The Blue Angels currently fly the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as their main demonstration jet, along with a Lockheed Martin C-130J “Super Hercules” support aircraft known as Fat Albert.

Quick Scoop: What plane is the Blue Angels?

  • The primary aircraft is the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, in the blue-and-gold U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron livery.
  • Demonstration jets 1–6 are typically F/A-18E single-seat Super Hornets.
  • Jet 7 is an F/A-18F two-seat Super Hornet used for transport, VIP/demo rides, and as a spare aircraft.
  • Their iconic transport/support plane “Fat Albert” is a Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, used for cargo, personnel, and sometimes its own mini-display.

In short, if you’re watching a modern Blue Angels show (2021 and later), the fast jets are F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and the big support plane is a C-130J Super Hercules.

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Role Aircraft Details
Main demo jet Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Single-seat; aircraft 1–6 in the formation demos.
VIP / spare jet Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Two-seat; usually Blue Angel 7, used for transport, media and “Key Influencer” rides, and backup.
Support / transport Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules (“Fat Albert”) Cargo and crew transport; sometimes performs its own short display.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.