First Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet Arrives to NAS Pensacola
The first Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet arrives at NAS Pensacola Monday, greeted by its predecessors. Photo courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Hendrix.
While most of the Blue Angels’ 2020 season may have been lost due to COVID-19, the team is already making strides in preparation for their 75th anniversary season and the transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Monday, July 27th, the team took delivery of the first modified F/A-18E Super Hornet at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
Captain Eric Doyle, 2018-2019 commanding officer of the Blue Angels, ferried the Super Hornet from Boeing’s Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida to its new home at NAS Pensacola. Captain Doyle is the Director of the Blue Angels Super Hornet Transition Team, and has assisted in overseeing and testing all modifications done by Boeing. Other members of the Super Hornet Transition Team include former Blue Angels Captain Ryan Bernacchi and Commander Frank Weisser.
Captain Eric Doyle is greeted by his former squadron after delivering the first Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet to NAS Pensacola Monday. Photo courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Hendrix.
The Blue Angels posted the following statement on their Facebook page Monday:
“We would like to especially thank the teams at Boeing, Chief of Naval Air Training Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast, and Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support,” said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels. “The success of this mission was a direct reflection of their hard work.”
The Blue Angels are slated to transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet later this year after using the F/A-18 Hornet for 34 years. Just last week, the team announced four new officer selections for 2021, none of which included an F/A-18 demonstration pilot. All seven pilots from 2020 will retain their roles for 2021 in order to ease the transition process.
For the latest updates regarding the Blue Angels’ transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, stay tuned to our website, social media, and mobile app.
Captain Eric Doyle departs Boeing’s Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida Monday en route to NAS Pensacola. Photo courtesy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Gordon.
