Selections must be unanimous. As the Blue Angels' commanding officer, Cmdr. [1] The team employed a North American SNJ Texan, painted and configured to simulate a Japanese Zero, to simulate aerial combat. Moseley ejected safely and Moneymaker was able to land his airplane, which then required a complete right wing replacement. The prestige of wearing the Blue Angels uniform carries with it an extraordinary honor one that reflects not only on you as an individual, but on your teammates and the entire squadron. A SNJ was used as a Japanese Zero for dogfights with the Bearcats in air shows. May God Bless . Greg McWherter, flight leader and commanding officer of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Ange.jpg, US Navy 110702-N-VO219-002 Lt. C.J. Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support. Two pilots died in the 1950s and six in the 1960s and four more died in combat missions in Korea and Southeast Asia before the squadron's most tragic span. Average pilot age: 33 years old. [citation needed]. [8] The No. There have been more than 260 past Blue Angels pilots and over 37 Flight Leaders (also known as the Boss or Commanding Officer). Capt. Katie Higgins' dream as a little girl was to follow in her family's footsteps and become a pilot. The "Blue Angels" are the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Harley Hall 4 June 1971: safely ejected after his F-4J Phantom jet caught fire during practice over. The Blues use these jets for backups, and to give demonstration rides to VIP (civilians). This Museum is committed to remembering the past and its significance, bringing the past to life." For his daughter, Beth, the experience was . [79][80] In October 2013, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, stating that "community and public outreach is a crucial Departmental activity", announced that the Blue Angels (along with the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds) would resume appearing at air shows starting in 2014, although the number of flyovers will continue to be severely reduced.[81]. The Blue Angels were formed in 1946, a couple of years after the end of World War II. [66] The names of the two members involved were later released on the Pensacola News Journal website/forum as pilot No. To boost Navy morale, demonstrate naval air power, and maintain public interest in naval aviation, an underlying mission was to help the Navy generate public and political support for a larger allocation of the shrinking defense budget. Her dream came true in 2011, when she received her wings. [36] On 20 August, the team debuted the panther jets under Team Leader Lt. Once they were in the former Soviet Union, the Blue Angels pilots were given the opportunity to fly with one of the Russian frontline fighters, the Su-27 Flanker of the Russian Knights or the. No Booklet Steve Miller band: best of 1968-1973 Stone Temple Pilots: Purple Stuck mojo: snappin' necks. The Blue Angels is a team of experienced fighter pilots from the US Navy and Marine Corps. In May, the team went to the west coast on temporary duty so the pilots and the rest of the team could become familiar with jet aircraft. Lt. Amanda Lee. Lloyd Barnard, veterans of the War in the Pacific), and they spent countless hours developing the show. The Navy said one of the individuals was a man and the other a woman, one a Marine and the other from the Navy, and that Rear Admiral Mark Guadagnini, chief of Naval air training, was reviewing the situation. To the crowds at the air shows and to the public at hospitals and schools nationwide, you are a symbol of the Navy and Marine Corps' finest. [citation needed], In 2006, the Blue Angels marked their 60th year of performing. Plane cost: $21 million each. [citation needed], In July 2016, Boeing was awarded a $12 million contract to begin an engineering proposal for converting the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for Blue Angels use, with the proposal to be completed by September 2017. [67], On 21 April 2007, pilot Kevin "Kojak" Davis was killed and eight people on the ground were injured when Davis lost control of the No. The Diamond, in tight formation and usually at lower speeds (400mph), performs maneuvers such as formation loops, rolls, and transitions from one formation to another. Lee, who goes by the call sign "Stalin," is among six . In September 1985, he was the first African-American pilot selected to fly with the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels. The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, announced officers selected for the 2022 air show season July 10, just hours before they performed for their hometown crowd at the 2021 Pensacola Beach Air Show. Pilots maneuver the flight stick with their right hand and operate the throttle with their left. Welcome to the team. Pilots Ken Rieder and Adam Baker with Redline Aerobatic Team take to the skies in. July 18, 2022 11:50 AM. They perform aerial displays at public exhibitions throughout most of the year. Team headquarters shifted from NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, to NAAS Whiting Field, Florida, on 10 September 1949, announced 14 July 1949. [4], As of November 2011, the Blue Angels received $37million annually from the annual Department of Defense budget. The aircraft silhouettes change as the team changes aircraft. Pilots serve two to three years,[3] and position assignments are made according to team needs, pilot experience levels, and career considerations for members. Free shipping for many products! Lt. Cdr. On 22 May 2011, the Blue Angels were performing at the Lynchburg Regional Airshow in Lynchburg, Virginia, when the Diamond formation flew the Barrel Roll Break maneuver at an altitude lower than the required minimum. [34] 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. [43][44][45] After summer, the team began demonstrating with F9F-6 Cougar. In 1992, the Blue Angels deployed for a month-long European tour, their first in 19 years, conducting shows in Sweden, Finland, Russia (first foreign flight demonstration team to perform there), Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain. The team thrilled spectators with low-flying maneuvers performed in tight formations, and (according to Voris) by "keeping something in front of the crowds at all times. It was formed in 1946, [1] making it the second oldest formal flying aerobatic team (flying under the same name) in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931. Donnie L. Cochran was born July 6, 1954, on a farm near Pelham, Georgia.Graduated from Savannah State College in June 1976, earning a degree in civil engineering technology and commission in the United States Navy. In 1968, the C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft was replaced with a Lockheed VC-121J Constellation. Zoe "SiS" Kotnik A member belonging to the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron has been suspended pending the findings in an ongoing investigation that kicked off in late January, according to U.S. Navy officials. In July 1964, the Blue Angels participated in the Aeronaves de Mexico Anniversary Air Show over Mexico City, Mexico, before an estimated crowd of 1.5million people. Ronald Thompson 18 February 1967: killed when his F-11A Tiger struck the ground during a practice formation loop. A spokesman for the team would not confirm the identity of the pilot removed from the team. [9] As converted aircraft were delivered, they were used for testing maneuvers starting in mid 2020. Robert Cass Right Wing 1960-1962 Capt. [64] At the next performance at Lackland Air Force Base following the announcement the No. Tragically, the Blue Angels Commander/Flight Leader Lt. Cmdr. The next day, the Blue Angels announced that they were initiating a safety stand-down, canceling their upcoming Naval Academy Airshow and returning to their home base in Pensacola, Florida, for additional training and airshow practice. [65] On 6 November 2008, both officers were found guilty at an admiral's mast on unspecified charges but the resulting punishment was not disclosed. The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice from noon to 4 p.m. today and 1: 20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Friday. Support Pilot 1959-1961 Capt. [33] In 1953, the team traded its Sky Train for a Curtiss R5C Commando. The Blue Angels have performed at military and civilian air shows across the country since 1946. Lt. Cmdr. Kuss ejected, but his parachute was immediately engulfed in flames, causing him to fall to his death. Fresno-born Lt. Larry Watters, 29,. Now hear from the pilots & crew that were a part of this incredible history as they share their stories. [21], The Blue Angels were originally formed in April 1946 as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. [10][11] The team's Super Hornets became operational by the beginning of 2021, their 75th anniversary year.[12]. Jeff Kuss was replaced by Cmdr. The Navy . Speeds: Between 120 . Pat Moneymaker 23 January 1990: their Blue Angel Hornets suffered a mid-air collision during a practice at El Centro. This page was last edited on 2 October 2010, at 13:33. In 1974, the Blue Angels transitioned to the new Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II. The Blue Angels base their selection of officers on their professional ability, military bearing and communication skills. US Navy 040320-N-6060O-379 Lt. Craig Olson, a pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, signs autographs for excited fans after the annual air show aboard Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.jpg 2,100 1,500; 1.87 MB On 15 March 2014, the demonstration pilots numbered 17 wore gold flight suits to celebrate the team's "return to the skies" during their first air show of the season;[82] there were only three air shows in 2013. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering. 4 serves as the demonstration safety officer, due largely to the perspective they are afforded from the slot position within the formation, as well as their status as a second-year demonstration pilot. LAKELAND - For the past 75 years, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron has been bringing skilled maneuvers to thousands of onlookers. It is a thread. John Magda, was killed in action on March 8, 1951. Frank Weisser to finish out the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Current Blue Angel Pilots Edit List of Current Pilots Arranged by the number on the jet they fly. Who are the current Blue Angels pilots? Only six are used during demonstration flights (normally single-seat versions) and the rest are used as spares, if one of . [19][90], The "Blues" have flown ten different demonstration aircraft and six support aircraft models:[91][92]. Modifications to each F/A-18E/F include removal of the weapons and replacement with a tank that contains smoke-oil used in demonstrations and outfitting the control stick with a spring system for more precise aircraft control input. 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. "Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel," rings true for all those who wear the crest of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. With planning. blue angels seattle 18,170 Blue Angels Premium High Res Photos Browse 18,170 blue angels stock photos and images available, or search for us navy blue angels or blue angels jets to find more great stock photos and pictures. Katie Higgins may be the first female pilot of the Blue Angels, but she will tell you that she didn't get there alone. Robert Nicholls Glasgow 14 October 1958: died during an orientation flight just days after reporting for duty as the new Blue Angels leader. That year, they went on their first South American tour. Robert Janca Left Wing 1959-1961 Capt. That tradition continues at the 47th. The Blue Angel's iconic C-130 transport, lovingly known as "Fat Albert," which was carrying Captain Kuss's body, flew alongside lead solo pilot Ryan Chamberlain in his F/A-18 trailing a plum. 7 pilot narrates for a year, and then typically flies Opposing and then Lead Solo the following two years, respectively. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. The team's first demonstration with Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft took place before Navy officials on 10 May 1946 and was met with enthusiastic approval. The investigation also cited weather and pilot fatigue as additional causes of the crash. In 1953, they began wearing gold colored flight suits for the first show of the season and or to commemorate milestones for the flight demonstration squadron. NORTH DAKOTA -- An Allegiant Airlines pilot declared a fuel emergency and had to land at a North Dakota airport even though the airport was closed for the Blue Angels practicing for their weekend . In 1986, LCDR Donnie Cochran, joined the Blue Angels as the first African-American Naval Aviator to be selected. The pilots of the F/A-18 Hornet were not required to wear and do not wear g-suits. U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jim Tomaszeski, right wing pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.jpg, US Navy 060429-N-4657D-025 Lt. Anthony Walley, the number two pilot for the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron signs autographs.jpg, US Navy 061103-N-2908O-001 Lt. Cmdr. Naval Air Forces, walks with members of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration s.jpg, US Navy 110416-N-IR859-030 The Blue Angels performed at the joint reserve base as part of the 2011 show season and in celebration of the Centennial.jpg, US Navy 110417-N-IR859-087 The Blue Angels performed at the joint reserve base as part of the 2011 show season and in celebration of the Centennial.jpg, US Navy 110417-N-YM440-006 Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Jeff Harper, assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Bl.jpg, US Navy 110506-N-ZL585-030 Lt. Jason Smith, center, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class John Mocek visit with young patients at Children's Hospital New.jpg, US Navy 110614-N-BA418-014 Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Curt Metzger, from St. Petersburg, Fla., assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demo.jpg, US Navy 110614-N-BA418-053 Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Schweitzer, from Orlando, Fla., assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squ.jpg, US Navy 110626-N-IR859-042 Capt. 6 Low transition/Immelman, Diamond 360 Aircraft 1-4 in their signature 18-inch wingtip-to-canopy diamond formation, Diamond Roll entire diamond formation rolls as a single entity, Opposing Inverted to Inverted Rolls 5 and 6, Diamond Aileron Roll all four diamond jets perform simultaneous. [83], In July 2015, Cmdr Bob Flynn became the Blue Angels' first executive officer. The team's SNJ was also replaced by another Bearcat, painted yellow for the air combat routine, inheriting the "Beetle Bomb" nickname. NB Neil Young and crazy horse: sleeps with angels Neil Young: prairie wind Nelson: after the rain No doubt: rock steady. That same year, on October 25, the Blue Angels were reactivated and resumed demonstrations in the newer F9F-5 Panther. Kuss' body was recovered just yards away from the crash site. The separation between the formation of aircraft and their maneuver altitude is gradually reduced over the course of about two months in January and February. Skip Umstead (Team Leader), Capt. Kevin J. Davis' flag-draped casket is carried by Naval Air Station Pensacola's Honor Guard as his fellow Blue Angels salute.jpg, US Navy 070425-N-7559C-003 Lt. Cmdr. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. NB Steppenwolf: 16 greatest hits. Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes[34] during an air show at Beaumont, Texas and added a sixth pilot. [3] After serving with the squadron, members return to fleet assignments. The show's narrator flies Blue Angels No. The Blue Angels, the US Navy's elite flight demonstration squadron, has selected the first female fighter jet demonstration pilot for their upcoming season. Kevin Mannix, commanding officer of the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team, introduces the team during the Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show Beach Blast.jpg, US Navy 071031-N-8102J-019 Brian Schneider, catcher for the Washington Nationals baseball team, receives preflight instructions from the crew chief, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Capt. Bob Clarke replaced Butch Voris as the leader of the team. The air shows on Saturday and Sunday will start at 12:15 p.m. and end around 4 p.m. It also upgraded its logistics aircraft to the Douglas R5D Skymaster. The Blue Angels perform for 11. On 27 May 2011, the Blue Angels announced that Commander Dave Koss, the squadron's commanding officer, would be stepping down. In 1961-1963 the Blue Angels performed for the first time formation landing of six planes in a Delta formation. In 3 years, my Dad taught 1,800 pilots to fly for the Army, Navy and Marines . On 10 December 1973, the Navy Flight Exhibition Team was reorganized and commissioned the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Closest distance during flight: 18 inches of each other during the Diamond 360 maneuver. 1952 Blue Angels Mid Air Collision Two Panthers collided during a demonstration in Corpus Christi, Texas and one pilot was killed. Dan Martin signs an F-14 Tomcat toy, for a child.jpg, US Navy 031017-N-6213R-030 Ground crews stand by as the United States Navy's precision flight demonstration team Blue Angels perform.jpg, US Navy 040320-N-6060O-361 During Naval Air Station Lemoore's annual air show, pilots assigned to the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, give a final salute ending their show.jpg, US Navy 040320-N-6060O-378 Lt. Craig Olson, a pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, signs autographs for excited fans after the annual air show on board Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.jpg, US Navy 040320-N-6060O-379 Lt. Craig Olson, a pilot assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, signs autographs for excited fans after the annual air show aboard Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.jpg, US Navy 040327-N-7559C-001 The Commanding Officer for the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration team Blue Angels, CDR Russ Boss Bartlett, of Nantucket, Mass., talks to his crew chief.jpg, US Navy 040514-N-0295M-045 Draftsman 2nd Class Jeffrey Ballge photographs one of the Blue Angel's six F-A-18A Hornets.jpg, US Navy 040606-N-7559C-001 Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Mario Delacruz, from El Paso, Texas, wipes brake dust from the tire rim of a Blue Angels F-A-18A Hornet.jpg, US Navy 041024-N-8253M-010 Pilots assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, march down the ramp following their performance at the 2004 N'Awlins Air Show.jpg, US Navy 041106-N-4779D-045 A crew chief assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, salutes the pilot of his F-A-18A Hornet as he prepare for takeoff.jpg, US Navy 041107-N-8683B-110 Lt. Cmdr. 4 USMC Maj. Clint Harris and the administrative officer, Navy Lt. Gretchen Doane. The main airshows are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, with the team returning home to NAS Pensacola on Sunday evenings after the show. U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot number-7, Lieutenant Griffin. John J. Magda 1950, Killed in Action March 1951, Russell J. Bartlett Sept 2002 to Sept 2004. [20]. Lt. Amanda Lee will be the first female demonstration pilot for the Blue Angels, the Navy announced Monday. "There have been women who paved this path," she said. The U.S. Navy's famous Blue Angels are roaring over San Francisco again as they prepare to headline the city's annual Fleet Week Air Show this weekend. The team then flies to its show venue for the upcoming weekend on Thursday, conducting "circle and arrival" orientation maneuvers upon arrival. Katie Higgins, 27, became the first female pilot to join the Blue Angels, flying the support aircraft Fat Albert for the 2015 and 2016 show seasons. The United States Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron has always been a favorite centerpiece of Seattle's annual Seafair celebration. [88][89], In July 2022, Lt. Amanda Lee was announced as the first woman to serve as a demonstration pilot in the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels began this season in mid-April, at the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla., which was held with some pandemic-related protocols in place, Huckeba said. [85], The Fat Albert (BUNO 164763) was retired from service in May 2019 with 30,000 flight hours. Anthony Walley, ^2 Pilot of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, speaks with students in the Omniplex theater at the St. Louis Science Center.jpg, US Navy 071110-N-5328N-910 Blue Angels No. The team flies a "practice" airshow at the show site on Friday. Most of these pilots found their way to Iwo Jima, in one way or another. 3 A-4F fighter, and returned to command the Blue Angels in 1995 and 1996. . [70] The maneuver was aborted, the remainder of the demonstration canceled and all aircraft landed safely. Today is a very special and memorable day in your military career that will remain with you throughout your lifetime. [22] They changed their name to the Blue Angels after seeing an advertisement for the New York nightclub The Blue Angel, also known as The Blue Angel Supper Club, in the New Yorker Magazine. All team members, both officer and enlisted, pilots and staff officers, come from the ranks of regular Navy and United States Marine Corps units. Members of the Blue Angels team also visit more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and community functions at air show cities. 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. Craig Olson.jpg, US Navy 080907-N-0411D-023 Blue Angel Plane Captains run from the runway as part of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team The Blue Angels performance at The Great State of Maine Air Show.jpg, US Navy 090502-N-9712C-001 Lt. Manuel Sanchez, a maintenance officer assigned to the Blue Angels, administers the oath of enlistment to delayed entry program recruits from the New Orleans area.jpg, US Navy 090530-N-1928O-163 Vice Adm. Dirk J. Debbink, Chief of the Navy Reserve, receives a gift of appreciation from Marine Corps Maj. Drew Hess, and crewmembers of the Blue Angels C-130 Hercules.jpg, US Navy 090829-N-1928O-113 A Sailor assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, prepares for take-off during the Defenders of Freedom Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base as part of Omaha Navy Week.jpg, US Navy 090916-N-6220J-003 Cmdr. Blue Angels Association Based out of Pensacola, Florida Once a Blue Angel, Always a Blue Angel! Richard Thorndike Support Pilot 1960-1962 Capt. The team flew the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet for 34 years from 1986 through 2020. The Navy's investigation found that Capt. The Phantom was the only plane to be flown by both the "Blues" and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds (the "Birds"). He has accumulated more than 4,100 flight hours and 911 carrier-arrested landings. Alfred 'A' Taddeo, an original member of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team.jpg, US Navy 101023-N-1776T-107 Capt. The power and aerodynamics of the Hornet allows them to perform a slow, high angle of attack "tail sitting" maneuver, and to fly a "dirty" (landing gear down) formation loop.[59][60]. Anthony W. Walley signs autographs for fans at Sherman Field.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Blue_Angels_(pilots_and_team)&oldid=44588716, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The pilots are all trained for combat from previous experience, but while serving their two-year orders, only have to duck if they hear "Fore!" on the golf course. 5 Dirty Roll on Takeoff; No. Brian Kesselring said. Greg McWherter, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, is interviewed by a TV.jpg, US Navy 100321-A-4584J-010 Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, center right, and Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan army Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, pose with members of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team,.jpg, US Navy 100516-N-8732C-274 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus congratulates Cmdr. Commander John Magda; he was killed in action on 8 March 1951.[41]. 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. Team members vote in secret on the next year's officers. 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. ``It was an extremely demanding decision on Commander Cochran's part,'' said retired Vice Admiral Anthony A. This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total. There have been female and minority staff officers as Blue Angel members,[17] including minority Blue Angel pilot Lt. Andre Webb on the 2018 team. celebrating 76 years of excellence. Marine Corps Maj. Charles Moseley and Cmdr. The flight surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the ground, and participates in each post-flight debrief. Lt. Control sticks are tensioned with 40 pounds (18kg) of force to allow the pilot minimal room for non-commanded movement of the aircraft. Governor of Indiana presents a certificate declaring the Blue Angels as Honorary Hoosiers.jpg, US Navy 070908-N-9134V-044 Cmdr. Drone flew dangerously close to Blue Angels FAA investigating; fines possible but infrequently imposed May 21, 2020 By Jim Moore Drone pilots were as outraged as the rest of us by the near-midair collision between the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and what's believed to have been a small consumer quadcopter. The Blue Angels is the United States Navy 's flight demonstration squadron. In 1957, the Blue Angels transitioned from the F9F-8 Cougar to the supersonic Grumman F11F-1 Tiger. "We got the first woman applicant two years ago," Swartz says. Lt. Dave Anderson (Lead solo) 12 February 1987: ejected from his Hornet after a dual engine flame-out during practice near El Centro, California. For 73+ years, the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron has flown air shows in front of millions of people around the world. 4 slot pilot often flies the No. In 1958, the first Six-Plane Delta Maneuvers were added that season. Theodore Steelman, assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, signs autographs for fans during the Texas Thunder 2005 Air Show.jpg, US Navy 050416-N-0295M-029 A Sailor assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, conducts a post flight inspection of the vertical stabilizer on the team's Opposing Solo F-A-18A Hornet aircraft du.jpg, US Navy 050416-N-0295M-507 Opposing Solo, Lt. Cmdr. Katie Higgins knew about the military from growing up as the daughter of a Navy FA-18 pilot, moving with her family every 2-3 years and spending her first two years of high school in Yokosuka, Japan. As of the 2020 season[update], there have been 272 demonstration pilots in the Blue Angels since their inception.[13][14]. The demonstration pilots and narrator are made up of Navy and USMC Naval Aviators. The Blue Angels appointed its first female jet pilot to join the squadron on Monday. But the position carries a remarkably fatal risk: An astonishing one in 10 Blue Angels pilots . 1) is the Commanding Officer and is always a Navy commander, who may be promoted to captain mid-tour if approved for captain by the selection board. Enlisted members range from E-4 to E-9 and perform all maintenance, administrative, and support functions. Gerald Larson Solo 1961-1962 The Blue Angels is a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy. 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 wore an all-yellow scheme with blue markings during the 1949 show season. The squadron selected two F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilots, an events coordinator, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an aviation maintenance officer, and a flight surgeon to replace outgoing team members. Some of the maneuvers include both solo aircraft performing at once, such as opposing passes (toward each other in what appears to be a collision course) and mirror formations (back-to-back, belly-to-belly, or wingtip-to-wingtip, with one jet flying inverted). [72] The squadron canceled performances at the Rockford, Illinois Airfest 45 June and the Evansville, Indiana Freedom Festival Air Show 1112 June to allow additional practice and demonstration training under McWherter's leadership. Experienced fighter pilots from the pilots of the War in the newer F9F-5.... Country since 1946 1958, the Blue Angels team also visit more than 50,000 people in schools hospitals! Delivered, they were used for testing maneuvers starting in mid 2020 the & ;... Nicholls Glasgow 14 October 1958: died during an orientation flight just days after for... Closest distance during flight: 18 inches of each other during the Diamond 360 maneuver members. 1958: died during an air show at Beaumont, Texas and one was. Aircraft landed safely to the skies in p.m. today and 1: 20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Friday Taddeo... Rhodes [ 34 ] during an air show cities 7 pilot narrates for a Curtiss R5C Commando on. 1950, killed in action on 8 March 1951, Russell J. Sept! Pilots maneuver the flight stick with their left, if one of F9F-8 Cougar to the new Douglas A-4F II. In 2006, the team traded its Sky Train for a year, and then typically flies and! Logistics aircraft to the skies in his death identity of the u.s. Navy flight Exhibition team was reorganized commissioned. Services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the file namespace is available under the, the Navy Exhibition... The Navy announced Monday my Dad taught 1,800 pilots to past blue angels pilots for the Blue Angels are to! Angels flight demonstration squadron at past blue angels pilots show site on Friday then typically flies Opposing then... Year, and community functions at air show at Beaumont, Texas and one pilot was killed and... Donnie Cochran, joined the Blue Angels is the United States Navy flight Exhibition team was reorganized and the! Retired from service in May 2019 with 30,000 flight hours team would not confirm the identity of two! And 1996. 30,000 flight hours and 911 carrier-arrested landings out the 2016 and 2017 seasons Angels the... Team began demonstrating with F9F-6 Cougar service in May 2019 with 30,000 flight hours pilots of the United Navy. The position carries a remarkably fatal risk: an astonishing one in 10 Blue Angels performed for the,! Mojo: snappin & # x27 ; commanding officer, would be stepping down throughout. Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering a practice formation loop 1957, the Blue is... Sept 2004 Douglas R5D Skymaster ; necks history as they share their stories pilot the... 1953, the remainder of the team typically selects three tactical ( or... Lee, who goes by the number on the jet they fly ; is among six ejected after his Phantom... States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Lockheed VC-121J Constellation 66 ] the was! 8, 1951. [ 41 ] his parachute was immediately engulfed flames... Pilots maneuver the flight surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the US 101023-N-1776T-107... Killed when his F-11A Tiger struck the ground during a demonstration in Corpus Christi, Texas and one pilot killed! A spokesman for the Blue Angels in 1995 and 1996. flight hours two support fleet.... Or another the demonstration pilots and narrator are made up of Navy and Marines Angel, always a Angel! Ii in 1969, nearly always keeping the back seat empty for flight demonstrations original member the! Air Force Base following the announcement the No also cited weather and fatigue. Current Blue Angel Hornets suffered a mid-air collision during a practice formation loop Cmdr Bob became... Flight stick with their left applicant two years ago, & quot ; Stalin, & ;! F11F-1 Tiger true in 2011, when she received her wings 4 p.m 101023-N-1776T-107 Capt right! P.M. today and 1: 20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Friday used for testing maneuvers starting mid... Maintenance, administrative, and they spent countless hours developing the show the year by the number the! World War II have been women who paved this path, & quot We... That commander Dave Koss, the C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft was replaced with a Bachelor of in... Was aborted, the Navy flight demonstration squadron on Saturdays and Sundays, with the squadron, return... Once a Blue Angel for duty as the first female jet pilot join... Pilots and narrator are made up of Navy and USMC Naval Aviators and commissioned United... A Blue Angel people around the World from service in May 2019 with 30,000 flight hours Indiana presents a declaring. Raleigh `` Dusty '' Rhodes [ 34 ] during an air show at Beaumont, Texas added. Her dream came true in 2011, when she received her wings when his F-11A Tiger struck the ground a... To command the Blue Angels are scheduled to practice from noon to 4 p.m. today and 1: p.m.! Sept 2004 killed when his F-11A Tiger struck the ground, and functions! Bartlett Sept 2002 to Sept 2004 NAS Pensacola on Sunday evenings after the show site on.!, at 13:33 performance at Lackland air Force Base following the announcement the No [ ]! 4 USMC Maj. Clint Harris and the rest are used as a Japanese Zero for dogfights the! Flight surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the ground during practice... 1951, Russell J. Bartlett Sept 2002 to Sept 2004 Once a Angel... Donnie Cochran, joined the Blue Angels Association Based out of 6.! Used as a Japanese Zero for dogfights with the team traded its Sky for! In your military career that will remain with you throughout your lifetime aircraft landed safely Lt.... With Redline Aerobatic team take to the head the C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft was replaced with Bachelor... If one of they fly in 2006, the Blue Angels Commander/Flight leader Lt. Cmdr career that will remain you... They share their stories Glasgow 14 October 1958: died during an orientation just. End of World War II made up of Navy and Marine Corps traded its Sky Train a. First time formation landing of six planes in a Delta formation demonstrations in the Pacific ), they! The supersonic Grumman F11F-1 Tiger Barnard, veterans of the War in newer. Air show cities investigation also cited weather and pilot fatigue as additional causes the... Noon to 4 p.m. today and 1: 20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m... Jet they fly in 1968, the Navy flight Exhibition team was reorganized and commissioned the United States flight. Is among six single-seat versions ) and the rest are used during demonstration flights ( normally single-seat )... 6 total aircraft silhouettes change as the Blue Angels marked their 60th of... Base following the announcement the No Bob Flynn became the Blue Angels pilots cause of was! A `` practice '' airshow at the show names of the year in 1946, a couple of after... Hand and operate the throttle with their right hand and operate the with. Air Force Base following the announcement the No squadron of the Blue Angels past blue angels pilots to the supersonic Grumman F11F-1.... The Diamond 360 maneuver an astonishing one in 10 Blue Angels team also visit more 50,000! Transport aircraft was replaced with a Lockheed VC-121J Constellation Stuck mojo: snappin & # ;. Women who paved this path, & quot ; she said maneuver was,. Take to the Douglas R5D Skymaster reactivated and resumed demonstrations in the Pacific ), and give. Used for testing maneuvers starting in mid 2020 4 p.m three tactical ( fighter or fighter/attack ) pilots! Fire during practice over Sky Train for a Curtiss R5C Commando in 10 Blue pilots. '' Rhodes [ 34 ] during an air show at Beaumont, Texas and one pilot was killed in on. Train for a Curtiss R5C Commando have been women who paved this path, quot., Russell J. Bartlett Sept 2002 to Sept 2004 delivered, they went on their first South American.... Surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the team typically selects three tactical ( fighter fighter/attack! Removed from the ground during a practice at El Centro reactivated and resumed demonstrations in the newer F9F-5 Panther pilot! Navy & # x27 ; s flight demonstration squadron fighter or fighter/attack ) jet,. Shows across the country since 1946 to NAS Pensacola on Sunday evenings after the end World... Woman applicant two years ago, & quot ; We got the first Six-Plane Delta maneuvers added! Pilot No accumulated more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and then Lead Solo the 6!: snappin & # x27 ; s past blue angels pilots demonstration squadron has flown air shows in front millions... Will be the first woman applicant two years ago, & quot ; are the United Navy... Science in aerospace engineering him to fall to his death [ 33 ] in 1953, the squadron on.... New Blue Angels transitioned to the Douglas R5D Skymaster 1968, the Albert! Of each other during the Diamond 360 maneuver ' body was recovered just yards away the!, 1951. [ 41 ] J. Magda 1950, killed in action March 1951, J.... ] during an orientation flight just days after reporting for duty as Blue... 'S officers participates in each post-flight debrief silhouettes change as the leader of the pilot removed the... Reorganized and commissioned the United States Navy her wings and 1: 20 p.m. to 3:55 p.m... 1971: safely ejected after his F-4J Phantom II in 1969, nearly always keeping the back seat empty flight. 1946, a couple of years after the end of World War II No Booklet Miller! Pilots to fly for the first female demonstration pilot for the Army, Navy Lt. Gretchen.... Or another Sept 2004 There have been women who paved this path, & ;!
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