Video shows the “Super Delta,” the new Thunderbirds and Blue Angels F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet flight formation

Video shows the “Super Delta,” the new Thunderbirds and Blue Angels F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet flight formation

By Dario Leone
Mar 6 2021
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The “Super Delta” formation grew out of a series of joint training opportunities held in 2020 and 2021, and serves as a symbol of the teamwork, discipline, and skill of the men and women belonging to the US military forces.

For the first time ever, the US Air Force Thunderbirds and US Navy Blue Angels debut a F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet flight formation known as the “Super Delta” during a joint training evolution, as the following video taken on Mar. 2, 2021 during the team’s training over the Imperial Valley, shows at 12:08.

As explained by our friends at Aerobatic Display Teams Website, after the 2020 very successful joint flyovers during “Operation America Strong,” both US Demonstration Squadrons will continue this incredible joint formation flying in 2021 at National Memorial Day Parade: America Stands Tall in Washington, D.C.

Video shows the “Super Delta,” the new Thunderbirds and Blue Angels F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Super Hornet flight formation

“Operation America Strong was the idea of our great military men and women — the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels crews who wanted to show support to the American medical workers who, just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight,” then President Trump said in March 2020.

According to Air Force Thunderbirds Facebook page, the formation grew out of a series of joint training opportunities held in 2020 and 2021, and serves as a symbol of the teamwork, discipline, and skill of the men and women belonging to the US military forces deployed around the globe.

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“We are humbled to have the opportunity to virtually debut a full flight this Memorial Day weekend during the nation-wide broadcast of the National Memorial Day Parade: America Stands Tall, hosted by the American Veterans Center in Washington, D.C., honoring those who have served and sacrificed before us,” the Thunderbirds said on their Facebook page.

“Tune-in to your ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliate May 29 -31, to view the debut of this formation flight with re-airings in the weeks to follow.”

Photo credit: U.S. Navy Blue Angels MC2 Cody Hendrix and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds SSgt Andrew Sarver


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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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