F/A-18C

F/A-18C

Guide/Manual

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The F/A-18C Hornet is a twin-engine, multi-role, carrier-capable combat jet. It was designed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and Northrop in the 1970's, and is the only jet in the US inventory to carry both the Fight and Attack designation (the "F/A" part of the name). The Hornet is a supersonic capable jet, able to reach speeds of Mach 1.8. The Hornet modeled in DCS represents an "off-the-line" US Navy Lot 20 jet, with the OFP-13C software upgrades. It is equipped with the F404-GE-402 enhanced performance engines (which is the more powerful engine that replaced the original F404-GE-400's). The F/A-18C/D served as the baseline for the Boeing F/A-18E/F/G Super Hornets. The Hornet is capable of carrying a wide array of both precision and dumb bombs, A/G and A/A Missiles, rockets, and is supplemented with a 20-mm cannon mounted in the nose.

The Hornet entered service in 1978, and first saw combat in 1986 over the skies of Libia with numerous Hornets preforming SEAD strikes and strike missions. The Hornet again saw action during the Gulf War of 1991, as there were 106 in theater with the Navy, along with a further 84 USMC that were shore-based. It was during the Gulf War that the Hornet was credited with it's first Air-to-Air kills (both aircraft were MiG-21's, shot-down by AIM-9's and AIM-7's). Notably, the aircraft credited with the kills went on to resume their strike mission and dropped their 4 Mk-84's (2,000lb bombs), living up to their multi-role moniker. The Hornet took it's first combat losses in the Gulf War as well, in total 10 Hornets received battle damage, which included 3 losses (2 to ground fire, and one very likely to an Iraqi MiG-25). All told, Hornets flew a total of 4,551 sorties during the Gulf War.

Since the Gulf War, the Hornet has been a vital piece of the Navy/USMC inventory, and has seen action in every conflict or operation since then. While it is still in active service with the USMC (and will remain until the early 2030s), in April 2018 the US Navy retired the F/A-18C from combat roles.

Required DCS World Version

Please note that you need to be on the open beta version of the game to fly the Hornet.

If you don't have the game installed already you can get the open beta from here

If you already have the release version installed, it's much faster to switch to the open beta using the DCS World updater as it will only change the files needed, keeping all the ones that don't need to change.

Switching to the Open Beta

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your DCS World install
2. Hold LShift + Right click on bin folder and press "Open command prompt here"
3. Type or paste

DCS_updater.exe update @openbeta

Switching to Open Beta on Steam

1. Open steam and navigate your DCS in your library
2. Right click DCS and pick Properties
3. Click the betas tab and then from the drop down select Open Beta
4. Steam will now patch your game once you close the dialog box

Once the update is finished, you should be able to install the Hornet via the Module Manager in game.

SimpleRadio Update

The latest version of SimpleRadio has been updated to work with the Hornet.

Navigation

DCS F/A-18C Manual Waypoints Quick Guide by RedKite

Weapons

Implemented

   Mk-82 series
   Mk-83 series
   Mk-84 series
   CBU-99 and Mk-20 Cluster Bombs
   BDU-33 Training Bomb
   BDU-45 Training Bomb
   2.75 inch rockets
   5 inch rockets
   20mm cannon
   AIM-9L/M/X and CATM Sidewinder
   AIM-7F/M Sparrow
   AIM-120 B/C AMRAAM

Planned Weapons

   AGM-88C HARM
   AGM-45A/B Shrike
   AGM-84D Block 1C Harpoon
   AGM-84E SLAM
   AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER
   AGM-65E Maverick
   AGM-65F/G Maverick
   AGM-154A JSOW
   AGM-154C JSOW
   Walleye I ER/DL
   Walleye II ER/DL
   GBU-10 Paveway II
   GBU-12 Paveway II
   GBU-16 Paveway II
   GBU-24B/B Paveway III
   GBU-38 JDAM
   GBU-31 JDAM
   GBU-32 JDAM
   AIM-7P Sparrow
   Mk-40 Destructor Sea Mine
   Mk-63 Quickstrike Sea Mine
   Mk-77 Fire Bomb

Countermeasures

DCS F/A-18C Hornet Countermeasures Tutorial by RedKite

Ground Radar

Not yet implemented

IFF (Identification Friend or Foe)

A basic version of IFF currently exists within the hornet module. At this time it will only let you know if your target is friendly or not by placing them in the center of your hud. If a valid IFF response is received you will get a square marker, where as an invalid response is currently represented by a diamond.

Manuals

NATOPS Flight Manual

Startup Checklist

I Read the Manual So You Don't Have To By MustardCosaNostra

F/A-18C Hornet | Armament Matrix by Twisted-Biscuit

Wags' Tutorial Videos

Introduction

Cockpit Tour

Preflight, Startup, Taxi, and Takeoff

HUD, UFC and IFEI

ADF and TACAN Navigation

VFR Airfield Landing

Waypoint Navigation

Rockets and AG Gun

CASE I Carrier Landing

Air-to-Air Gun

Sidewinders

Unguided Bombs

AIM-7 Sparrow Air-to-Air Missile

Feature List

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=194412&page=2

HOTAS Configs

SkillSawTheSecond's HOTAS setup

FAQ

Click to expand ->

Q: I cant use Afterburners when taking off

A:The Hornet uses WOW (Weight on Wheels) to prevent unintentional use of the afterburners. You can manually override this system by pulling the finger lifts on the HOTAS and advancing the throttle.

Q: How does IFF work?!

A:Currently only a basic version for the hornet is implimented. After locking your target, putting them in the center of the HUD will give you either a diamond or a square. Square targets are friendly, and diamond targets are not responding to IFF.