*Hobby Master HA3514B 1:72 F/A-18 F/A-18C "Blue Angels"

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic twin engine all-weather
night fighter and attack aircraft. The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first production
flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September 1987 production
switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B and D are tandem-
seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases with the capability of in
flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.


The Blue Angels have flown 9 different types of aircraft since their inception in June 1946. Since
November 1986 their aircraft of choice has been the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F-18A/D
Hornet but they have since re-equipped with the "C" variant as the main aircraft. These aircraft
are former fleet aircraft that are at the end of their carrier arrestor capability and have been
modified to perform and survive the rigors of aerial demonstration flight. The pilots don’t wear G-
suits because the constant inflation and deflation of the suit interferes with the pilot’s control of
the stick.