AFAIK there is almost no way to tell an A from a C unless you see the BuNo which tells you the year it was ordered, and as C superseded As in the mid-80's...

LEX/LERX are interchangeable terms.
The Jedi Master

Ahh Ok there is one foolproof way to tell A and C apart, the fairings on the top portions of the vertical stabs are a bit different. The A has less "bumps" up there due to the rwr gear and I beleive it is still the same way. The C has one or two more small fairings than the A. Otherwise ALL Hornet's got the LEX fences to solve the problem of tail vibration. It redirects the vortex from the lex outward so it does not hit the tail as much.

Hornit

So that's what they are...

I suspected they were either some sort of aerodynamic aids (as they are), or a large antennae.

But what about the airbrakes? I believe you drove the C-variant, right? So were does the brakes pop out from?

Actually, aside from being a flightsim enthuisiast, the reason why I'm so interested in what may be a mundane detail is because I love building plastic models. I've had four or five F-18s (Two A, one B, and two C/D variants, and now setting my eyes on an E).

And from the point of view of serious plastic modelers, it's down to the last detail.

Anyway, thanks again, Hornit.


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BlackThor 06, ejecting!

jedimaster,

What's BuNo? Bumper Number? Bureau Number?

Anyway, I have a small B/W pic of the YF-17 sitting in the Edwards AFB tarmac right next to a protoype F/A-18. The size and shapes of both airframes are really apparent. The YF-17 looks more angular and squat than the F-18.

The shapes of components such as the radome and the horizontal stab is also different, with the YF-17's nose sharper (not including the long probe) and the Hornet's stabs are more rounded in the edges.

It's obvious that the F-18 is larger and heavier than the YF-17. Main undercarriage of both planes are dissimilar.

I haven't seen a size comparison of the Super Hornet and its older sisters, much more its cousin.

Can anyone please post a pic?

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BlackThor 06, ejecting!

I have one, but in a mag and I don't have a scanner. The F/A-18E is larger than the F/A-18C at about the same ratio as the F/A-18A was to the YF-17.
Compare this:
F/A-18C:
span 37.5 ft (without missiles on tip)
length 56 ft
height 15.3 ft
empty weight 23k lb, MTOW 56k lb

F/A-18E:
span 41.8 ft (without missiles on tip)
length 60.1 ft
height 15.75 ft
empty weight 30.6k lb, MTOW 66k lb

It also has about 4k lb more internal fuel.

The Jedi Master

The A and C speedbrake is identical.

Hornit