Spirit of St. Louis Airshow: St. Louis-Made F/A-18 Hornets Come Home to Thrill Crowd

The Aero Experience Team

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron is in St. Louis this weekend, and even though the team is based in Pensacola, Florida, it is still a homecoming of sorts.  The jets flown by the team for the last 28 years, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, were manufactured in St. Louis in the current Boeing facility at Lambert St. Louis International Airport.  The previous two aircraft types flown by the team were also McDonnell Douglas products: The F-4J Phantom II from 1969-1974 and A-4F Skyhawk II from 1974-1986.  The series of photos in this post will illustrate the distinctive shape and impressive performance of the Hornet, which is currently being replaced in the fleet by the Boeing Super Hornet.  Also featured are the starting and ending ramp crew performances on the TAC Air St. Louis ramp.  Special thanks to Spirit of St. Louis Airshow Public Relations, TAC Air St. Louis staff and the Blue Angels for their hospitality to The Aero Experience team during our visit.