THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511300370
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
The F/A-18E ``Super Hornet,'' which by early in the next century is to become the centerpiece of naval aviation, flew for the first time on Wednesday in St. Louis.
The plane, a bigger, more heavily armed version of the F/A-18C now in service, was unveiled by manufacturer McDonnell-Douglas during an elaborate ceremony in September. It is expected to be flown soon from the firm's headquarters in St. Louis to the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center in Maryland for a lengthy program of test flights.
The Navy expects to purchase 1,000 of the jets, using them to replace the F-14 Tomcat and the A-6E Intruder. Ultimately, Super Hornets also are to take the place of the F/A-18C.
McDonnell-Douglas wants to build a two-seat version of the plane, the F/A-18F, for the Marine Corps, which so far has indicated it isn't interested. by CNB