A-4 Skyhawks, F-100s Return To The Air Show Circuit Next Year

04.01.24 Aero-News April 1 Special Edition (Classic) 

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are going retro, bringing back some of their classic airplanes for the next air show season.

The two teams jointly announced April 1 that the Blue Angels will fly the next season in A-4 Skyhawks, while the Thunderbirds will take to the skies in F-100 Super Sabres.

The Blue Angels flew the A-4 Skyhawks from 1974 to 1986. The Navy determined that they had the best chance of finding and getting a team of seven A-4s in the air, rather than going back to something earlier.

"The A-4 is an airplane that many fans will recognize, and still give us the capability to put on much the same show as we do today," said RADM Richard T. Brophy, commander of the Naval Air Training Command.

"They always were a great airplane, and we're looking forward to presenting that part of our heritage during the next air show season.

Not to be outdone, the U.S. Army Golden Knights said they will bring back round parachutes for at least a portion of their shows. "We want to pay homage to those thousands of troops who dropped into combat zones using a classic round canopy," US Army Recruiting Command Commanding General Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis.

"It will add some uncertainty to where the soldiers will land, but we're working through all those questions. It's going to be great! I'd be first in line to jump with one."

FMI: www.goarmy.com/events/golden-knights.html, www.blueangels.navy.mil, afthunderbirds.com