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A closer look at the F/A-18D:
- Crew: 2 — pilot and weapons systems operator
- Cost: $28 million
- Introduced: October, 1989
- Maker: McDonnell Douglas
- Power: Two General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning, low bypass turbofan engines
- Thrust: 16,000 pounds per engine
- Stress limit: 7.5 G
- Length: 56 feet (17.06 m)
- Wing span: 37.5 feet (11.43 m)
- Weight: 26,000 pounds
- Cargo capacity:
- 16,000 pounds of ordnance
- 12,000 pounds of fuel
- Cruising speed: 350 mph
- Top speed: Mach 1.8 (supersonic)
- Cruising range: 2,300 miles (2,000 nautical)
 - Combat range:
- Fighter mission: 460 miles (400 nautical)
- Attack mission: 661.25 miles (575 nautical)
- Weapons capability:
- AIM-9 sidewinder air-to-air missiles
- AIM-7 Sparrows
 - AMRAAM
- AGM-84 Harpoon missiles
- AGM-65 Maverick missiles
- AN/AAS-38 Forward Looking Infrared Radar
- GBU-10 and -12 laser-guided bombs
- Mk80 general purpose bombs
- CBU-59 cluster bombs
- M61 20-mm six-barrel gun
- McDonnell Douglas director gunsight
• Back to the Marines' departure
• What's next for MCAS El Toro
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• One last breath of thunder
• Spec sheet: F/A-18 Hornet
• What's next for El Toro?
Quick Facts
• MCAS El Toro History
What's VMFAT-101 mean?
V=Fixed wing
M=Marine
F=Fighter
A=Attack
T=Training squadron
Who's leaving?
Approximately 500 Marine Corps and Navy pilots, instructors, commanders, mechanics and support crew.
Where to?
A one-month training mission. At least six F/A-18s will be based on a carrier cruising up to 100 miles out in the Pacific. The rest will operate from a base at El Centro during the mission. The entire squadron will move permanently to MCAS Miramar in San Diego when the mission is over.
What's next?
Orange County government is trying to build a commercial airport there. It's become a hot debate
Out on the Web
•The F/A 18 Web site
• Navy's Blue Angels Web site
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