The Museum's F/A-18A (Bureau Number 163106) joined the Blue Angels in April of 2004 and served with the team until 2016. It has a distinguished combat record, having served with Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87) "Golden Warriors," during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, and Operation Continue Hope in Somalia. It then flew with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) "Black Knights," and Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94), "Mighty Shrikes."
This aircraft is on loan courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.