St. Louis Science Center Preparing Blue Angels F/A-18B No. 7 for Outdoor Display

By Carmelo Turdo

The James S. McDonnell Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center is preparing to display a U.S. Navy F/A-18B Hornet formerly used by the Blue Angels aerial demonstration team. Blue Angel No.7 is the two-seat Hornet flown by 2008 Team Narrator Lt. Frank Weisser and Events Coordinator Lt. Dan McShane. The acquisition of the aircraft was coordinated by the National Naval Aviation Museum, Boeing, and Innoventer Inc. (engineering and transportation). 

This aircraft was produced in St. Louis by McDonnell Douglas in 1983, and served in the fleet before joining the Blue Angels. It was also displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum prior to being loaned to the St. Louis Science Center. The aircraft arrived in St. Louis last September, and the display is scheduled to be completed by next week. Here are some pictures of its arrival Sept. 10, 2010 and its preparation for display this weekend: