Today I figured I would cover one of my personal favorites, the Blue Angels. They are the Navies Flight Demonstration team. Their whole purpose is to show the world just how to push a jet to the edge and then push it a little farther.

The team was formed just after World War II in 1946 by directive of CNO Admiral Chester Nimitz. The mission of the team, taken directly from their web site…

“The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy recruiting, and credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation to the United States and its Armed Forces to America and other countries as international ambassadors of good will.”

Here is a break down of the aircraft by years for the team.

1. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat - June-August 1946
2. Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat - August 1946-1949
3. Grumman F9F-2 Panther - 1949-June 1950 (first jet);
4. Grumman F9F-5 Panther - 1951-Winter 1954/55
5. Grumman F9F-8 Cougar - Winter 1954/55-mid-season 1957 (swept-wing)
6. Grumman F11F-1 Tiger - mid-season 1957-1969 (first supersonic jet)
7. McDonnell F-4J Phantom II - 1969-December 1974
8. Douglas A-4F Skyhawk - December 1974-November 1986
9. McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18A/B Hornet - November 1986-Present. They are currently transitioning to the F/A-18C/D

The team will normally fly to top aircraft in the Navies stable. Currently that would be the F/A18-E/F, but since those are still filling slots in the fleet they use an older variant. One day we will see the Blue’s flying the F-35 JSF, which will be sweet.

Every maneuver the team does is considered a combat air maneuver. Meaning it is something the pilot might actually do while in air combat either as a fighter or an attacker. The main difference between what the Blue’s do and a regular navy pilot is they perform their maneuvers at minimum separation. This is 36” wing tip to wing tip and wing tip to canopy.

The team is consists of six flying pilots, one announcer, and one events coordinator. One member of the team is from the Marine Corps while the remainder is from the Navy. Four aircraft fly in formation, this is called the diamond. The two other pilots are called solos. The diamond will fly group formations and maneuvers. They will either fly in the regular diamond shape or in a trailing formation, called the echelon. The solo pilots fly maneuvers with one another, or at one another. Where as the diamond shows how the aircraft can operate in a group, the solos show just how the planes can operate alone.

The aircraft are fully combat capable and can be used in combat with 72 hours of being called on. Of course they would have to be painted and have weapons added, but that is about all that is needed to be done. Along with the obvious pilots the team also includes a ground crew, aircraft maintenance personnel, and the members of Fat Albert Arilines. Fat Albert is the teams transport aircraft, currently a C-130. It is flown by USMC pilots.

When ever possible go see the Blues fly. I have gone far out of my way to see them fly and every time they amaze me. To me they are hands down the best flight demonstration squadron I have ever seen and I have seen a good deal.