Hello,

I was just wondering what is the optimum approach speed for F/A-18A, B, C, D when landing the aircraft. I was searching over the internet for such info, and the value I got was 134 knots. I know this would be true for the Super Hornet (E/F) but im not 100% sure its necessarily for the A, B, C, and D models because i can't find it on Boeing's website.

Now the reason I ask is because, when flying Dean Reimer's CF-188 models, as well as his C/D models of the Finnish + Swedish Airforce, during landing, I require quite a bit of airspeed just to maintain a safe angle of attack for a good landing. At about 180-190 knots, and about 5-10 nose up, I can maintain sight on the runway, and do a good approach (im on full flaps and gear down by the way). At 134-140 knots, i am unable to maintain the correct angle of attack without excessive nose up, i lose visual of the runway, and it seems quite unacceptable for a landing.

I have tried dumping a majority of my fuel, as well as sellecting a less than heavy payload, however, none of this solves the problem.

Any insight? Thanks

I know in JF-18, 135ish was the recommended speed when trapping, but you had to have a light fuel load too to be under a certain weight. Runway landings were usually done at a higher speed, 160+ depending on aircraft weight again.

ah ok, thanks grover

Janes F-18 is of course the SuperHornet. If I remember right, the Superhornet has a significantly slower landing speed than the earlier A and C 'bugs'. It has a bigger wing for one thing, bigger leading edge extentions too. I think they did it not only to take a bigger load out there, but to land WITH a larger amount of ordnance weight...important to peacetime and modest war conditions, where majority of planes would return without firing or dropping anything.

lol, when I was playing JF-18, I was lucky to return at all, so it didnt matter

What AOA are you using? What block is Dean modeling as the AOA for approached changed.

Pitch should be around 5 degrees or so with a G/S of 3-3.25 degrees.

The Hornet lands at a lower approach speed than the Rhino IIRC.

Although the Rhino has a bigger surface areas, there's an expense of drag and the higher weight thus the higher approach speeds.

I couldnt remember exactly. Ill check later. All I know is that I cannot maintain a constant yellow on my AOA indicator unless I am flying between 170-190 knots with 5-10 degrees nose up.

Now im looking at these stats here, though im not sure how authentic they are, it does say 134 knots http://www.voodoo.cz/hornet/info.html. I know fuel can have an impact on this, but when like 75 percent fuel, 0 payload, it still feels like landing an airliner...

In RL, they fly the markers/AOA which will get you to the correct speed for your weight.

>>“I know fuel can have an impact on this, but when like 75 percent fuel, 0 payload,…”

Hang on a second, fuel is MASSIVELY heavy. It’s easily the heaviest single thing you carry, really. Your fuel state has a huge effect on your landing speed, so you need to research what the maximum carrier landing weight is, and dump fuel accordingly.

Not the same plane, but it illustrates this perfectly: Mike Stone’s 747-SP, when I first got it, I forgot to reduce my fuel load, and tried landing with full cargo, full fuel. Well, I was shocked that to get 700fpm decent, with full flaps and gear down, I was doing 200 knots! HEH?!?!?! Then I realized what might be my mistake, and tried again with 10% fuel. I was shocked once more, as this time I was able to approach at just 115 knots, this big plane having less weight to carry on those big wings it was flying more like a U-2 spyplane…

Fuel state also has a massive effect on your cargo carriage weight: drop fuel to 50% on any ‘heavy’ and start maxing out your cargo weight, you’ll be surprised just how much more you can carry without becoming “overloaded”.

Anyway, regardless, I VERY much doubt carrier planes land with 75% fuel on board, just too much weight, too fast an approach, and if the plane crashes, you’ve got all that extra fuel now burning on the deck of the precious carrier. Nah, I’d bet that landings are probably done between 10-25% maximum fuel weight. Maybe even less. They get to the carrier and dump fuel I think. If they wait too long in the pattern and run low, they top up again from the Viking or SuperBugTanker (F-18E used as a buddy-tanker) just enough to sip fuel in the air for 20 minutes while they clear the deck and let you land.

ack sorry, i only had 75% fuel in my center tank. Theres 3 tanks on that Hornet, I emptied the other ones before flight