What types of planes do the Blue Angels fly?
The Blue Angels fly the famous F/A-18 Hornet. By 2021, all Blue Angels will transition into the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – the newer version of the aircraft-carrier based fighter jet. The Blue Angels are painted in the iconic royal blue with yellow accents. Unmistakeable! The F/A-18E/F is an evolved F/A-18 meant to perform a variety of fighter ...
What jet do the Blue Angels fly?
Today, however, the Blue Angels do not fly in combat. Pilots assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, fly their F/A-18 Hornets in the Delta formation over Mt. St. Helens, Wash., in 2015.
What is the current Blue Angels aircraft?
The Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, conduct their final flight with the legacy F/A-18 C/D Hornets over Pensacola, Fla., Nov. 4. The 2020 show season marked the end of the service life of the aircraft. The Blue Angels are transitioning to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet platform. (MC2 Cody Hendrix/Navy)
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How much does a Blue Angel pilot make a year?
Blue Angels SalaryAnnual SalaryMonthly PayTop Earners$95,000$7,91675th Percentile$48,000$4,000Average$45,416$3,78425th Percentile$25,000$2,083
What is the difference between Thunderbirds and Blue Angels?
Based out of Florida, the Blue Angels are known for their new navy blue and yellow twin-engine F/A-18 Super Hornets. The Air Force Thunderbirds are stationed at the Air Force Military Academy in Colorado Springs and sport the classic red white and blue single-engine F-16 Fighting Falcon.
How fast do Blue Angels fly?
The Planes The Blue Angels fly a current Navy and Marine combat plane, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, with the nose cannon removed and a smoke-oil tank added. It can fly at almost twice the speed of sound (1440 mph) but in the show goes up to 700 mph, just under the sound barrier.
Can civilians fly with the Blue Angels?
Join the Blue Angels for a flight in the F/A-18 Hornet Unfortunately not anybody can join the famous Blue Angels for a F/A-18 flight, but the possibility exists – unfortunately not for everybody. The Blue Angels are some kind of marketing tool to enhance US Navy and Marine corps aviation recruiting.
Are Blue Angels ever in combat?
The Blue Angels do not fight in combat. At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the Blue Angels squadron briefly disbanded and members joined Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191), “Satan's Kittens,” aboard the aircraft carrier USS Princeton, which was deployed to Korea. Today, however, the Blue Angels do not fly in combat.
Are Blue Angels Top Gun pilots?
10 | Do the Blue Angels pilots go through the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN)? Some current and former Blue Angels pilots have gone through TOPGUN; however, it is not a prerequisite.
Do Blue Angels have two pilots?
THE BLUE ANGELS TEAM Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members.
How long can Blue Angels fly on fuel?
They can fly about 700 miles on a tank of fuel. Most fighters in the fleet carry an external centerline pod of fuel that extends the range to 1000 miles.
Do Blue Angels and Thunderbirds ever perform together?
'Pure entertainment': Blue Angels, Thunderbirds come together for rare Thunder Over Michigan. How rare is it for the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds to perform together at one time in one place for one spectacular air show? So rare, the Pentagon has to approve it.
What is the Air Force equivalent to Blue Angels?
1. There are only three air demonstration teams in the U.S. military that are sanctioned by the Department of Defense: the Navy's Blue Angels, the Army's Golden Knights and the Air Force's Thunderbirds.
What is the Navy equivalent to the Blue Angels?
While the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds highlight their officer corps by placing officers in key positions, the demonstrators of the U.S. Army Golden Knights are all enlisted.
Why do they call them Blue Angels?
They changed their name to the Blue Angels after seeing an advertisement for the New York nightclub The Blue Angel, also known as The Blue Angel Supper Club, in the New Yorker Magazine. The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels during an air show in July 1946.
What aircraft did the Blue Angels fly?
The only aircraft operated concurrently by both the Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the F-4 was the platform the team took to the far corners of the globe, touring South America, Asia, and Europe during the four years the Blue Angels operated the powerful aircraft.
What was the first jet operated by the Blue Angels?
The Blue Angels flew two versions of the Panther (the F9F-2 and F9F-5), the first jet operated by the team. With its ranks including some of the most experienced jet pilots in the Navy when the Korean War started, the team disbanded in 1950 to serve as the nucleus of Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191), nicknamed “Satan’s Kittens,” flying combat missions from Princeton (CV-37). The Blue Angels resumed flying the Panther when they reformed following that combat deployment.
What was the last propeller-driven aircraft flown by the Blue Angels?
The last propeller-driven aircraft flown by the Blue Angels, the F8F Bearcat possessed tremendous power along with excellent maneuverability . It began flying in air shows toward the end of the team’s first season in 1946 and was the first aircraft to have the team name painted on it. It was also while flying the Bearcat that the Blue Angels introduced their enduring diamond formation.
Why did the Blue Angels paint their bearcat yellow?
When the Blue Angels transitioned to the F8F Bearcat, they painted one of them yellow to fill the role of “Beetle Bomb.” It continued to fly even when the teams transitioned to jet aircraft in 1949. A fatal crash at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in 1950 ended the use of “Beetle Bomb” as part of flight demonstrations.
What is the C-130 Hercules?
Popularly called “Fat Albert,” various versions of the C-130 Hercules have provided logistics support to the Blue Angels for more than 50 years. The venerable aircraft routinely opens air shows and for many years executed jet-assisted takeoffs (JATOs) to the delight of spectators.
How many people have seen the Blue Angels?
Over the course of 75 years, the more than 500 million people who have seen the Blue Angels perform at air shows around the world have witnessed the power and grace of some of the Navy’s all-time classic aircraft. Presented here are historical images of some of these classic propeller-driven aircraft and thunderous jets flown by the Blue Angels.
When did the Blue Angels fly?
From 1952 to 1954 , the Blue Angels flew a single TV-2 Shooting Star. This began a practice that continues to this day of operating a two-seat aircraft for show support and VIP rides.
These Experienced Rhinos Are Anything But New and They All Have a History
The US Navy Flight Demonstration Team, AKA the Blue Angels, traded in their high-mileage legacy F/A-18A, F/A-18C, and F/A-18D Hornets at the end of 2020. One went to Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island in San Diego; another to NAS Corpus Christi in Texas. The rest went to museums across the country.
Some of the Oldest Rhinos in the Fleet
First, the Blues are flying (with one or two notable exceptions) the oldest currently airworthy Super Hornets in the world. Every one of their jets came from the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) batches. In order, the E model jets are numbers 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, and 26 off the production line. The F models are numbers 8, 10, and 18.
For More Blue Angels Bios Bang NEXT PAGE Below
Bill Walton is a life-long aviation enthusiast and expert in aircraft recognition. As a teenager Bill helped his engineer father build an award-winning T-18 homebuilt airplane in their Wisconsin basement. Bill is a freelance writer, an avid sailor, engineer, announcer, husband, father, uncle, mentor, coach, and Navy veteran.
What colors did the Blue Angels use?
It was introduced in 1945 toward the end of WWII. With the transition from the Hellcat to the Bearcat, the Blue Angels adopted the shades of yellow and blue that they still bear today. These colors were used from 1946 to 1948. However, for the 1949 show season, the Blue Angels sported an all-yellow paint scheme. In August 1949, towards the end of the season, the Bearcat and the all-yellow paint schemes were replaced.
What was the first supersonic aircraft flown by the Blue Angels?
Introduced mid-season 1957, the Tiger was the first supersonic aircraft flown by the Blue Angels. It allowed the team to practice flying high, tight and close. The Tiger also allowed the Blue Angels to perform new maneuvers like the Dirty Loop, a maneuver performed with the plane’s landing gear down. Also in 1957, Left Wing pilot Lt. Bob Rasmussen created a new aircraft design which added “Blue Angels” to the planes, an arrow on their undersides, and stripes on the sides on the canopy. The Blue Angels flew the Tiger through the 1968 season.
When did the Blue Angels fly the Phantom?
In 1969, the Blue Angels adopted their first two-seater aircraft with the Phantom. It was also the only aircraft to be flown by both the Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds. The fast and powerful Phantom allowed the team to add enough maneuvers to their routine to fill a 22-minute demonstration. In 1971, the Blue Angels performed their first Far East Tour which included Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines. The Phantom was flown until 1974.
Who was the first African American pilot for the Blue Angels?
The Skyhawk was adopted by the Blue Angels during the 1954 winter training season. In November 1985, Lt. Cmdr. Donnie Cochran became the Blue Angels’ first African American pilot. At the time of its retirement, the small and maneuverable Skyhawk was the longest flown Blue Angels aircraft. For the team’s 40th anniversary, a new aircraft was introduced.
What Are the Blue Angels?
The Blue Angels is a team of experienced fighter pilots from the US Navy and Marine Corps. They perform aerial displays at public exhibitions throughout most of the year. The Blue Angels were formed in 1946, a couple of years after the end of World War II. The pilots and jets sport navy blue and yellow coloring.
Where Are the Blue Angels Based?
The Blue Angels are stationed at US Naval Air Bases. From January to March, the Blue Angels team trains at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California. The Blue Angels are then stationed at the Forrest Sherman Field at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida for the airshow season.
How Fast Do the Blue Angels Fly?
The Blue Angels travel at speeds between 120 mph and 700 mph. However, not all the jets in the team fly at the fastest speeds. During a typical performance, there are six jets in the air. The first four jets fly in a diamond formation. The fifth and sixth jet fly in solo formation.
How Many Blue Angels Have Crashed?
A little over two dozen Blue Angels have crashed during training or airshow performances, resulting in the death of 27 pilots. Almost half of the crashes occurred when the pilot was flying at a low altitude, which provides less room for error when performing a risky maneuver.
What Makes the Smoke on the Blue Angels?
One of the most distinctive features of a Blue Angels airshow is the smoke that trails from the jets , which is used to make it easier for spectators to follow the flight paths. The smoke also makes it easier for solo pilots to see each other when performing opposing maneuvers.
How fast do diamond formation jets fly?
The jets in the diamond formation travel at an average of about 400 mph. The solo jets fly faster to demonstrate the capabilities of the aircraft. They perform high-speed passes, fast rolls, and tight turns.
What aircraft replaced the Fat Albert?
The C-130T was nicknamed the “Fat Albert” but was removed from service in 2009. It was replaced by the BUNO 164763 aircraft, which was retired in 2019. The Blue Angels plan on adding an Ex-RAF C-130J to fill the place of the Fat Albert. When the Blue Angels formed in 1946, they flew the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat.
When was the first blue angels plane made?
U.S. Navy F6F Hellcat as the first Blue Angels aircraft in 1946.
What fighter jets do the Blue Angels fly?
The Blue Angels fly the famous F/A-18 Hornet. By 2021, all Blue Angels will transition into the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – the newer version of the aircraft-carrier based fighter jet. The Blue Angels are painted in the iconic royal blue with yellow accents. Unmistakeable!
What was the first aircraft the Thunderbirds flew?
The first aircraft the Thunderbirds flew was the F-84G Thunderjet. By 1955 the F-84F Thunderstreak became the team’s aircraft of choice. Original demonstrations lasted 15 minutes and there was no ‘solo’ portion.
Why are Thunderbirds called Blue Angels?
USAF – In 1953, just six years after the U.S. Air Force was created, the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit was activated at Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base. The name “Thunderbirds” became the unofficial moniker because of the heavy Native American culture and presence in Arizona.
Why was the Thunderbirds named Thunderbirds?
The name “Thunderbirds” became the unofficial moniker because of the heavy Native American culture and presence in Arizona. The first flight demonstration team consisted of 7 officers and 22 enlisted men.
How long has the F/A-18 Hornet been with the Blue Angels?
The F/A-18 Hornet has served the Blue Angels since 1986.
What is an F/A-18E?
The F/A-18E/F is an evolved F/A-18 meant to perform a variety of fighter roles. It can be equipped for almost any type of mission from electronic warfare to air-to-air interdiction and bombing missions. Photo: U.S. Navy.
When did the Blue Angels fly?
The Blues have flown Hornets since 1986 , first the F/A-18A then the newer F/A-18C planes still flying today. But newer is a relative term, and the Navy is phasing out F/A-18Cs as they become increasingly ...
Why isn't the F-35C suitable for the Blue Angels?
A third reason why the F-35C isn’t all that suitable for the Blue Angels? Taking local celebrities, news media, and other non-military personnel up for demonstration flights is part of the team’s mission, to give the public a better understanding of the what it means to fly the jets.
What are the blues transitioning from?
The Blues are transitioning from Hornets to Super Hornets and passing on the F-35.
When will the Navy convert to double seaters?
On Monday, August 14th Naval Air Systems Command issued a $17 million contract to Boeing to convert 11 existing Navy Super Hornets — both single and double seaters — to demonstration aircraft configuration, a process expected to be complete by 2021.
What aircraft does the Blues have?
The new Fat Albert is not the only “new” aircraft the Blues are receiving. The team is also receiving F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters to replace the F/A-18 Hornets the team has flown for three decades. The original Hornet fighter is no longer flown by active duty Navy squadrons and the team was originally slated to fly its last air show in ...
When will the Blue Angels retire?
Navy and Marine set to retire their small fleet of -T transports in the early 2020s. The U.S. Navy offered to buy a C-130J from the RAF and the two services made a deal.
What is the Navy's Fat Albert?
The U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels demonstration team is test flying its new “Fat Albert” transport. The plane was purchased from the Royal Air Force and painted in Blue Angels colors. Fat Albert is an air show favorite, performing before every team performance while transporting people and equipment from location to location.
What is the replacement for the C-130T?
The ex-Royal Air Force C-130J Super Hercules will replace an older model C-130T as the team’s official chaperone. Fat Albert flies everywhere the team flies, carrying maintainers, spare parts, luggage, and other items as the Blues travel across America during airshow season. This content is imported from Twitter.
Where was the C-130J built?
The C-130J Super Hercules was originally built in the United States and entered Royal Air Force service as RAF Hercules C5 ZH885. The RAF mothballed its older C-130Js early, relying on the longer C-130J-30 instead. Meanwhile the Blue Angels’ own aging C-130T was facing obsolescence, with the U.S.
Is the C-130 badass?
Certified Badass. Why the C-130 Is Such a Badass Plane. The new “Fat Albert,” now known by its U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics number BuNo 170, remained in the U.K. to reportedly receive modifications and a new Blue Angels paint job. The plane is currently doing functional flight checks over the English countryside.
Overview
History
The Blue Angels were originally formed in April 1946 as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. They changed their name to the Blue Angels after seeing the New York nightclub The Blue Angel, also known as The Blue Angel Supper Club. The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels during an air show in July 1946.
Mission
The mission of the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to the country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.
Air shows
The "Blues" perform at both military and non-military airfields, and often at major U.S. cities and capitals; also locations in Canada are often included in the air show schedule.
During their aerobatic demonstration, the six-member team flies F/A-18E Super Hornets, split into the diamond formation (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the Lea…
Aircraft
The team flew the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet for 34 years from 1986 through 2020. The team currently flies the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
In August 2018, Boeing was awarded a contract to convert nine single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornets and two F/A-18F two-seaters for Blue Angels use. Modifications to each F/A-18E/F include removal of the weapons and replace…
Team members
As of the 2020 season , there have been 272 demonstration pilots in the Blue Angels since their inception.
All team members, both officer and enlisted, pilots and staff officers, come from the ranks of regular Navy and United States Marine Corps units. The demonstration pilots and narrator are made up of Navy and USMC Naval Aviat…
Training and weekly routine
Annual winter training takes place at NAF El Centro, California, where new and returning pilots hone skills learned in the fleet. During winter training, the pilots fly two practice sessions per day, six days a week, to fly the 120 training missions needed to perform the demonstration safely. The separation between the formation of aircraft and their maneuver altitude is gradually reduced over the course of about two months in January and February. The team then returns to their home b…
Aircraft timeline
The "Blues" have flown ten different demonstration aircraft and six support aircraft models:
Demonstration aircraft
1. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat: June – August 1946
2. Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat: August 1946 – 1949