Stupid Guest Tricks

For those who don't know who they are, the Blue Angels are the US Navy's Flight Demonstration team.

I went to the Blues' Homecoming Show today at NAS Pensacola. It was a lot of fun watching them do their stunts. A lot of their stunts involve close formation flying, sometimes there is a mere 18 inches from wingtip to canopy. It is something else seeing them do rolls, loops, and many other moves at high speed while being so close together. Some of their stunts put the pilots through 7-Gs of force.

Just before the Blue Angels take off their support aircraft Fat Albert, a C-130T Hercules flown by Marine Corp crewmen, takes off using 8 JATO (Jet-Assisted TakeOff) rockets takes off within 1,500 feet, climbs at a 45-degree angle, and propels it to an altitude of 1,000 feet in approximately 15 seconds. Watching that large of a plane take off like that takes your breath away, for the first time of many times the Blues will do so during their show. After Fat Albert lands the Blues get ready to take off in their F/A-18 Hornets. Words can't really describe what it is like being so close to planes doing such stunts.

Tomorrow is their last show of the season. Pensacola is their home base and they really pulled out the stops for the home crowd. You couldn't ask for better weather for an airshow, perfect blue sky without a cloud in sight (other than the smoke clouds :) ) with not much wind and not to hot or to cold. I hope the weather tomorrow also cooperates with them, it would be a little disapointing if they couldn't fly their high show (there are three show types, flat, medium, and high depending on the weather and visability) for their last show of the year.

It is Blue Angel Weekend isn't it....


Sniffle. I miss my hometown.

Love them! They were just here (Fort Worth) We got to watch them for 4 days. The airport is just up the road from us and we got shows everyday.. Right over our rooftop!!!!!!!!
I have some great pictures :)
Deb

Awesome!

I've seen them probably half a dozen times. Occasionally the Military Channel does a bio of them. Really cool to see what goes on "on the inside" of the flight training, etc.

Also, several years ago, I watched a special where the Blue Angels flew to Russia to meet the Russian flight demonstration team. The show was called, "I fly, you fly." Basically each team did their show. Then each team member took their complimentary person up in the two-seater and did their show. IE: #1 Blue Angel took #1 of the Russian team up in the F/A-18 two seater, and did the show, and vice versa. REALLY COOL!

Notatourist wrote:It is Blue Angel Weekend isn't it....


Sniffle. I miss my hometown.

You're from Pensacola? What a small world! (I'm not talking the ride with the evil music). The closest they flew to the Orlando area is south of Tampa.

Eeyore Tattoo wrote:Love them! They were just here (Fort Worth) We got to watch them for 4 days. The airport is just up the road from us and we got shows everyday.. Right over our rooftop!!!!!!!!
I have some great pictures :)
Deb

Four days? There must have been two practice days in there as they were only scheduled for two days. You should have gone to the show to watch them as most of their tricks are centered over the flight line.

leftcoaster wrote:Also, several years ago, I watched a special where the Blue Angels flew to Russia to meet the Russian flight demonstration team. The show was called, "I fly, you fly." Basically each team did their show. Then each team member took their complimentary person up in the two-seater and did their show. IE: #1 Blue Angel took #1 of the Russian team up in the F/A-18 two seater, and did the show, and vice versa. REALLY COOL!

That sounds really cool. I knew they couldn't fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds but I never knew they have flown with any foreign teams.

I love the Blue Angles AND the Thunderbirds. The BAs were here this spring for the DM air show. Of course being only 1/2 mile north of the base helps.
Get to see them practice for 2 days,from work or home.NOW,come Show-time,LOOK OUT!!!
A 6 pack,lawn chair on the roof,flying so 'low' you can what color the pilots eyes are. (down boy)

4 years ago,I was working on my Suburban when the #7 plane was coming in for a landing,(they do a 'swing-around'). I stood on the tail-gate and threw the pilot a salute. He 'smoked' me. That was just too COOL!!

Shorty82 wrote: I went to the Blues' Homecoming Show today at NAS Pensacola.

Hey Shorty - we're neighbors!! Cool!
I just retired from NASP in February after 38 years federal civil service. Live in Pine Forest Estates area. How's about you?

Whazzup wrote:Hey Shorty - we're neighbors!! Cool!
I just retired from NASP in February after 38 years federal civil service.

Thank you for your service.

Live in Pine Forest Estates area. How's about you?

I'll PM you.

Okey dokey!

I'm from Cordova Park originally.

I know they flew south of here. My best friend got to do the media flight with them in Savannah. She had just lost her dad, who had always wanted her to fly. It was the greatest video to watch.

She said she flew with the Angels and I sobbed with joy for her. There is NOTHING to replace that experience. She needed it very badly.

Tell me, is the Oyster Bar still standing? They finally put a Whataburger here.

Ah, the memories of home..Ft. Pickens on Wednesdays during training season....