The Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels are both prestigious demonstration teams of the United States military that perform aerial shows. The Thunderbirds are the demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force, while the Blue Angels are the demonstration squadron of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
In terms of speed, the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels fly aircraft that have comparable top speeds. However, their performance maneuvers during air shows are not primarily focused on achieving maximum speed. Instead, they showcase precision flying, formation flying, and aerobatic maneuvers.
The Thunderbirds currently fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-engine supersonic jet. The F-16 has a top speed of approximately Mach 2 (around 1,500 mph or 2,414 km/h).
The Blue Angels, on the other hand, fly the F/A-18 Hornet, a twin-engine supersonic jet. The F/A-18 has a top speed of approximately Mach 1.8 (around 1,400 mph or 2,253 km/h).
While there is a slight difference in top speed between the two aircraft, it is not significant enough to say that one demonstration team is consistently faster than the other. Both teams perform thrilling displays of skill and precision, showcasing the capabilities of their respective aircraft.