The F-22 has eject-able pylons and I’m pretty sure the Rhino has them too. I will leave the arguing to you guys, but the SH is in service NOW and well over a 100 not 2,3, or 30. It’s was designed to do a specific job and it does it. The comment about the Soviet-ized Hornet is too funny when you look at the Mig 35’s new features (Hornet like…sorry couldn’t resist :dev2: ).

Different design approaches to different logistic needs. I like them all.

F-18L was one of the sales contenders in the early 1980s. As I recall, the empty weight was reduced substantially by eliminating the wing fold, launch bar and holdback bar, use of a single nose wheel, and reducing weight by use of thinner gage skins, bulkheads and keels. The weight reduction put it in parity with F-16 thrust-to-weight. But the goofy, high-drag straight wing would still kill speed and range as it does today on the E/F.

Technically the F/A-18 doesn’t have a straight wing. The A-37 is a jet with an almost straight wing. The sweep on the F/A-18 leading edge is about the same as the F-104. The F-35C also has sweep that matches what is seen on the F/A-18. This works well for low speed handling, it did back then and it still does today.

When McDonnell Douglas and Northrop joined forces to produce the F/A-18 for the US Navy, it was agreed that McD would get the carrier based sales and Northrop would get the land-based sells. McD went after all sells and Northrop sued over it. No real F-18Ls were ever produced, it was a paper jet for the most part.

I don’t recall the Super Hornet being a temporary replacement (stop-gap) for the F-35. It was a fill in for the NATF and A-12 program but never the F-35.

Now with that said, Boeing has offered the SH in case of any delays of cut backs to the F-35 program.

Two seater XL? 🙂

I do like mock-up version of Boeing’s JSF better. Also, the X-32 looks better with the “lipstick” on. 😀

AFAIK the outer mold line will not change.

I also agree. Other than a few more or less exterior humps and bumps this is probably it for the ‘A’ model.

It is cute but I don’t see what advantages can be gained in any military purpose. But I’m all ears…..lets hear how you would use it if you had to equip it for military use.