Editing Blue Angels (section)

===1980–1989===
[[File:Blue Angels Newton-John Travolta.jpg|thumb|right|A-4F of Blue Angels in 1983 (with [[John Travolta]] and [[Olivia Newton-John]]).]]
In 1986, LCDR [[Donnie Cochran]], joined the Blue Angels as the first [[Black people|African-American]] Naval Aviator to be selected.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.albanyherald.com/news/local/military/former-blue-angels-pilot-tells-what-inspired-him-to-fly/article_ef0da23e-1b75-53bd-815d-dcea07523f2f.html |title=Former Blue Angels pilot tells what inspired him to fly |first=Jon |last=Gosa |work=Albany Herald |access-date=30 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blueangelsassociation.org/flight-teams/ |title=Flight Teams, 1986–1888 |publisher=Blue Angels Association |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323145156/http://blueangelsassociation.org/flight-teams/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> He served for two more years with the squadron flying the left wing-man position in the No.{{nbsp}}3 A-4F fighter, and returned to command the Blue Angels in 1995 and 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blueangelsassociation.org/flight-teams/ |title=Flight Teams, 1995, 1996 |publisher=Blue Angels Association |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323145156/http://blueangelsassociation.org/flight-teams/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 8 November 1986, the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year during ceremonies unveiling what would be their aircraft through their 75th anniversary year, the [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet]]. The power and aerodynamics of the Hornet allows them to perform a slow, high [[angle of attack]] "tail sitting" maneuver, and to fly a "dirty" (landing gear down) formation loop.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BdG1AwAAQBAJ |title=Hornet: The Inside Story of the F/A-18 |last=Kelly |first=Orr |year=2014 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-49764-5677 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Abhijit |last2=Seiler |first2=Peter |last3=Balas |first3=Gary |date=10 August 2009 |title=Applications of Linear and Nonlinear Robustness Analysis Techniques to the F/A-18 Flight Control Laws |journal=AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference |location=Reston, Virginia |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.2009-5675|isbn=9781600869785}}</ref>