At the National Congress in Brasilia on 19 August, the U.S. company Boeing presented its F-18 E/F Super Hornet simulator, modeling one of the competitors in the FX-2 request for bids issued by the country for the acquisition of new fighter planes
At the National Congress in Brasilia on 19 August, the U.S. company Boeing presented its F-18 E/F Super Hornet simulator, modeling one of the competitors in the FX-2 request for bids issued by the country for the acquisition of new fighter planes.
In order to explain the plane’s technology and operation to interested Brazilian senators and members of Congress, the American company brought pilot Ted Hermann to the country, a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran with 3,900 hours of flight time and numerous decorations who is currently serving as a business development manager for Boeing’s international operations.
With this exhibition, the firm aims to promote the selection of its plane in the competition for the acquisition of 36 fighter planes, in which it is competing against the French company Dassault and its Rafale and the Swedish Saab and its Gripen NG.
The Boeing simulator has almost all the elements of a real F-18. It is equipped with a force feedback system that transmits the weight of the force of gravity and aerodynamic forces to the aircraft’s controls, enabling a simulation that is closer to a pilot’s actual sensations and reactions.
In addition, with a 180-degree projection screen, the simulator can offer images of land, sea, cities, forests, highways, and buildings, as well as enemy planes, making it possible to simulate conventional operations not only on land runways, but also on aircraft carriers.
Equipped with two seats, the simulator can recreate missions for both the one-seat and two-seat versions.
At present, Super Hornet planes are part of the fleets of the U.S. Marines and the Australian Air Force, countries in which their use is supported by programs running through 2035.
According to Boeing executives, a series of improvements and modernizations will maintain these versatile fighter planes in perfect condition until the end of their useful lives.
Another point in favor of the American jet is the fact that it is a plane designed for and used on aircraft carriers, something that might point toward the possible selection of F-18s by the Brazilian Navy to replace the veteran AF-1s (A-4K Skyhawks) operating from the aircraft carrier São Paulo.