Blue Angels to transition to the Super Hornet by 2021

With the USN shedding its legacy Hornets, it was inevitable that their flagship Squadron and flight demonstration team will transition to the E/F models. 9 E's and 2 F's will make up the squadron.

I wonder if we will start seeing a Cobra or two as part of their routine

www.thedrive.com...

a reply to: FredT

They've been working on transitioning since at least a couple years ago. They were talking about it after the Tennessee crash. They had some engineering issues.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

They've been working on transitioning since at least a couple years ago. They were talking about it after the Tennessee crash. They had some engineering issues.

Any idea how worn out the airframes are in terms of flight hours? I get that they are well maintained but they must have some tough miles on them

a reply to: FredT

Oh, they're going to end up pretty mangled. The last F-16s that the Thunderbirds retired were actually bent. They were in such bad shape they couldn't even SLEP them, and sent them to the Boneyard.

I got to see the last (public) show in the A-4's. I suppose I should make an effort to journey see the last in these.

I figured what with all the shows, the practice, and the flight to and from locations. Well, its almost as powerfull as the F-4's they used to have.

Ill dredge up some pics taken at Moffett as a kid when the Blue Angles and their F-4's last visited

So looking a the date on the slides, I was a baby and this was my first airshow at Moffett Field circa 1969 with the Blue Angels in their F-4's

a reply to: FredT

Still can't beat the Thunderbirds F-4s with the black tail on the slot bird.

a reply to: Zaphod58

It's pretty hard to beat the F-4 in category even tangentially related to sex appeal. The things had the kind of distinctive character that would make a WWII warbird jealous.

Hate to disagree but the best absolute best was Steve Austin as a guest pilot with the Thunderbird's in T-38's in the classic episode "The Thunderbird Connection"

The Navy will convert 18 LRIP F-18E/F airframes for the Blue Angels. These aircraft are aircraft that are no longer flying, or have become obsolete for training or warfighting. Phase one of the transition involves the transition team developing the flight profile for the team, using the new aircraft. That is currently underway with former Blue Angels pilots at Pax River, with them flying the Manned Flight Simulator. Meanwhile, the aircraft software is being tweaked to display information the pilots will require to perform the show safely.

While flying the simulator, several "aha" moments have occurred. One of them is inverted flight characteristics. The Hornet is cleared for up to 60 seconds inverted, while the Super Hornet is cleared for 40 seconds. So they've had to develop new maneuvers to minimize inverted flight, without affecting the quality of the show. The Super Hornet is also better in some areas, such as looping, rolling, and acceleration. The show time will also be reduced somewhat. To accommodate the change to the new aircraft, the 2020 show season will be reduced, and the 2021 season start later in the year.

Early-production F/A-18E/F Super Hornets have a new mission—help the Blue Angels inspire greatness and service in others—as the next flight demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron.

In the next few years, the Blue Angels will transition from the F/A-18 Hornet to the Super Hornet as 18 low-rate initial production (LRIP) F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are modified and then painted in the iconic blue.

“While the team is preparing for a safe and dynamic Super Hornet show in 2021, execution depends on the material condition of the allotted aircraft and modifications remaining on schedule,” said Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Rear Adm. Gregory Harris. “Enterprise-wide effort will ensure fleet readiness priorities are met throughout the transition.”

In the meantime, the flight profile for the Super Hornet aerial demonstration is being developed by former Blue Angels pilots at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Manned Flight Simulator at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

navalaviationnews.navylive.dodlive.mil...

originally posted by: FredT
So looking a the date on the slides, I was a baby and this was my first airshow at Moffett Field circa 1969 with the Blue Angels in their F-4's

My first and unfortunately last time I saw the BA's perform was at Tinker, I believe it was in 73. The F-4 has been ingrained in my head ever since.

Cool pics Fred

The first Rhino pictures in team colors have arrived.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Man, that looks nice.

a reply to: Barnalby

The US NAVY on the side of the intake looks odd, but it is pretty.

The first F-18E test aircraft was delivered. It was modified to include smoke tank, fuel systems for extended inverted flight, civilian- compatible navigation systems, cameras, and ballast for the new CG.

The last show on their schedule, Pensacola, has been canceled. Unless someone adds a show suddenly, it would appear that the Legacy Hornet is done with the team.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
The US NAVY on the side of the intake looks odd, but it is pretty.

I recall that being on the old aircraft too.