Blue Angel F/A-18B Hornet Is Placed on Display at St. Louis Science Center

By Carmelo Turdo

The James S. McDonnell Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center has placed on 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 dedicated this Friday.  Here are some pictures of its installment for display today (Photo Credit: Mark Nankivil):