JoeEagle

My Feedback: (26)

What are the three circular openings just forward of the interfacebetween the nose and the forward fuselage? The ones painted black

And what is the rectangular box/bump just forward of theDiamondback paint.


I figured they might be some sort of detector for missiles? Countermeasures? Lights for the carrier?

thanks

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

The three holes/bumps toward the nose is the gun opening (center) and cooling inlets i believe. The rectangular thing, not sure, probably an antenna of sorts.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

That would be my guess as well.

Harley Condra

My Feedback: (4)

Buck Garza (Yeahbaby) could tell you about the "pizza box". He told me a few years ago, but I don't recall what it contains. Buck has a few thousand hours driving the FA-18.
The M61 gun fires through the center port, and the flanking holes are for cooling air into the gun and to purge gun gasses from the nose compartment.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Keep in mind that some of these things can be sensitive information. Openly stating what the antenna function on a military jet in an open forum may not be a good idea.

Chris Smith

My Feedback: (2)

Its ok to talk about antennas and systems on the F/A-18.

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

The terrorists will get the information and adapt it to their fleet. Here is their most recent addition to the fleet.

Super Stealthy

Low maintenance

Biodegradable

Watch out.

SushiHunter

Bingo!

Eaglepilot2

A few thousand hours!!! If only I could be so lucky! I wish I could get just 1 hour in the back seat of one, one of my life's ambitions would be complete!

Thanks for your service Buck Garza and all the other military personel!

Mike

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

The antenna in front of the canopy is threat detect (IFF).

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

My guess is that it is the conformal antenna for the IFF or CIT. Maybe the AN/APX-111 with a new antenna.

Although it does not look to be the scale size. Is this supposed to be an E/F model?

stevekott

+1 on the Conformal Antenna for the Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF).

Dig it

LMAO, now thats funny right there!!!!

SushiHunter

Yeah, but only because these birds have been in operation for over 25 years now and they are all over the place as static displays. But I remember back in "the day" a guy being taken into custody by three guys in suits for providing such information while serving as an active duty member in Japan.

Quikturn

My Feedback: (12)

I was an avionics tech in the Navy during the 80's and was on the first west coast westpac deployment with F-18's onboard the USS Constellation in 84/85. That doesn't make me an expert on this airplane but I did work on the IFF (identification, friend or foe) units (APN 72/76 transponder & interrogator units). I believe they had antennas that stick out. The antenna in question is part of a missile detection system. There should be more of them around the airplane to provide a 360 degree field of view.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Active aircraft are refitted with higher capacity electronics all the time including antennas. Just because the airplane in question has been around so long does not mean that everything about it is public knowledge.

nowakste

Its the gun barrels

Dreddi

My Feedback: (3)

I believe thats where some of the "awesome" for the airplane is kept. Since there is so much of it in the airplane they had to add a little extra space in a few places to fit it all in.

willig10

Speed race:
The discussion of gun placement, and antenna array are not sensitive data. Just go pick up any F-18 book, at any book store, and you will be able to identify what is what, on any given fighter in the fleet today. That is seen by the public.

Glenn

PREACHHAMES

My Feedback: (58)

Yes sir Eaglpilot2!

My ambition as well...

Greg

SushiHunter

Exactly. Now the performance/capabilities/specifications data on this equipment would be the information not to publically talk about, unless it's been declassified. Other than that, it's not hard like said to go out and get a book and see what is the gun, what is an antenna, etc. etc. Now for newest ac like the drones which are being catapulted from carriers right now, You won't find that information out so easily, but perhaps in 20 to 25 years from now it will be just as available as the physical information on like the 18 is now.

Interestingly, back in '86/'87 I was on the USS Midway, yeah, we were out in the IO listening to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" album which was brand new at that time, to give you an idea how long ago that was and being into radio controlled planes for some years during my youth just before I had went into the military, I was very interested in someday building a radio controlled F18 and wanted to do so very accurately. So during my "off" time I was drawing parts of the F18 that was chock & chained near my work space. Me doing this caught the attention of some of the chain of command and before too long I had to explain what I was doing to my superiors. This was in '86/'87 timeframe. 25 + years later, the physical information is no longer classified. My guess is once they roll the ac out into the public, the appearance is no longer classified information. However the performance/capabilities/specifications data on the equipment most likely will be until it has been declassified information.

Look at the SR-71, that bird was in operation for something like 20 years before it was actually made public that it existed. During that 20 something years, I'm sure no one could talk about any physical information about it. Once they rolled that out for the public, the physical information was declassified.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Guys, I understand what you are saying but to keep things simple for obvious reasons. I work for a company that manufactures those antennas. Not all F-18's are equipped the same.

Chris Smith

My Feedback: (2)

Joe,
The three circular openings are the M61A2 Vulcan (20mm) cannon port and blast diffuser vents.
The "pizza box" rectangular hump is the upper combined IFF interrogation antenna.
Chris

Quikturn

My Feedback: (12)

OK, Chris is right about the IFF antenna although it looks a bit different from ones I have seen before. Attached are some pictures of more familiar looking antenna and that are located at the same place.

I had had to re-read the original post. I thought we were talking about the diagonal antenna/sensor on the side just in front of the art work. I believe that one is part of the missile detection system.

yeahbaby

My Feedback: (21)

LoL best quote on RCU this year!!!