McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet

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06 Jul 2026 · © TangoLima

2026 Jones Beach Airshow - Blue Angels

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McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet (Blue Angels variant)

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Aircraft

F/A-18 Hornet F18

U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team

Airline

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Manufacturer

McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing)

Gear

NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3200 AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED

Achievements

Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Livery Legend, Boeing Beginner, Military Maverick

5 badges earned

Photo grade

Bronze

Score: 72.0

Great Blue Angels cluster and smoke trails, but soft focus loses detail and the sky is a bit flat.

Insights

Aviation History

The F/A-18 Hornet has served as a backbone multirole fighter for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps; the Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy’s official flight demonstration team and internationally renowned for their precision aerobatics.

Fleet Rarity

F/A-18 is common in military service (over 1,400 produced), but the Blue Angels\' specific aircraft have unique modifications and livery, making them rare in civil/military spotting.

Record Flights

Blue Angels routinely perform challenging, close-formation aerobatic displays; not used for commercial flight records but highly regarded for formation flying.

Safety & Events

Some air show incidents and mechanical failures over decades of Blue Angels demonstrations, but with a highly professional safety record.

Future Outlook

Blue Angels transitioned from F/A-18A/B/C/D to F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2021; older Hornets retired or preserved.

Specifications

General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofan (F/A-18C/D) or F414-GE-400 (Super Hornet variants)

Engine

13.62 m

Wingspan

17.07 m

Length

2,346 km (ferry range)

Range

1,075 km/h (Mach 0.9); max speed Mach 1.8

Speed

Single seat (F/A-18A/C/E) or two seats (F/A-18B/D/F) – demonstration team version only carries pilots

Capacity

23,500 kg

MTOW

4.66 m

Height

2 x 79.2 kN (17,700 lbf) each (F/A-18C/D) or 2 x 97.9 kN (22,000 lbf) (F/A-18E/F)

Thrust

Typically 130 dB at close range; not rated under ICAO civilian noise standards

Noise