In 2018 the USN decided to supply the “Blue Angels” with early production Super Hornets. In 2012 F/A-18E 15666 c/n 1517/E020 was assigned to VFA-106 “Gladiators” as AD-114 and painted in the squadrons 1967 Vietnam War A-4 Skyhawk colors. In 2018 the aircraft was transferred to VFA-146 “Blue Diamonds” as NH-302. In 2020 165666 became part of the USN “Blue Angels” Demo Team. In January 2021 the aircraft wore the number 3 but in February the number was changed to 1. 2021 will mark the 75th Anniversary of the “Blue Angels”.
The McDonnell Douglas Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet is a twin-engine multi-role carrier-based aircraft. The “E” variant is single-seater while the “F” variant is a tandem-seat configuration. The “E” is a much larger, more advanced and more capable variant of the F/A-18C. The Super variant can carry a larger array of weapons as well as more of them and is capable of returning to the carrier while still carrying unspent munitions, a big savings in dollars. The first F/A-18E flight was in 1995 and began delivery to the USN in 1999.

Info: F/A-18E Super Hornet USN 165666 Blue Angels, #1, 2021