For years, the US Navy Blue Angels dazzled crowds at North Texas air shows. Now, one of those planes will be on display in Fort Worth.
The F/A-18 Hornet is on loan to the Veterans Memorial Air Park in Fort Worth from the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla.
On Saturday, a tractor trailer carried the jet on a flatbed from Louisiana to Fort Worth. It arrived at the museum after a short journey down North Main Street from Loop 820.
"When I heard about it, I said I have got to come down here today and see it," said Fort Worth resident Eric Bartoletti. "It's impressive."
Organizers at the Air Park never thought about trying to acquire a Blue Angels jet, but when the deal to bring another aircraft fell through, the museum in Pensacola offered up the aircraft.
"It's exciting to have this airplane here," said Jim Hodgson, executive director of the Veterans Memorial Air Park. "It's really going to put us on the map a little bit more. We've been here for four years, most people don't even know about us."
Six volunteers spent last week taking the wings off the jet for transport. It may take some time to re-attach the wings.
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The jet should be on display for the public to see in the next 3-4 weeks. It is the museum's responsibility to maintain the jet and keep it looking up to the US Navy and the Blue Angels standards.
