“[The F/A-18 Hornets] fly so beautifully. They are so dependable. They are so reliable. The last thing we think about when getting in those airplanes is any issue at all coming up during the flights,” Blue Angel commander Ryan Bernacchi said at the 30th Anniversary celebration at Boeing’s St. Louis facility.

The Blue Angels are the Navy and Marine Corps’ elite flight demonstration squadron. With pilots drawn from active-duty Navy and Marine flight squadrons, the Blue Angels demonstrate the incredible skills of America’s Naval and Marine pilots. The F/A-18 Hornets they fly are combat-ready aircraft that are constantly updated to meet the latest demands on the battlefield.

In addition to celebrating the F/A-18’s anniversary, the Blue Angels pilots also met with local school children who were part of Boeing’s Engineering Explore Post program. The kids had won a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) competition to earn the opportunity to meet the Blue Angels pilots.

Read more about the Blue Angels and the F/A-18 Hornets they fly.

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