Really interesting are operational speeds with a representive weapons load. These numbers are largely unknown, and if they appear somewhere, fan-boys ignore them. Neither the Tomcat nor the F-18E would look great in this respect (like most other aircraft).
If it can break the sound barrier is purely academic. It gives an aircraft a speed advantage of maybe 10%, which will not be the reason to procure that aircraft. Supersonic speeds at deck level are the best way to get wet feet when the aircraft suffers fuel starvation after 5 minutes.
Of course no one flies supersonic at low level except maybe a short dash. But the SH is supposed to be a fighter, and what kind of fighter cannot fly faster than Mach 1, clean, below 10k feet? Any fighter must be capable of that, or else, one might aswell buy a subsonic bomber with greater range/payload.
While it may carry more fuel, it also has much higher drag rises, so its very concievable a smart C pilot will outrun an E.
I dont think any of the smart E/F pilots would agree. 🙂
What? In a vertical dive?
Vertical is only needed if its carrying any stores. 😀
Seriously, it was a pilots account i came across somewhere.
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