FA-18C Hornet

This is a beta module. This module is still being developed and may still be missing some features and equipment options. It is playable and most of the content is there, but some final touches and fixes for minor bugs are still in the works. It is probably safe to buy unless you crave absolute fidelity and/or very few bugs.

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The F/A-18C is slated to be one of, if not the most in-depth and complex module in the DCS stable, alongside the A-10C. It is still a work in (some would argue very slow) progress, which is perhaps understandable since the Hornet is a multi-role aircraft with the added complication that it is also carrier-based. It may not carry as many individually different weapons as the A-10C, but it already covers a much wider range of weapon types, and more are yet to come.

Overall, the Hornet is easy to fly and intuitive to use, and many systems will be familiar to, or even exact copies of, what you would find in the A-10C, AV-8B or even (in a much simplified form) in the F-15C. As such, it is not difficult to learn — there is just a lot to learn. If you have mastered the F-16C in BMS, getting to grips with it will be a cakewalk.

Features

Since it is a multirole aircraft, the feature list of the F/A-18C can easily become very long. The highlights include:

• All the hair-ripping, teeth-gnashing, fun and excitement of both carrier take-offs and landings, and air refuelling.
• More MFDs and glass cockpit features than is strictly necessary.
• Less than necessary engine thrust to compensate for all the MFDs.
• Tons of air-to-air missiles, including off-boresight, helmet-cued AIM-9X as well as AMRAAMS to always be able to shoot when the enemy cannot.
• AGM-88 HARM missiles for SAM hunting.
• Laser-guided bombs and Mavericks, as well as the regular set of unguided bombs and IR Mavericks.

Comes with the built-in campaigns Hornet 1989 - Task Force Challenger.

Missing features

The F/A-18C is a work in progress, and while all the key systems to fly and fight in the thing are in already, the list of things that remain to be implemented is still fairly long.

• A proper TWS radar mode to get the most out of all those AMRAAMS.
• Similarly, the more advanced targeting modes for the HARM.
• More intertially guided munitions like JSOWs, and more programming options for them and for JDAMs.
• A targeting pod to actually guide your own GBUs and laser Mavericks and to provide more accurate targeting data for the aforementioned INS-guided bombs.
• Numerous flight model tweaks to make it less draggy and prone to fall out of the sky.

The last point is one of particular contention since the developers have acknowledged that the aircraft is more sluggish at low speeds (notably while doing carrier landings) than it should be, but have also insinuated that this is not something they particularly care to change.

Flying the F/A-18C

Flying the Hornet is an interesting experience. On the one hand, it is a modern agile fly-by-wire aircraft that will keep up with or out-manoeuvre anything else in the sky, but on the other hand, it is actually comparatively slow and sluggish. It is not like the A-10C or Su-25, where hills are life-threatening obstacles, and altitude is something you can only dream of, but it is also not a speed demon that stands a chance to keep up with the likes of the M2000C or F-14.

The airframe traces its historical roots to the F-5, and this shows. It's a joy to fly, but you need to be aware of the slow throttle response and that the top speed is enough to get you there, but it will not exactly break any records.

Cockpit overview

Shooting something

BVR engagement

RWS Radar elements

Using the HARM

HARM TOO engagement

Links and files

• Chuck's F/A-18C Hornet guide at Mudspike.
• DCS: F/A-18C Hornet in the DCS shop.

More information

• McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet on wikpedia.
• F/A-18 Hornet on globalsecurity.org
• Matt Wagner's Hornet Training Videos series.