JANE'S AT THE CONTROLS e" HOW TO FLY AND FIGHT IN THE F/A-18 HORNET Jane's 'At the Controls' is a new series providing a 'hands-on' briefing of what it is like to fly and fight in modern combat aircraft. By following a hypothetical mission set sometime in the near future, the full capabilities of the McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 will be revealed.With its APG-65 multimode radar and infrared search and tracking sensor, the Hornet can operate by day or by night over the harshest environment of all: the ocean. It can carry a formidable ordnance load including Harpoon anti-ship missiles and SLAM, its equivalent for land targets. In this scenario the Hornets will use laser guided bombs for pinpoint precision against enemy missile craft lurking among neutral shipping. Forthcoming titles in the 'At the Controls' series include:e F-117 STEALTH BOMBEReMIG-29eAH-64 APACHE DAVID C. ISBY is a Washington-based attorney and defence consultant. He has worked as a staff member in the US Congress and provided policy support for US arms control negotiations.

Special correspondent for 'Jane's Intelligence Review', he has written fourteen books and over 200 articles. An experienced pilot, he has designed several air combat simulations, including the award-winning 'Air War'. The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is the mainstay of the US Navy's carrier battle groups. With its unique F/A designation, the Hornet is recognised as being equally capable of air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. 'At the Controls' takes you on a combat mission with the F/A-18. Launched from an aircraft carrier stationed in the Gulf, your targets are enemy missile boats operating close inshore. Hostile fighters will try to intercept you and batteries of surface-to-air missiles are hidden along the coastline. 'At the Controls' reveals how to take off, navigate, refuel and approach the target undetected; how to attack enemy warships with laser-guided bombs, how to evade enemy missiles and how to engage enemy aircraft with guided missiles and cannon.