A Blue Angels jet returned to Western Washington to reside at the Museum of Flight.
Distinguished as "Number 2" in the famous group of flyers, the disassembled jet traveled on a truck from Florida to Boeing Field.
It's arrived! @museumofflight's newest plane is off the highways. Welcome to the Emerald City #Number2 #BlueAngel. pic.twitter.com/V0BSADQjhv
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) August 23, 2016
Number 2 will be assembled at the museum next to the Aviation Pavilion.
The plane, Navy registration number 163106, joined the Blue Angels in early 2004 and served with the team until 2016.
The Blue Angels show is considered the most impressive demonstration at the Boeing Seafair Air Show. Number two last flew in Seafair in 2015.
According to the Museum of Flight, This particular F/A-18 has a distinguished combat record. It was delivered to its first squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, in 1986.
It was used in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq, and Operation Continue Hope in Somalia. The plane was also flown over Afghanistan after 9/11, and flew strikes over Iraq in 2003.
Cox Media Group
