We all know that fighter jets are fast, but how fast can they really be?
No plane can answer this question better than the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
This American aircraft by Boeing is a legend in its own right, and this video is solid proof of its overwhelming power.
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Shot on May 24th, 2009 at Jones Beach on the occasion of Bethpage Federal Credit Union Airshow, the jet can be seen at its full potential.
As the people on the beach await the arrival of the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, it breaks the sound barrier and disappears instantly.
As expected, the people on the beach are shocked at this maneuver, just like how this Boeing 747 surprised everyone with the power of its engine.
Whenever a jet surpasses the speed of sound, the sound waves combine in the form of shocks and make the shape of a funnel.
That’s what we saw in the video, proving that the F/A-18 Super Hornet was moving at a speed faster than sound.
Did you notice the sound of the jet?
It was as if the already roaring voice of the jet screamed at its loudest. A pure melody to the ears.
It feels a bit unbelievable that the F/A-18 Super Hornet actually took its first flight back in November 1995, 28 years ago from now.
Surely, this Boeing aircraft was way ahead of its time.
Curious to know a bit more about this beauty?
The Boeing F/A-18 is a multirole fighter aircraft capable of handling both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
The aircraft has a length of 60.3 feet and a wingspan of 44.9 feet, a perfect size to make it super-fast with a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (approximately 1,190 mph.)
With an impressive range of 1,250 nautical miles, this beast can keep fighting for long hours without requiring refueling.
And not to forget its two general electric F414-GE-400 turbofans, each producing a whopping 22,000 pounds of thrust.
Despite its old age, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is super fancy with technology way ahead of its time.
Advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and an integrated targeting forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system, what else does a pilot want?
And if you think this thing is just for show, you couldn’t be more wrong.
From Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, this jet has seen a lot and still serves its country proudly.
