NAVY WIRE SERVICE (NWS) - 7 June 1999 -

Super Hornet enters operational evaluation

by F/A-18E/F Public Affairs
     PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NWS) -- The nation's newest strike
fighter, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, entered operational
evaluation (OPEVAL) May 27. OPEVAL is scheduled to last six
months and will be conducted by an all-Navy independent test
team from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) NINE, based
at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, Calif.
     "We evaluate the aircraft to determine how it fits into
real world operations," explains VX-9 OPEVAL Test Director
Cmdr. Jeff Penfield. "Operational pilots look at things
differently than flight test pilots. If I take the Super
Hornet into battle tomorrow, how would the aircraft
perform?"
     When testing is complete a full evaluation will be
forwarded to Navy leadership with recommendations as to
whether the Super Hornet is operationally effective and
operationally suitable. "The final report is much like a
report card," explains Penfield. "You can expect a variety
of grades on it."
     VX-9 is beginning a rigorous series of tests to assess
the aircraft's performance in all mission areas with five
production-model Super Hornets. The next two production
aircraft Boeing delivers to the Navy will also ferry to NAWS
China Lake, bringing the total number of OPEVAL aircraft to
seven -- three single-seat E-models and four two-seat F-
models. During testing, a 22-member air crew contingent
consisting of 14 pilots and eight weapon systems officers
will fly about 700 sorties in the F/A-18E/F. Another 70 Navy
personnel are responsible for maintaining the OPEVAL
aircraft.
     The Super Hornet is the newest version of the combat-
proven F/A-18 Hornet. Both the E and F models offer longer
range, greater endurance, more payload-carrying ability,
more powerful engines, increased carrier bringback
capability, enhanced survivability and the growth potential
to incorporate future systems and technologies to meet
emerging threats.
                            -USN-