CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

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 country through flight demonstrations and community outreach."

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2 by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The team flies fighter aircraft which have formerly served in the fleet and are maintained to nearly combat-ready status. Modifications to each aircraft include removal of the weapons and replacement with the tank that contains smoke-oil used in demonstrations, and outfitting with the control stick spring system for more precise aircraft control input.

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2


Originally established in April 1946 by World War II hero and then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Chester Nimitz, the flight exhibition team was created to keep the American public interested in – and supportive of – naval aviation, as well as to maintain high morale within the Navy. Many of the original members of the team were naval aviators who served in World War II.

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2


Originally, the Blue Angels flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, a propeller plane used extensively during World War II. Over the subsequent decades, the team has flown several different kinds of aircraft as aviation technology has improved.

Blue Angels - Sat Day 1


Members of the Navy and Marine Corps who wish to apply to be a part of the Blue Angels team must meet certain requirements, including being an aircraft carrier-qualified tactical jet pilot with a minimum of 1,250 flight hours.

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2


The Blue Angels typically fly the oldest planes in the Navy inventory, planes that are still combat ready, but are approaching their carrier landing and / or flight-hour service limits. The 'new' Blue Angel Super Hornets are the oldest F/A-18E/Fs still in the Navy inventory, early production (Block 21/22) aircraft that the first Super Hornet squadron (VFA-115) used for training Navy pilots in the early 2000s.

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2


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 while assigned to the demonstration team. Rather, team members transition back to active fleet assignments are the end of their Blue Angels tour. All of the Blue Angels' jets are carrier-capable and can be made combat ready in about 72 hours.

Blue Angels - Sun Day 2


Images shared in this post were captured in RAW using an EOS 5DIII and either the EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II and EF Extender 1.4x III (effective 420mm configuration) or the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II. Processing was performed only in Adobe Lightroom v6.

Blue Angels - Sat Day 1


These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Excellent photos!

uhaas2009

Awesome 😍

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

These are amazing photographs Paul, just excellent work!!

tommyII Loc: Northern Illinois

Good series, and interesting info. I didn't know a lot of those facts.

sseeley52

Very informative and enjoyable. Excellent pictures. Thank you for posting these.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Paul these are excellent!!! You really captured the amazing Blue Angels in all their glory and I appreciate the commentary.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Again . . . .

tcthome Loc: NJ

anotherview Loc: California

Thanks for these fine photos of the Blue Angels in flight.

A few years ago, I visited Naval Air Facility El Centro for an air show there. The Blue Angels performed in it. A lot of locals attended this airshow.

"NAF El Centro is the winter home of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels. NAF El Centro historically kicks off the Blue Angels' season with their first air show, traditionally held in March." (Wikipedia) See more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Facility_El_Centro

Entrance Monument, NAF El Centro

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you anotherview! My last two times seeing the Blue Angels was at JAX - Jacksonville, one of their earliest 'home bases', and NPA - Pensacola, where in December you could randomly look up and see them practicing.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Gary, uhaas2009, cedymock, Tommy II, sseeley52, junglejim1949, John, tcthome, anotherview! I found some discussion about the Super Hornet being larger and some of the impact in the maneuvers caused by the larger plane. I guess without both planes in the same frame, I can't see the difference of the 30% larger Super Hornet. The Super Hornet is similar to the F-4 Phantom II used by the 1969-1974 teams, in terms of weight (heavier), wingspan (wider) and length (just 3 feet shorter).

Jeannie1 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Wow.
Jeannie1

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Very nice. Especially the last one. Thanks for the narrative, too.

LeeK Loc: Washington State

Fantastic shots!!