The Blue Angels at Oceana 2024

[shortyb]

I know. She rocks.

She was also a sailor. Enlisted. Transitioned to officer and then, to pilot, then, to Blue Angel. An inspiration to all of us.

Yep, STA-21 commissioning program grad. Right stuff there.

 

[spasm3]

The only time I’ve ever seen a Tomcat in flyable condition (there’s one at the Oakland Air Museum) was at the 1997 Edwards AFB Open House. I didn’t see it fly though. It was flown in and the pilot was there chatting it up with visitors. That show was insanely good. Chuck Yeager was taken up in the backseat of an F-15 to break the sound barrier on the 50th anniversary of that accomplishment. They had a B-2 on static display. Then there were a pair of F-117 that did a demo then came into the crowd slowly where everyone had to move aside. Talked to one maintenance chief, and when I asked about the Thunderbirds show (which was going on) he said he thought the Blue Angels has a better, tighter show.

The Tomcat pilot was talking about midair refueling during Desert Storm, where he said they just lined up with USAF tankers. I had a photo of him later sitting on top of his Tomcat watching an F-117 flying. Seemed kind of dangerous, but I’m thinking he’d done it before.

2006 was the last year iirc. 4 flew at Oceana's airshow.

 

[spasm3]

The only time I’ve ever seen a Tomcat in flyable condition (there’s one at the Oakland Air Museum) was at the 1997 Edwards AFB Open House. I didn’t see it fly though. It was flown in and the pilot was there chatting it up with visitors. That show was insanely good. Chuck Yeager was taken up in the backseat of an F-15 to break the sound barrier on the 50th anniversary of that accomplishment. They had a B-2 on static display. Then there were a pair of F-117 that did a demo then came into the crowd slowly where everyone had to move aside. Talked to one maintenance chief, and when I asked about the Thunderbirds show (which was going on) he said he thought the Blue Angels has a better, tighter show.

The Tomcat pilot was talking about midair refueling during Desert Storm, where he said they just lined up with USAF tankers. I had a photo of him later sitting on top of his Tomcat watching an F-117 flying. Seemed kind of dangerous, but I’m thinking he’d done it before.

 

[y_p_w]

#4 is the slot, one of the toughest in the formation to fly. The Pilot is LCDR Amanda Lee, USN, and the first female Pilot assigned to the Blue Angels demonstration team.

She was featured in the IMAX (I guess now Amazon Prime) documentary. It covered her joining the team but didn't cover the time when she was actually performing.

 

[zuluplus30]

If you haven’t watched the documentary on Amazon, it’s highly recommended. I drug my family to IMAX to see it. They (non av-geeks) loved it

 

[spasm3]

If you look at the gap between the inboard wingtips of 2 and 3 - it’s about a foot. Another couple of inches closer and those jets would be touching. 4 is just as tight.

The formation is incredibly close - and perfectly symmetrical, vertically, laterally, and fore and aft.

Just plain impressive.

Now, I will say that many of the Blue Angel pilots were stationed at Oceana during their fleet (operational) tours. This show is like coming home for them. They also know that there are many former fighter pilots, as well as many former Blue Angels, in the audience.

They knew their audience, and they were back home where the “fleet” is stationed. I have to wonder if that didn’t give them a bit of incentive to fly even closer…

But it was more than just close. They were smooth. They were precise. The rendezvous were quick and exact.

Every single aspect of their performance was done exceptionally well. I’ve seen shows where the team was struggling, and the common audience member would not have seen that.

But this year they looked simply incredible. This was perhaps the best I’ve ever seen the team, and I’ve been to many, many, Airshows.

I saw a documentary on how they practice, its amazing, even the timing of their voices to the movements.

 

[spasm3]

For more information: https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

 

[spasm3]

@Astro14

I have been told that due to the precise timing of movements, that the Blue Angels pilots are pulling those G maneuvers( 6-7 G) without wearing g-suits.

Can you confirm that ?

 

[zuluplus30]

I saw this exact group fly in KC 2021 back to back with the Thunderbirds. They were spectacular.

Even my wife who doesn’t get the ins and outs commented on how much better the Blues were compared to the Thunderbirds. When they came across snugged up in the diamond 360 set, she literally cussed out loud.

 

[Astro14]

@Astro14

I have been told that due to the precise timing of movements, that the Blue Angels pilots are pulling those G maneuvers( 6-7 G) without wearing g-suits.

Can you confirm that ?

That is true. The G-suit inflates starting at about 3 G, so, starting at that level, you get an inflating garment on your thigh, right where your right forearm rests, as you move the stick. Not good for the precision.

So, no G suits.

The Hornet trims to “hands off” via the Flight Control System, so, in addition to the no g suits, the airframes folks add a pretty strong spring to the stick, so that the stick has to be held aft to keep the airplane in formation.

That allows for a greater feel and precision than a fleet airplane.

They pull up to 7.5 G in some of the maneuvers, and without a G suits, that is a great deal of G to sustain for a long time.

This is why the Blues have such a rigorous strength and cardio conditioning program - it’s every day - you have to be able to handle the G.

They have lost at least one crew to G-LOC - Lt. Cmdr. Kieron O'Connor and Lt. Kevin Colling – 28 October 1999: flying in the back seat and front seat of a Hornet, both were killed after ground impact.

Kevin Colling (Chicken Bone, from the KC in his initials) was a guy I knew and flew with. He was selected for the Blues, and he was training for the role when they crashed.

 

[y_p_w]

@Astro14

I have been told that due to the precise timing of movements, that the Blue Angels pilots are pulling those G maneuvers( 6-7 G) without wearing g-suits.

Can you confirm that ?

The stick is between the legs. If it inflates that would be pretty bad if they're flying in tight formation. I believe they're trained to tense their muscles instead. I understand in reality, military pilots rarely fly in tight formation because it just takes a whole lot of concentration to avoid hitting each other.

The Thunderbirds fly the F-16 with a side stick. I've seen their ground show, which includes their crew putting on their G-suits. That's not going to mess with the control of the stick.

 

[wpod]

I know. She rocks.

She was also a sailor. Enlisted. Transitioned to officer and then, to pilot, then, to Blue Angel. An inspiration to all of us.

Would you say a person either has the ability to or doesn't have the ability to fly the plane as mentioned in a other post the right stuff.