Separation between the formation of aircraft and their maneuver altitude is gradually reduced over the course of about two months in January and February. bapao@navy.mil. MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A KC-46 Pegasus assigned to the 931st Air Refueling Wing refuels a U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet. The minimum ceilings allowed for low and flat shows are 4,500 feet, and 1,500 feet respectively.[8]. [32] The name had originated through a suggestion by Right Wing Pilot Lt. Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll, after he had read about the Blue Angel nightclub in The New Yorker magazine. You bring pride, hope and a promise for tomorrow's Navy and Marine Corps in the smiles and handshakes of today's youth. The Air Force Museum Store is so much more than a leading specialty retailer for aviation and military themed merchandise. It also upgraded its logistics aircraft to the Douglas R5D Skymaster. The historic flight featured two of the world's premier aerial demonstration teams side-by-side for the first time in history. The squadron, whose performances benefit public relations and recruitment, includes five U.S. Monday is an off day for the Blues' demonstration pilots and road crew. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to present your 2020 Blue Angels!". [32] In May, the Blue Angels performed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. with the Air Force Thunderbirds (activated 25 May 1953). The Diamond, in tight formation and usually at lower speeds (400 mph), performs maneuvers such as formation loops, rolls, and transitions from one formation to another. [91], The Blues officially transitioned to Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets on November 4th. The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels during an air show in July 1946. Along with the Blue Angels, AirFest 2018 is slated to include performances from the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor demonstration teams, along with other aerial performers and various static displays. Capt. Richard "Zeke" Cormier relieved Hawkins as the flight leader, they performed an aerial change-of-command. [57] "Fat Albert Airlines" flies with an all-Marine crew of three officers and five enlisted personnel. [65] On 30 October 2008, a spokesman for the team announced that the team would complete its last three performances of the year with five jets instead of six. [44][45][46] After summer, the team began demonstrating with F9F-6 Panthers. Rear Admiral Ralph Davison personally selected Lieutenant Commander Roy Marlin "Butch" Voris, a World War II fighter ace, to assemble and train a flight demonstration team, naming him Officer-in-Charge and Flight Leader. [35] On 20 August, the team debuted the panther jets under Team Leader Lt. Extensive aircraft maintenance is performed on Sunday evening and Monday by maintenance team members. A permanent flight surgeon position and administration officer was added to the team. The Blues transitioned to the two-seat McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II in 1969, nearly always keeping the back seat empty for flight demonstrations. Below are some of the more notable members of the Blue Angels squadron: A total of 26 Blue Angels pilots and one crew member have died in Blue Angels history. The current shades of blue and yellow were adopted when the first demonstration aircraft were transitioned from the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat to the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat in August 1946; the aircraft were an all-yellow scheme with blue markings during the 1949 show season. You have survived the ultimate test of your peers and have proven to be completely deserving to wear the crest of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, both elite flight demonstration squadrons, are putting on a show over U.S. cities in support of healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another European tour followed in 1973, including air shows in Tehran, Iran, England, France, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. 7 aircraft in Friday's "practice" shows. 3 A-4F fighter, and returned to command the Blue Angels in 1995 and 1996. [17] He is from Fargo, N.D., and graduated from Concordia College, MN, with a Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree with majors in Physics, Mathematics, and Business in 2000. Flightline America Blue Angels and Thunderbirds apparel & merchandise. On 15 June, Voris led the three Hellcats (numbered 1–3), specially modified to reduce weight and painted sea blue with gold leaf trim, through their inaugural 15-minute-long performance. Don Bentley—8 March 1973: all three survived a multi-aircraft mid-air collision during practice over Superstition Mountain, near El Centro, California. Jeff "Kooch" Kuss (Opposing Solo, #6)—2 June 2016: died just after takeoff while performing the Split-S maneuver in his F/A-18 Hornet during a practice run for The Great Tennessee Air Show in, Lt. John R. Dewenter—2 August 1958: landed wheels up at, Lt. Ernie Christensen—30 August 1970: belly-landed his F-4J Phantom at, Cmdr. [72] The maneuver was aborted, the remainder of the demonstration canceled and all aircraft landed safely. [5][6], 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."[7]. [24], The Blue Angels demonstration teams began wearing leather jackets and special colored flight suits with the Blue Angels insignia, in 1952. Lt. Jim Ross (Lead Solo)—April 1980: unhurt when his Skyhawk suffered a fuel line fire during a show at. The world-famous Blue Angels are based at NAS Pensacola, and can be seen practicing over the Museum at NAS Pensacola select days throughout the year. The Blue Angels of the U.S. Navy and the Thunderbirds of the U.S. Air Force are doing flyovers of certain cities to honor the first responders in the Coronavirus crisis. The Blue Angels are a part of the United States Navy. In 1998, CDR Patrick Driscoll made the first "Blue Jet" landing on a "haze gray and underway" aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). In 1972, the Blue Angels were awarded the Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation for the two-year period from 1 March 1970 to 31 December 1971. My objective was to beat the Army Air Corps. 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