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What is the mission of the Blue Angels?
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.
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What are the policies/requirements governing
back seat flights in the number 7 jet?
Orientation flights are given to three members of the local media at
each show site. Individuals must be accredited members of the media and
are recommended by Navy recruiters and air show sponsors, then reviewed
and approved by the Blue Angels. A small number of VIP orientation flights
are also offered each year to individuals from television, sports, music
and the movie industry. These individuals are selected by the Blue Angels
to generate national media coverage and convey a positive image of the
squadron and the Navy/Marine Corps. These flights are in direct support
of Navy and Marine Corps recruiting objectives.
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Who authorized establishment of the Blue
Angels?
The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the
establishment of the team on April 24, 1946.
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Where did the name “Blue Angels” originate?
The name was originated by the original team when planning a show in New York in 1946. One of them came across the name of the city’s famous Blue Angel nightclub in the New Yorker Magazine.
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Where was the Blue Angels’ first air
show?
Craig Field, Jacksonville, Florida, on June 15, 1946.
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Why don’t the Navy Blue Angels and
the Air Force Thunderbirds fly together?
Current Department of Defense policy states the use of military aviation demonstration teams is for recruiting purposes, therefore the teams cannot fly within 150 miles of each other without special permission. Each demonstration team showcases U. S. military aviation capabilities to the public separately to maximize Navy or Air Force recruiting efforts. However, the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds may perform with the U. S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, or the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leapfrogs.
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On average, how many people view the Blue
Angels each year?
An estimated 15 million spectators view the squadron during air shows
each year. Additionally, the Blue Angels visit more than 50,000 people
a show season (March through November) at school and hospital visits.
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What are the basic requirements for becoming
a Blue Angel demonstration pilot?
Each applicant must be career-oriented, carrier-qualified, active-duty
Navy or Marine Corps tactical jet pilot with a minimum of 1,250 flight
hours.
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How many Blue Angels demonstration pilots
have there been?
Including the 2007 season, the Blue Angels have had 232 demonstration pilots, and 32 Flight Leaders/Commanding Officers.
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Do the Blue Angels pilots go through Strike
Fighter Wing Pacific’s TOPGUN?
Some current and former Blue Angels pilots have gone through TOPGUN,
however it is not a prerequisite.
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How do you determine where to hold an air
show?
Each September the Department of Defense receives hundreds of requests
to hold air shows featuring the Navy Blue Angels. After the Department
of Defense screens requests for basic eligibility, requests are forwarded
to the Blue Angels’ Commanding Officer. The squadron reviews each
air show request, considering input from the Chief of Naval Information
and Navy Recruiting Command. In December, the Blue Angels' Events Coordinator,
along with Navy and Department of Defense officials, meet at a scheduling
conference in Washington, D. C. for final considerations and approval.
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How does someone become a Blue Angel demonstration
pilot?
Navy and Marine Corps pilots meeting the basic requirements submit an
application directly to the team via the Applications Officer. Applicants
visit the squadron at scheduled show sites early in the show season to
observe the team firsthand. Finalists are selected mid-season and interviewed
at the Blue Angels squadron in Pensacola, Florida. The new demonstration
pilots and support officers are selected by unanimous vote. The Chief
of Naval Air Training selects the Flight Leader/Commanding Officer.
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What happens if a Blue Angel demonstration
pilot is ill or hurt?
Safety is paramount for every demonstration. Each pilot is responsible
for good health and safety; however, the Blue Angels Flight Surgeon will
medically disqualify a pilot if one should become ill or injured. Should
the Flight Leader/Commanding Officer be grounded for medical purposes,
the demonstration will be canceled.
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Why don’t the Blue Angels maintain
a spare pilot?
With the number of practice hours required to safely fly a demonstration
a spare pilot could not be utilized effectively. Each pilot must complete
120 training flights during winter training in order to perform a public
demonstration safely. The teamwork required for the high speed, low-altitude
flying in the tight Blue Angel formation takes hundreds of hours to develop.
A substitute pilot would not have enough time in the formation to do
this safely.
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Why don’t the pilots wear G-suits?
G-suits are designed with air bladders (pockets) that inflate and deflate to keep a pilot’s blood from pooling in the pilots’ legs while executing sharp, unpredicted combat maneuvers. Unlike combat flying, the Blue Angels demonstration pilots know the maneuvers they will fly prior to execution, so each pilot knows when one will be pulling heavy gravitational forces. Anticipating the changes in gravitational forces allows the Blue Angels demonstration pilots to combat the G-forces with muscle contractions. In addition, the Boeing F/A-18’s control stick is mounted between the pilot’s legs. The Blue Angels have a spring tensioned with 35 pounds of pressure installed on the control stick that gives the pilot a “false feel.” This allows the pilot minimal room for uncommanded movement. The pilots rest their right arms on their thighs for support and stability while flying. Therefore, inflating and deflating air bladders in a G-suit would interrupt this support and stability, causing uncommanded aircraft movement. In this case, G-suits would detrimentally impact flight safety.
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How many Blue Angels have made flag rank?
Twelve former Blue Angels have made flag rank. The flag officers include: RADM E. L. Feightner (ret.), #5, 1952; RADM W. A. Gureck (ret.), #2,4, 1955-56; RADM W. Lewis Chatham (ret.), #5, 1952; RADM Ernest Christensen (ret.), #3, 4, 1969-70; RADM Jim Maslowski (ret.), #3/4, 1970-71; VADM Tony Less (ret.), #1, 1974-75; RADM William E. Newman (ret.), #1, 1978-79; RADM Dennis Wisely (ret.), #1, 1980-81; RADM P. D. Moneymaker (ret.), #1, 1989-90; VADM Pat Walsh, #3/4, 1985-87; RADM David Anderson, #5,6,7, 1985-87; RADM Doug McClain, #3/4, 1988-90, and BGEN Mark Bircher, #2, 1985-1987.
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Have any Blue Angels become astronauts?
CDR Chuck Brady, Flight Surgeon, 1989-90.
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What is the average age of a Blue Angels
pilot?
The pilots’ average age is 33 years old.
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How is the enlisted, support and maintenance
team selected?
Each applicant is carefully screened and selected by current team members.
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What is the average age of the enlisted,
support and maintenance team?
The average varies slightly, however, it is approximately 26 years old.
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Are the Blue Angels the “best of the
best?”
The Blue Angels are representatives of the excellence and professionalism
found throughout the fleet. Each Blue Angels team member is an ambassador
and representative of fleet counterpart.
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How long is a Blue Angel tour of duty?
The demonstration pilots, Maintenance Officer, Events Coordinator, and
Flight Surgeon each serve a two-year tour. All other members, including
the Narrator, serve a three-year tour. Each member returns to the fleet
after completing a tour with the Blue Angels.
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How many Marines serve in the squadron?
There are 16 Marines on the 2007 team. Eight in Fat Albert, six in maintenance, #4 and #7.
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How many females are in the squadron?
The number of females varies each year. The 2007 team has 15 females.
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How do team members deal with the time away
from home?
Individuals are made aware that they will be away from home a lot before
they volunteer for duty with the team and are selected based on their
ability to cope with, not only family separation, but with a strenuous
practice and show schedule. Additionally, the Navy, Blue Angels, and
civilian communities at Pensacola and El Centro provide a family-type
support network.
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Do any of the Blue Angels get extra pay?
No. Each member of the squadron volunteers for duty with the Blue Angels.
Due to keen competition at all levels, each individual feels especially
honored to be associated with the team.
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What is considered minimum visibility for
a Blue Angel performance?
To be able to perform, the Blue Angels must have at least three nautical
miles of visibility horizontally from centerpoint, and a minimum cloud
ceiling of 1,500 feet. At these minimums, the Blue Angels can perform
a limited number of maneuvers in what is called a “flat” show.
When the ceiling is at least 3,500 feet and visibility at least three
nautical miles a “low” show can be performed, which includes
some rolling maneuvers. With a minimum ceiling of 8,000 feet and visibility
of three nautical miles, the Blue Angels can perform their “high” show,
which includes all maneuvers.
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What is the lowest and highest maneuver heights
performed during an air show?
This varies due to weather conditions. The highest is the vertical rolls
performed by the Opposing Solo (up to 15,000 feet) and the lowest is
the Sneak Pass (50 feet) performed by the Lead Solo.
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What is the most demanding maneuver performed?
All maneuvers are demanding, both mentally and physically, and reflect
the challenges met daily by fleet Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
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What are the fastest and slowest speeds flown
during an air show?
The fastest speed is about 700 mph (just under Mach 1; Sneak Pass) and
the slowest speed is about 120 mph (indicated speed; Section High Alpha),
both flown by the solo pilots during the show.
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How many and what types of aircraft have
the Blue Angels flown?
Since 1946, there have been eight types of aircraft:
- Grumman F6F Hellcat, June-August 1946
- Grumman F8F Bearcat, August 1946-1949
- Grumman F9F-2 Panther (first jet), 1949-June 1950 and Grumman F9F-5
Panther 1951-Winter 1954/55
- Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, Winter 1954-55-mid-season 1957
- Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (first supersonic jet), mid-season 1957-1969
- McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, 1969-December 1974
- McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II, December 1974-November 1986
- Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, November 1986-Present
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How many jets are in the Squadron?
The Blue Angels currently have 12 jets: 10 single seat F/A-18 A models
and two 2-seat F/A-18 B models.
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What are the major differences between the
fleet model and the Blue Angel F/A-18?
The Blue Angel F/A-18s have the nose cannon removed, a smoke-oil tank
installed and a spring installed on the stick which applies pressure
for better formation and inverted flying. Otherwise, the aircraft that
the squadron flies are the same as those in the fleet. Each Blue Angel
aircraft is fleet capable of being returned to combat duty aboard an
aircraft carrier within 72 hours.
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Are Blue Angels’ aircraft carrier capable?
All of the Blue Angels’ jets are carrier-capable and can be made
combat ready in about 72 hours. The squadron’s C-130 (“Fat
Albert”) is a Marine Corps fleet aircraft manned by an all-Marine
Corps crew and was not designed for carrier operations.
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How do the jets get to each show site?
The demonstration pilots fly the jets to each show site.
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How much does an F/A-18 cost?
The basic acquisition price of a single F/A-18 A Hornet is approximately
$21 million. The cost of additional weapons-related equipment varies
according to the configuration and use of each aircraft can significantly
increase the total price.
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What is the top speed and rate of climb of
an F/A-18?
The F/A-18 can reach speeds just under Mach 2, almost twice the speed
of sound or about 1,400 mph. The maximum rate of climb of the F/A-18
is 30,000 feet per minute.
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What is the weight of an F/A-18?
An F/A-18 weighs about 24,500 pounds empty of all ordnance and aircrew.
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Why are the jets painted blue and gold?
The jets bear the official colors for the U.S. Navy.
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How far can the F/A-18 fly on a full load
of fuel or with external fuel tanks?
The F/A-18 can travel approximately 1,000 miles on a full load of fuel
without external tanks. Adding the external tanks extends the range to
approximately 1,200 miles.
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How do you produce the smoke, and why do
you use it?
The smoke is produced by pumping biodegradable, paraffin-based oil directly
into the exhaust nozzles of the aircraft where the oil is instantly vaporized
into smoke. The smoke provides a traceable path for spectators to follow,
so they can see the flight profile that has been flown. It also enhances
safety of flight by providing a valuable means by which the solo pilots
can see each other during opposing maneuvers and conditions of lowered
visibility or haze. The smoke poses no hazard to the environment.
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Why can’t the public listen to the
Pilots’ conversation during the show?
Since all maneuvers are preceded by radio communication broadcasting
these radio calls or making the frequencies of their radios publicly
available could interfere with pilot communication, thereby jeopardizing
safety of flight.
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Why is the C-130 called “Fat Albert?”
“Fat Albert” is a nickname given to the plane by Marine Corps Blue
Angel pilots in the 1970s because of its size and shape and is a reference to
the popular children’s cartoon of the same era.
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What does “JATO” stand for?
“JATO” means Jet Assisted Take Off and is used by the Lockheed-Martin
C-130 to clear short runways and gain high altitude in a short period of time
such as might be necessary in combat situations.
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How much fuel does Fat Albert hold?
Fat Albert holds 46,000 pounds of fuel.
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What is the normal cruising speed and shaft
horsepower per motor of Fat Albert?
Fat Albert’s cruising speed is 360 mph and shaft horsepower is
about 4,500 per engine.
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What is the maximum takeoff weight of Fat
Albert?
The maximum takeoff weight of Fat Albert is 155,000 pounds.
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What is the distance under Fat Albert’s
propellers to the ground?
The distance under Fat Albert’s propellers to the ground is approximately
six feet.
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How many crewmembers are assigned to fly
Fat Albert, and what are their positions?
Eight Marines are assigned to operate Fat Albert Airlines: three pilots,
two flight engineers, a navigator, a flight mechanic and a loadmaster.
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How long has the team had the C-130?
The team has been flying the C-130 since 1970.
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Have the Blue Angels ever performed overseas?
Yes. Throughout the years, the Blue Angels have had a limited opportunity to perform overseas. Prior to the 2006 trip to the Netherlands, was in 1992 when the team completed a European tour performing in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Romania, Spain and Germany.
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Is it possible to schedule a tour of the
Blues home base?
Unfortunately no. Due to the hectic show and maintenance schedules, it
is extremely difficult to schedule tours or photographic opportunities.
People who desire to see the Blue Angels between shows are encouraged
to view a practice demonstration at the National Museum of Naval Aviation
at NAS Pensacola usually held most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during
the show season when the team is home. The practices weather permitting,
and a tentative practice schedule may be viewed on the Blue Angels’ website
at www.blueangels.navy.mil.
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How can fans obtain a VIP pass for a show?
Blue Angel reserved seating at an air show is extremely limited and reserved strictly for family and close, personal friends of current team members. Some air show sites reserve alternate seating areas for a nominal fee. Interested individuals should contact the local air show coordinator for additional information.
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What is the difference between a Blue Angel
Hornet and the new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet?
The Super Hornet is 25% larger, can fly 40% further, remain on station
80% longer and carry more weapons than its predecessors. The Super Hornet
F/A-18 E/F models have deployed with battle groups since 2001. This aircraft
is the Navy’s newest acquisition and its advanced technology will
be used to carry the fleet into the 21st century.
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Will the Blue Angels fly the Super Hornet?
The decision to transition to the Super Hornet has yet to be determined.
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