Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

By Dario Leone
Nov 5 2020
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The cool photos in this post features the Blue Angels conducting their final flight on the F/A-18 A/B/C/D “Legacy” Hornets marking the official transition of the Blue Angels to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet platform.

Taken on Nov.4, 2020, the cool photos in this post features the Blue Angels conducting their final flight on the F/A-18 A/B/C/D “Legacy” Hornets marking the official transition of the Blue Angels to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet platform.

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

As already reported, flyover locations included:

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets
  • Orange Beach
  • Gulf Shores
  • Fort Morgan
  • Ferry Pass
  • Navarre Beach
  • Pensacola Beach
  • Perdido Key
  • Community Maritime Park
  • Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola
Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

“We are incredibly honored to have the opportunity to salute those teams who have flown, maintained and supported this platform for over three decades of service,” said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, U.S. Navy Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader. “We deeply appreciate the expertise and operational knowledge Blue Angels past and present have brought to the team and we look forward to enhancing our operations as we fully transition to flying the Super Hornet.”

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

The 2020 show season marked the end of the service life of the aircraft the team has flown for 34 years.

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

The 2021 show season will be the Blue Angels’ first year flying the Super Hornet platform as well as the 75th anniversary of the team.

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

As the actual jets, the new aircraft will be modified into a configuration specific to the Blue Angels role that requires the installation of a smoke generator and the removal of the fighter’s gun and missile launchers.

Check out these photos of Blue Angels final flight on F/A-18 Legacy Hornets

Still, the Rhino (as the Super Hornet is dubbed by its aircrews) is something more than the Legacy Hornet younger brother. In fact when it is strictly compared to the F/A-18A/B/C/D, the F/A-18E/F is 25 percent larger and the two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines have increased the aircraft thrust of 35 percent over the older model. Moreover an enhanced fuel capacity boosts the Super Hornet mission range.

VFA-2 F/A-18F Print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-2 Bounty Hunters, NE100 / 166804 / 2016

Photo credit: U.S. Navy


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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