Aircraft: the following is a list of the most commonly flown aircraft in the Navy's inventory and are the most likely to be encountered by today's Sailor - Owner's & Operator's/Manual 2002

All Hands, Jan, 2002

CARRIER BASED

F/A-18 Hornet

The F/A-18 is an all-weather, attack aircraft that can also be used as a fighter. In its fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as an escort and for fleet air defense. In its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction and close-air support. Many squadrons have or will be transitioning to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

WINGSPAN: 40 ft., 5 in.

LENGTH: 56 ft.

HEIGHT: 15 ft., 4 in.

WEIGHT: 51,900 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: Mach 1.8+

CEILING: 50,000 ft.

RANGE: (with external tanks) 1,333-1,379 nm

ARMAMENT: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sparrow III and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; laser-guided and general purpose bombs; Harpoon, HARM, Shrike, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Walleye, Maverick missles; JSOW and JDAM

CREW: 1 or 2

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

The F/A-18E/F will provide the carrier battle group with a strike fighter that has significant growth potential and increased range, endurance and ordnance-carrying capabilities. It will eventually replace the F-14 on carrier decks.

WINGSPAN: 44.9 ft.

LENGTH: 60.3 ft.

HEIGHT: 16 ft.

WEIGHT: 66,000 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: Mach 1.8+

CEILING: 50,000+ ft.

ARMAMENT: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sidewinder, Sparrow and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Maverick, Harpoon, Shrike, HARM, SLAM-ER and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); Walleye and other bombs and rockets.

CREW: 1 or 2

SQUADRONS

Blue Angels

VFA-15 Valions

VFA-22 Fighting Redcocks

VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet

VFA-27 Royal Maces

VFA-34 Blue Blasters

VFA-37 Bulls

VFA-81 Sunliners

VFA-83 Rampagers

VFA-82 Marauders

VFA-86 Sidewinders

VFA-87 Golden Warriors

VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes

VFA-97 Warhawks

VFA-105 Gunslingers

VFA-106 Gladiators

VFA-113 Stingers

VFA-115 Eagles

VFA-122 Redcocks

VFA-131 Wildcats

VFA-132 Privateers

VFA-136 Knighthawks

VFA-137 Kestrels

VFA-146 Blue Diamonds

VFA-147 Argonauts

VFA-151 Fighting Vigilantes

VFA-192 Golden Dragons

VFA-195 Dambusters

VFA-201(USNR) Hunters

VFA-203(USNR) Blue Dolphins

VFA-204(USNR) River Rattlers

VFC-12(USNR) Omars

F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep-wing fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in all weather conditions. The F-14 can track up to 24 targets simultaneously with its advanced weapons control system and engage any of them with one of its six Phoenix missiles while continuing to scan the airspace.

WINGSPAN: 64 ft.

LENGTH: 61 ft., 9 in.

HEIGHT: 16 ft.

WEIGHT: 72,900 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: Mach 2+

CEILING: Above 50,000 ft.

ARMAMENT: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sparrow, Sidewinder and Phoenix air-to-air missiles; laser-guided and general purpose bombs

CREW: 2 (one pilot, one radar intercept officer)

SQUADRONS

VF-2 Bounty Hunters

VP-11 Red Rippers

VF-14 Tophatters

VF-31 Tomcatters

VP-32 Swordsmen

VF-41 Black Aces

VF-101 Grim Reapers

VF-102 Diamondbacks

VF-103 Jolly Rogers

VF-143 Puking Dogs

VF-154 Black Knights

VF-211 Checkmates

VF-213 Black Lions

EA-6B Prowler

The EA-6B, a twin-engine, mid-wing aircraft designed for carrier and advanced base operations, is used to provide an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications. The EA-6B is a fully integrated electronic warfare system, combining long-range, all-weather capabilities with advanced electronic countermeasures.

WINGSPAN: 53 ft.

LENGTH: 59 ft., 10 in.

HEIGHT: 16 ft., 8 in.

WEIGHT: 61,500 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: Over 500 knots

CEILING: 37,600 ft.

RANGE: 1,000+ nm

ARMAMENT: HARM

CREW: 4 (one pilot, three electronic warfare officers)

SQUADRONS

VAQ-128 Fighting Phoenix

VAQ-129 Vikings

VAQ-130 Zappers

VAQ-131 Lancers

VAQ-132 Scorpions

VAQ-133 Wizards

VAQ-134 Garudas

VAQ-135 Black Ravens

VAQ-136 Gauntlets

VAQ-137 Rooks

VAQ-138 Yellowjackets

VAQ-139 Cougars

VAQ-140 Patriots

VAQ-141 Shadowhawks

VAQ-142 Gray Wolves

VAQ-209(USNR) Star Warriors

S-3B Viking

The S-3B, a jet aircraft used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, is extremely versatile and can be equipped for tanking, mining and limited electronic surveillance.

WINGSPAN: 68 ft., 8 in.

LENGTH: 53 ft., 4 in.

HEIGHT: 22 ft., 9 in.

WEIGHT: 52,539 lbs. maximum design gross weight

SPEED: 450 knots

CEILING: 40,000 ft.

RANGE: 2,300+ nm

ARMAMENT: torpedoes, bombs, Harpoon, Maverick and SLAM missiles

CREW: 2/4

SQUADRONS

VS-21 Fighting Redtails

VS-22 Checkmates

VS-24 Scouts

VS-29 Dragonfires

VS-30 Diamond Cutters

VS-31 Top Cats

VS-32 Maulers

VS-33 Screwbirds

VS-35 Blue Wolves

VS-38 Red Griffins

VS-41 Shamrocks

E-2C Hawkeye

The E-2C is the Navy's all-weather, carrier based tactical warning and control systems aircraft. It provides airborne early warning and command and control functions for the battle group. Additional missions include: surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance and communications relay.

WINGSPAN: 80 ft., 7 in.

LENGTH: 57 ft., 6 in.