought A-7A Corsair II. After Vietnam VA-27 was disbanded but re-established in January 1991 flying the F/A-18A and renamed VFA-27. 1994 VFA-27 re-equipped with the newer F/A-18C and in 1996 moved to Atsugi, Japan and re-assumed the name Royal Maces. 2004 saw another equipment change to the F/A-18E and assigned to the USS George Washington. In August 2015 VFA-27 was transferred to the USS Ronald Reagan and 2017 marked a mile stone, the 50th Anniversary of VA/VFA-27.

McDonnell Douglas original designer, merged with Boeing 1997
F/A-18E Super Hornet
Role – Multi-role attack and fighter
Crew -1
Performance
Powerplants – 2 x F414-GE-400 turbofans
Thrust (Static) – 22,000 lbs (9,977kg) per engine
Ceiling – 50,000 ft +
Speed – Mach 1.8 + 
Weight – Maximum Gross Take-off 66,000 lbs (29,932 kg) 
Dimensions
Length – 60.3 ft (18.5 m)
Height – 16 ft (4.87 m)
Wingspan – 44.9 ft (13.68 m) 
Armament
1 x M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon (internal)
Possible External Payload
AIM 9 Sidewinder
AIM 7 Sparrow
AIM-120 AMRAAM
Harpoon
HARM
Shrike
SLAM
SLAM-ER
Walleye
Maverick
JSOW (Joint-Stand-Off Weapon)
JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions
An assortment of bombs, mines and rockets