---
title: "The Blue Angels Just Said Goodbye To The F/A-18 Legacy Hornet With A Final Sunset Flight"
description: "The team captured the goodbye in gorgeous images and video. Now they will complete their transition to the Super Hornet."
date: "2020-11-04"
modified: "2020-11-04"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway"
url: "https://www.twz.com/37443/the-blue-angels-just-said-goodbye-to-the-f-a-18-legacy-hornet-with-a-final-sunset-flight"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "F/A-18"
  - "F/A-18A-D"
  - "Fighters"
  - "Naval Aviation"
  - "Navies"
  - "Sea"
  - "U.S. Navy"
tags:
  - "Blue Angles"
  - "Demonstration Squadron"
  - "F/A-18"
  - "F/A-18A"
  - "F/A-18C"
  - "F/A-18E"
  - "F/A-18E/F"
  - "Final Flight"
  - "Legacy Hornet"
  - "Navy"
  - "PENSACOLA"
  - "Retirement"
  - "Sundown"
  - "Super Hornet"
---

# The Blue Angels Just Said Goodbye To The F/A-18 Legacy Hornet With A Final Sunset Flight

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/2020/11/235fg-1-scaled.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

The world-famous [Blue Angels](<https://www.twz.com/19149/this-cockpit-video-of-the-blue-angels-flying-just-inches-apart-in-formation-is-nuts>) have officially flown their last flight with the F/A-18A/B/C/D "Legacy" Hornet. The naval multi-role fighter served as the flight demonstration squadron's mount for 34 years. The official 'sundown' formation flight occurred on November 4th, 2020, over the [team's hometown of Pensacola](<https://www.twz.com/4049/watch-the-blue-angels-triumphantly-take-back-to-the-sky>), Florida, fittingly just before sunset. Now the squadron will finish its transition to its [new jet, the F/A-18E/F](<https://www.twz.com/35127/the-blue-angels-have-officially-received-their-first-f-a-18e-super-hornet>) Super Hornet.

Check out video and images of the sundown flight below:

https://youtube.com/embed/iQRXKU53gPU

![message-editor%2F1604537370952-embrbdpxeauji61.jpeg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604537370952-embrbdpxeauji61.jpeg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604537391714-embrbdkxeae1imh.jpeg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604537391714-embrbdkxeae1imh.jpeg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604537620706-embrbdkwmaamodi.jpeg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604537620706-embrbdkwmaamodi.jpeg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604539030542-6414010.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604539030542-6414010.jpg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604539044064-6414009.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604539044064-6414009.jpg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604539061983-6414007.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604539061983-6414007.jpg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

![message-editor%2F1604537409996-embrbdmxuaagb3b.jpeg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604537409996-embrbdmxuaagb3b.jpeg>)
**US Navy Blue Angels**

The Navy's flight demonstration squadron will now enter into its winter training phase with its new mount, a fleet that will eventually total 18 early-block F/A-18E/Fs that have been upgraded specifically for the Blue Angels' mission. You can read all about how these jets are being modified and how they will impact a revamped demonstration in [this article of ours.](<https://www.twz.com/26850/blue-angels-to-receive-18-early-model-super-hornets-and-revised-routine-for-2021-season>)

The team will then head to its [remote winter training site](<https://www.twz.com/7795/this-is-the-best-angle-of-a-blue-angel-diamond-departure-you-will-ever-see>) at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro in Southern California in January, where it will have a couple of months to perfect the altered demonstration with the larger Super Hornets before the 2021 show season kicks off at the base. The Blues will also have their [new—at least to them—KC-130J](<https://www.twz.com/34978/the-blue-angels-newest-fat-albert-has-flown-in-its-new-paint-scheme-for-the-first-time>) "Fat Albert" Super Hercules transport for next year's show season, which will mark the team's 75th anniversary. Altogether, it will be a monumental year for the squadron.

![message-editor%2F1604540660568-6412268.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor%2F1604540660568-6412268.jpg>)
*Old vs new: A Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet breaks away from a Blue Angels Legacy Hornet., *US Navy Blue Angels**

The Navy, as a whole, has moved quickly to retire the Legacy Hornet, with all of the aircraft being [withdrawn from frontline service](<https://www.twz.com/20119/navy-f-a-18-legacy-hornets-have-taken-their-last-cruise-aboard-a-u-s-aircraft-carrier>) in 2018. A number of them still serve in support and training roles, but the Marines have acquired the cream of the Navy's retired fleet. Some of those jets will serve for a decade more in an upgraded form, which you [can read all about here](<https://www.twz.com/36435/the-plan-for-making-aging-marine-corps-hornets-deadlier-than-ever-for-a-final-decade-of-service>).

For many of us who grew up watching the Blue Angles in their iconic Legacy Hornets, the introduction of which marked a big boost in performance over the A-4 Skyhawks they had before, this is a bittersweet moment. Still, a new demo that takes full advantage of the Super Hornet's unique capabilities, and some newer and more maintainable jets for the team, is a welcome development indeed.

*Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)