From the A-4 Skyhawk to the F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s Blue Angels have dazzled spectators with a variety of aircraft.
It’s summer touring season for the US Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, who are instantly recognizable by their blue- and yellow-dressed McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Super Hornets. However, the Blue Angels did not always fly the F/A-18. Instead, the team has consistently upgraded its aircraft throughout the eras—most recently in 1986, when the Blue Angels transitioned from the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a lightweight Vietnam-era attack jet, to the original Hornet model.
Comparing the A-4 Skyhawk and the F/A-18 Hornet
A-4 Skyhawk vs. F/A-18 Hornet
| Aircraft | A-4 Skyhawk | F/A-18 Hornet |
| Year Introduced | 1956 | 1983 (entered USN service) |
| Number Built | ~2,960 | ~1,480 |
| Length | 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m) | 56 ft (17.1 m) |
| Height | 15 ft (4.57 m) | 15 ft 4 in (4.7 m) |
| Wingspan | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) | 40 ft 5 in (12.3 m) |
| Weight | Empty: ~10,450 lb (4,740 kg)Standard conditions (normal loaded): ~18,000 lb (8,165 kg)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 24,500 lb (11,113 kg) | Empty: ~23,000 lb (10,400 kg)Standard conditions (combat loaded): ~37,000 lb (16,800 kg)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 51,900 lb (23,500 kg) |
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8A turbojet (~9,300 lbf thrust) | Two General Electric F404-GE-402 afterburning turbofans (~17,700 lbf thrust each with afterburner) |
| Top Speed | ~670 mph (Mach 0.9, 1,078 km/h) at sea level | ~1,190 mph (Mach 1.8, 1,915 km/h at altitude) |
| Range | ~1,700 mi (2,735 km) with external tanks | ~1,250 nmi (2,320 km) ferry range with external tanks |
| Service Ceiling | 42,250 ft (12,880 m) | 50,000 ft (15,000 m) |
| Loadout | Up to 9,900 lb (4,490 kg) of ordnance on five hardpoints (bombs, rockets, missiles, external tanks, or nuclear payload) | Up to 13,700 lb (6,215 kg) of ordnance/fuel on 9 hardpoints (missiles, bombs, rockets, external tanks) |
| Crew | 1 | 1 (F/A-18A/C) or 2 (F/A-18B/D trainer/strike variants) |
The A-4 and the F/A-18 Had Very Different Uses
While the shift from A-4 to F/A-18 seemed straightforward, the upgrade reshaped the team’s performance envelope and the visual character of their routines, defining the last four decades of aerial showmanship.
The A-4 was a pragmatic choice for the Blue Angels. Coming out of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, a heavy supersonic fighter, the A-4 was comparatively nimble and compact with excellent visibility and forgiving handling, which allowed for tight formations and crowd-pleasing maneuvers. Still, the A-4 had a low thrust-to-weight ratio, forcing the team to emphasize precision geometry over raw power—leading to formations that were closer, slower, and more intimate. The team’s showmanship became about restraint and refined flying, rather than dazzling spectators.
The shift to the F/A-18 in 1986 changed the essence of the show. The F/A-18 was faster, heavier, and significantly more potent than the A-4. With afterburning turbofan engines capable of producing nearly 32,000 pounds of thrust combined, the F/A-18 could climb, roll, and accelerate in ways the A-4 simply could not. For the Blue Angel routine, the added power meant new possibilities, but also called for a recalibration of the entire show.
The larger F/A-18 meant that the pilots would need enhanced discipline to manage the close-formation flying required of the routine. Small control inputs could swing a heavier mass, while the aerodynamics of the aircraft created more turbulence in tight diamond formations. The team needed to adjust spacing and work to smooth out the presentation so that the larger F/A-18s still conveyed the seamless unity that spectators had come to expect during the A-4 era.
How the F/A-18 Gave the Blue Angels More Options
In terms of performance, the F/A-18 offered a more visceral and high-energy display. The Blue Angels were able to incorporate vertical maneuvers, including towering climbs, knife-edge passes with sustained energy, and faster rejoins after splits, which the A-4 was incapable of performing.
The aircraft’s ability to perform high-octane maneuvers also allowed for more eye-catching displays. For example, the now-famous “High Alpha” pass, by which an F/A-18 creeps by nose-high at impossibly slow speeds, became one of the team’s signature moves. The maneuver was only made possible by the F/A-18’s sophisticated aerodynamics and fly-by-wire controls.
Aesthetically, the F/A-18 offered a more modern and imposing image, which has helped make the Blue Angels even more iconic. The new F/A-18 aesthetic underscores the technological advancements the Navy has made since the Vietnam era.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
