Finally, in 1986, the F/A-18 Hornet became the Blue Angels workhorse of a demonstration aircraft. In 1957, the F11F-1 Tiger entered the spotlight where it stayed for the next 11 years as well.ДЄfter that, in 1968, the F-4J Phantom II served for five years followed by the A-4F Skyhawk II which became a legend in its own right, serving for the next 12 years. Next in line were multiple variations of the F9F Panther/Cougar that were flown for the next 11 years. That lasted the first year and then the F8F Bearcat served as the go-to aircraft for the next three years. The first aircraft the Blue Angels flew was the F6F Hellcat in 1946. Navy F6F Hellcat as the first Blue Angels aircraft in 1946. Maurice Wickendoll read the term in New Yorker Magazine. During an airshow in Omaha, Nebraska, the team was introduced as the Blue Angels after Right Wing Pilot Lt. The name вЂњBlue AngelsвЂќ came from humble beginnings in the middle of the continent. The first ever was Patrouille de France founded in 1931. The Navy Flight Exhibition Team is the first aerial demonstration team in the U.S. Three months later, in June of 1946, the Navy Flight Exhibition Team flew in its first-ever demonstration. His idea was to maintain public interest and investment in naval aviation. NAVY вЂ“ Shortly after World War II ended, the legendary Chief of Naval Operations Adm. The F-100C Super Sabre as the Thunderbirds aircraft of choice 1956 вЂ“ 1969. Overall it is the ninth aircraft that the Thunderbirds, and more impressive is that the USAF utilizes a frontline fighter as its demonstration aircraft. The first red, white and blue F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet was assigned to the team in 1982, and the rest is history. Except for a brief break in 1964 where the F-105 Thunderchief flew for six shows, the Thunderbirds flew the Super Sabre for 13 years until they moved forward in 1969 with the F-4E Phantom II. Original demonstrations lasted 15 minutes and there was no вЂsoloвЂ™ portion.ДЄfter one year of the Thunderstreak, the team moved into the supersonic space by employing the F-100C Super Sabre in 1956. By 1955 the F-84F Thunderstreak became the teamвЂ™s aircraft of choice. The first aircraft the Thunderbirds flew was the F-84G Thunderjet. He served as the information officer and team narrator. Captain Bill Brock was the final officer selected for the team. First Lieutenant Aubry Brown served as the maintenance officer for the team. For the difficult position of slot, the position sandwiched between both wingmen and behind the leader, Capt. Twins Bill and Buck Pattillo were selected and flew the left and right wing, respectively. Major Dick Catledge, a training squadron commander at Luke AFB, was chosen as the teamвЂ™s leader. The first flight demonstration team consisted of 7 officers and 22 enlisted men.

The name вЂњThunderbirdsвЂќ became the unofficial moniker because of the heavy Native American culture and presence in Arizona. Air Force was created, the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit was activated at ArizonaвЂ™s Luke Air Force Base. USAF вЂ“ In 1953, just six years after the U.S. In order to distinguish between traditional F/A-18s and the Super Hornets, the Super Hornets have been unofficially dubbed вЂRhinosвЂ™ to avoid confusion.

F/A-18Es differ only slightly from F/A-18Fs in that the F variant is a two-seater and the E is a single seat jet. Fast, agile, and nimble, this twin-engine jet fighter predominantly serves as a fighter escort and fleet air defense for a naval carrier group. The Super Hornet was ordered in 1992 by the United States Navy to replace a large, multi-faceted fleet of carrier aircraft.

It is considered a fourth-generation fighter after significant upgrades have been made to its design and avionics deck. Lockheed MartinвЂ™s F-16 is a multi-role, single-engine fighter aircraft used frequently in air superiority missions as well as close air support. Painted in classic American red, white and blue вЂ“ these snazzy fighter jets are impossible to miss. The Thunderbirds fly the legendary F-16 Fighting Falcon. Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Snowbirds fly together for the first time in history in an airshow over Lake Erie along the US/Canada border. LetвЂ™s take a closer look at these two storied programs. Navy Blue Angels bring the power, awe, and pure joy of aerial acrobats to men, women and children from sea to sea. The dedicated pilots, air crews and support staff of the U.S. Flight demonstrations at air shows across the country remain the most memorable exposure that many Americans have of the U.S.

Thunderbird plane