그렇다면 넌 슈퍼호넷이야
Live Fire Testing Live fire testing is a critical part of assessing any new aircraft’s vulnerability and survivability. In May 1998, a static test F/A-18E (single-seat model) arrived at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWPNS) China Lake, CA. That same airframe had already survived drop testing and barricade-engagement tests. \"It’s just an incredibly robust design,\" says Hardy Tyson, Navy live fire and vulnerability reduction engineer for the F/A-18E/F in China Lake, CA. \"The flight control system is phenomenal. We’ve shot it, we’ve done everything you can think of to try and kill the aircraft, but we haven’t yet.\" The airframe, designated SV52, has completed five live fire tests with three remaining. Most recently, the inlet duct damage-control subsystem was tested. For this test a large armor-piercing incendiary projectile was fired through the starboard inlet duct into the aft fuel tank.
According to Meyers, the hole that resulted showed virtually no evidence of leakage during the five minutes that the engine was operated at military power with 400 knots of airflow generated by a high-velocity airflow system to simulate flight. The successful test demonstrates that the damage-control system incorporated into the Super Hornet provides an acceptable level of protection from fuel ingestion into the engine that could otherwise have resulted in catastrophic loss of the aircraft. In all, SV52 will undergo eight different live fire tests sequenced from least damaging to most damaging. In previous tests the engineers have tested the General Electric F414 engines for ballistic tolerance and successfully demonstrated the engine bay fire extinguishing system. Tests have also been completed that showed the aircraft was survivable to damage to the horizontal stabilator actuator and surface. Tests remaining are of the dry-bay fire suppression system, engine-related ballistic tests in which the engine will be shot, and an ullage (space in the gas tank above the fuel level where fumes collect) explosion in fuel tank 1. \"We are working hard to complete the necessary testing in time for the milestone three decision,\" says Tyson. The milestone three decision expected in the spring of 2000 will authorize the start of full-rate production.


이미 투하 테스트와 바리케이드 테스트를 거친 동체가 5번의 화재테스트를 했지만 뒤지지 않았음.
3번의 화재 테스트가 더 남아있었고, 그중 첫번째는 철갑소이탄을 우측 공기 흡입구로 발사해서 위 사진의 4번 탱크 이후까지 뚫게 하는거였음.

결과는 어떠한 누출도 없었으며,  엔진이 5분동안 밀리터리 파워로 정상 작동함. 타 전투기였으면 대재앙급 사고가 일어났을 상황.

이후 테스트는 엔진에 직접 탄환을 쏘고, 연료탱크를 폭파시키는 더 가혹한 테스트. 결국 모두 정상 통과했음.