L-3's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Training Systems Accepted into Service

The U.S. Navy has accepted the first F/A-18E/F Super Hornet flight simulators built by L-3 Communication's Link Simulator and Training Business of Arlington, Texas. Two systems were delivered-a newly built F/A-18E/F tactical operational flight trainer and an upgraded F/A-18C weapons tactical trainer that was modified to the E/F configuration. The tactical operational flight trainer includes a 300-degree horizontal and 70-degree vertical field-of-view display. The simulator is sized to fit within a squadron office environment, L-3 said. The weapons tactical trainer features a 40-ft visual system dome with 360-degree field-of-view, and includes upgrades to flight controls, engines and avionics. The trainers are being installed at the Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California, mainly to refine air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Environments air crews can train in include seven U.S. naval stations and three target areas on the U.S. West Coast where live-fly combat training takes place.