The all-too-familiar rumble of jet engines will be heard across Lakeland when the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels arrive on Thursday. The Blue Angels return with more speed, precision, and louder engines than ever before.
The Blue Angels are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. Lakeland will be the demonstration team’s first public debut of their new Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets at a civilian show. These jets are approximately 33% larger than the outgoing Boeing F/A-19 “Legacy” Hornet with greater fuel capacity and upgraded avionics system.
“One of the differences that I notice just flying the two aircraft is the Hornet rolls faster, it feels a lot snappier,” Lt. Julius Bratton told The Ledger during his December site visit. “The Super Hornet just feels smoother and is a bigger aircraft.”
While the first pilot and the setup crew arrive Wednesday, the rest of the Blue Angels will arrive on Thursday kicking off the afternoon air show with a diamond pass followed by a series of pilot solos. The demonstration team will cap Thursday’s performance with a practice run of their show.
Visitors also have the opportunity to ask their questions about the Blue Angels and the Super Hornets at the Warbirds in Review forum at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
There are plenty of opportunities for Sun ‘n Fun guests to catch a glimpse of the iconic blue-and-yellow jets. The U.S. Navy’s demonstration team will fly in the Friday afternoon air show with “Fat Albert,” their new C-130 support aircraft, as well as the Saturday afternoon air show starting at 1 p.m. and close the Sunday afternoon air show.