U.S. Navy Blue Angel Arrives at Honolulu Harbor Via Pasha Hawaii’s M/V Jean Anne
Rare Opportunity to See Blue Angel Unloaded and Reassembled at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum February 8-12, 2021
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum today welcomed an iconic F/A-18C Hornet, better known as a Blue Angel, to its collection. Blue Angel #4 was unloaded at Honolulu Harbor by Hawaii Stevedores, Inc. following trans-Pacific movement of the aircraft via Pasha Hawaii's M/V Jean Anne.
The public is invited to come to Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on February 8-12, 2021, to watch the Hornet be unloaded and reassembled.
Normally off-loads at the Museum are conducted after hours; however, the Hornet will be off-loaded and positioned inside historic Hangar 79 in full view of the public on February 5. Once positioned inside the hangar, the public will be able to watch as the Museum restoration team and volunteers reassemble the majestic aircraft, preparing it for Museum display. The dates are tentative and are subject to change.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is the proud steward of Blue Angel #4. The aircraft left Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida – home of the Blue Angels – for its final flight in late 2020, before arriving at Naval Air Station North Island, in San Diego, California, where it was demilitarized, had its wings removed, and was prepared for shipment to Honolulu on Pasha Hawaii’s Jean Anne 404W voyage.
“The Blue Angels are larger than life and have left audiences thunderstruck for 75 years,” said Elissa Lines, Executive Director, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. “We are honored to display this Blue Angel F/A-18C, a symbol of strength, discipline, and innovation, within the context of our historic site. It will be a source of inspiration, especially for youth who dream of flight.”
“Transporting Blue Angel #4 on its final voyage to Honolulu was a privilege,” said George Pasha, IV, President and CEO, Pasha Hawaii. “The Blue Angels are one of our nation’s most revered symbols of our military’s greatness and commitment to service. Pasha Hawaii is proud to support the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s mission to share such an important icon with the general public.”
Traditionally, the pilot of the Blue Angel #4 serves as the demonstration safety officer, due largely to the perspective afforded from the slot position within the formation, as well as the pilot’s status as a second-year demonstration pilot. The Museum’s Hornet has supported the Blue Angels team in a variety of slot positions throughout the years before ending its service as Blue Angel #4.
The U.S. Navy retired and demilitarized the F/A-18C Hornet at the end of 2020 and began using the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, which is 25 percent larger, for its famous precision flight demonstrations in 2021.
The 2021 year marks the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels, which was established by Admiral Chester Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations and former Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which is headquartered at Pearl Harbor.
Created at the end of World War II to raise the public’s interest in naval aviation and boost Naval morale, the Blue Angels have thrilled audiences by the millions with precision combat maneuvers, aerobatic flight demonstrations, close-quarters formation flying, and high-speed, low-level passes. The Blue Angels have been flying the F/A-18C Hornets for nearly 35 years, since 1986. The final flight of the F/A-18C Hornet took place on November 4, 2020.