F/A-18E-53-MC Lot 22 LRIP 2 Super Hornets
F/A-18E BuNo 165663 (MSN 1509/E017) also served with VFA-106 at Oceana, wearing side numbers AD 111 and AD106. 663 has only been seen wearing tail number 3 (so far) for the Blues.
F/A-18E BuNo 165665 (MSN 1513/E018) served with both VFA-122 on the West Coast (wearing side number NJ 173) and with VFA-106 on the East Coast (wearing side numbers AD 112 and AD 114). 665 is the only Blue Angels Super Hornet to have been based on both coasts and has been observed wearing tail numbers 3 and 6.
F/A-18E BuNo 165666 (MSN 1517/E020) is one of only two E model Super Hornets to have been deployed aboard an aircraft carrier. The jet first served with VFA-106. During the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) celebration in 2011 the jet wore side number AD 114 and a color scheme resembling that of VA-106 when deployed aboard the USS Forrestal in 1967. The jet also served with VX-31 wearing side number DD 201. As recently as 2018 666 was on the dance card of VFA-146 Blue Diamonds, where it wore side number NH 302. Since going to the Blue Angels 666 has only been observed wearing the Boss’s tail number: 1.
F/A-18E BuNo 165667 (MSN 1515/E021) served with VFA-122 at Lemoore and wore side number NJ 173. 667 was the other E model Super Hornet dressed up as Maverick’s personal machine for Maverick: Top Gun II. Since being assigned to the Blue Angels 667 has been observed wearing tail number 5.
F/A-18E-54-MC Lot 23 LRIP 3 Super Hornet
F/A-18E BuNo 165782 (MSN 1530/E026) is the “newest” of the single-seat Super Hornets with the Blues and is the only jet to have been deployed aboard a carrier and fly actual combat missions. The jet was assigned to VFA-115 Eagles and wore side number NK 201 while deployed aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003. This was the first deployment for the F/A-18E. The jet wore nose art commemorating the 9/11 attacks along with mission marks. By 2016 782 had been assigned to VFA-192 Golden Dragons as the squadron CAG bird wearing elaborate Golden Dragons colors and side number NE 300. 782 last served with VFA-146 Blue Diamonds wearing side number NH 302 as recently as 2018. With the Blue Angels 782 has been observed wearing tail number 2.
