Red Flag B-roll 19 March 2024 - USMC F/A-18D Hornets Prepare for Night Action

U.S. Marine Corps two-place F-18D Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, refuel before taking off for a Red Flag-Nellis mission at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Mar. 21, 2024. (U.S. Air Force video by Airman 1st Class Timothy Perish)
The F/A-18C is single seat; the D-model is two-place. Here's what the U.S. Navy says about the F/A-18 C- and D-models: Production of C and D models ended in 2000, with the last delivery of an F/A-18D to the U.S. Marine Corps occurring in the summer of the same year. In April 2018, the U.S. Navy announced retirement of the F/A-18C from combat roles. F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet domestic aircraft entered its Post Production Support (PPS) phase in FY00. The Navy and Marine Corps continue to analyze Hornet manpower and sustainment requirements as the aircraft ages and approaches sundown.
Specifications
Primary Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft.
Contractor: Prime: McDonnell Douglas; Major Subcontractor: Northrop.
Date Deployed: November 1978. Operational - October 1983 (A/B models); September 1987 (C/D models).
Unit Cost: $29 million
Propulsion: Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines. 17,700 pounds static thrust per engine.
Length: 56 feet (16.8 meters)
Height: 15 feet 4 inches (4.6 meters)
Wingspan: 40 feet 5 inches (13.5 meters)
Weight: Maximum Take Off Gross Weight is 51,900 pounds (23,537 kg).
Airspeed: Mach 1.7+
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Range: Combat: 1,089 nautical miles (1252.4 miles/2,003 km), clean plus two AIM-9s
Ferry: 1,546 nautical miles (1777.9 miles/2,844 km), two AIM-9s plus three 330 gallon tanks.
Crew: A, C and E models: One
B, D and F models: Two
Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); various general purpose bombs, mines and rockets.
Hit the Subscribe button for the Airailimages Channel on UA-cam. We appreciate it.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

[@ChiefAUS]

Very good video.

[@airailimages]

The Public Affairs team at Nellis has some skilled videographers.