Blue Angels

[oldmansquipper]

https://eu.pnj.com/story/news/2020/04/07/coronavirus-florida-blue-angels-keep-practicing-through-uncertainty/5103024002/

[Lonewolf_50]

So that none of worry that the link is toxic, I checked it out.
First 18 shows of the year cancelled.

[Minnie Burner]

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x1600/img_20200407_wa0014_1ee9499e0e86b9da10f61a87f30bad5099ddfe1b .jpg

[Big Pistons Forever]

Fights on !

[OK4Wire]

Very good, Minnie!

[Airbubba]

From today's Covid-19 White House presser.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1244x293/blues_covid_c8189056278c4cfe58b89eb3b93e8dd869fa2147.jpg

[chopper2004]

Speaking of which had the pleasure to see them fly for first time at Air & Space Expo 2019 at Joint Base Andrews so here are my photos.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/5d952124_9a26_447d_b2de_232817b6c98a_1fd12353ddbc3fda36f62f1 38bbf85f0842317f2.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/07a11905_d181_47d2_9f4f_0594abd9582d_a33e07c8795820c8692e91e 90733ef180f34f38d.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/7dc3e830_71d3_4477_8886_d522e0fae027_ce31e6aa3b8ad6241c6113e 10c0e5900c8c06ac9.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/802bb663_8bd0_4baf_bc53_5eb12b823579_b0f8b051279d638bc88ec35 7eb11878f0f925120.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1759x1173/9e9d1e50_0939_4ee9_9052_bb6c95eae221_8203b6578db90960d307eb6 9304e84a4281009f2.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1753x1169/032b7b88_c047_4260_8bdb_a60b9ccc264b_2051bfe4ef30ef562945bca c5c5f18cc2ab422b1.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1729x1153/5488a927_ac0e_4c04_83b9_dea1a84e9c57_75ca0da613d894fef85238d bee4bd7a23026e8fc.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1817x1211/f1b95d2c_93c8_4420_8795_bf9fe571f376_4db22570c13f90562134ff5 45ad544db60470389.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/cd5cfa1a_8d13_44a3_a290_6ae98acf248e_d580baa11648340c0ccc908 5ea9dbff246edc5c3.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1768x1179/475eca01_3140_4392_b414_ecca9a33c1c7_bb3b883cddf51028503e2e7 1d1f9aa499e550540.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/d58aabe0_9c82_4982_8e14_9b228add50e7_a9ccf626c39ae6f719b5368 e60a034f28a6d6d80.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1954x1303/e81a0ce4_8220_4d02_99d6_3b28bbf7247e_566050813d2b6840fef0f24 e6535bd841c876efd.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1688x1125/a8fac9cd_e7d3_4e6f_89ea_75fb1c0e74e1_9eab77e54e9040424355873 d39b7671c0df9f44f.jpeg

very impressed, would like them at some point in the future once normality resumes...to come back over to Europe

Also slightly digressing the newly donated C-130J from Marshall’s is still here at EGSC am led to believe. Does anyone know if Marshall’s or the likes of Air Livery will paint it up? Or will it go as silver or unpainted finish and be painted stateside?

cheers

[Airbubba]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1540x2000/ewssxhpuwaqikus_4878cbbd791f47c6b3c1e397b6c5a21348bbdd25.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1540x2000/ewssxhrueaiaptk_e6a93d4e091387d6b5b9da222e752064dbd6b9b1.jpg

[Airbubba]

Possibly related, an unusual trail formation of KC-10's over Manhattan right now.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1980x704/kc_10s_b825cf79ffb0c0ab3f03a5ab2db002089766ac9d.jpg

[Airbubba]

America Strong briefing picture by PO1 Jess Gray.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1075/covid_blues_eaa3433d0cb62cc20e54bfb8e0cb3184117aa03e.jpg

[Bayek Itsarumdu]

America Strong briefing picture by PO1 Jess Gray. To me it looks like one of those Angels has been briefed to do the flyover inverted ;).

[RAFEngO74to09]

Cockpit view during COVID-19 flypasts April 28, 2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1f0euGh-HI

[Airbubba]

Possibly related, an unusual trail formation of KC-10's over Manhattan right now.

The KC-10's were indeed in support of the America Strong flyby:

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/750063/kc-10-extender-take-off-and-landing-b-roll

[Airbubba]

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x714/1000w_q95_6_6b91a989508f94e6593c2c40df14afeb2e731574.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x714/1000w_q95_5_19200235769de2a0dbe500fd57c3c57757164302.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x714/1000w_q95_4_2262db2493ef58eb97d470b83651e21d3a3dfecd.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x714/1000w_q95_2_e7da3f1ac9b7211b254fe11c2c06c80947ddeae8.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x714/1000w_q95_a40e5d91aabdd798b94ec45967a01d0f121afa89.jpg
Looks like the Blues' narrator's plane was possibly swapped for number 2 at some point.

[Lonewolf_50]

Looks like the Blues' narrator's plane was possibly swapped for number 2 at some point.
Maintenance is a thing in aviation.
Number 2 may be NMCM or NMCS, depending on if they even use those terms anymore.

[gums]

Salute!

Thanks for all the great pics and video, Bubba!

I kinda figured the tankers were ready to help, and twenty years ago +/- , I watched the Birds practice for the USAFA flyby at graduation. No tanker. But on the day when the blowhard General or whoever spoke, there was a KC-10 out to the west over my cabin so the birds could top off if the dignitary rambled.

I have also noted the single plane on many videos and my guess is it is a photo bird for history and not a spare.
===============
Hope we don't interfere with the all the Brit banter that dominates this forum, but some of the older, coarse colonials flew with and for the RAF and King back about when I was born. Hell, my flight commander in Deuce school was an RAF Lightning jock. Lottsa ties between the two countries separated by a common language!
======================
Gums sends...

[Airbubba]

Number 2 may be NMCM or NMCS, depending on if they even use those terms anymore.

I'm not familiar with those terms myself. If you look closely you can see the that Blues' right wing is the number 2 plane in some shots above, the number 7 D model in others.

I've seen one of the wingmen go back on deck and pick up the number 7 plane as a maintenance hot spare halfway through the show more than once over the years. Next year they get rid of these old clunkers and get some new clunkers is the plan. A lot can happen between now and then.

Looks like the Secret Service will allow the DC flyover into P-56 tomorrow, the President won't be home unfortunately.

From 2014 Congressional testimony:

National Capital Region AirspaceAirspace security for the NCR is coordinated by the interagency National Capital Region Coordination Center (NCRCC). The NCRCC was created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide real-time information sharing and tactical coordination to address potential airborne threats in and around the Washington, D.C., area. It has representatives from the military, the FAA and, certain federal civilian law enforcement agencies on duty at all times to speed communication and coordination in the event of an unknown or hostile airborne track of interest. The Secret Service staffs its positions in the NCRCC at all times with specially trained personnel assigned to the Secret Service Airspace Security Branch.

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the dimensions of the restricted flight zones over Washington, D.C., changed. The FAA implemented the Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) which includes within its boundaries, the Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) and Prohibited Area 56 (P-56). The White House and the Vice President’s residence are located in the P-56.

In order to enter the SFRA or the FRZ, an aircraft must have approval from the FAA. After obtaining this waiver, flights seeking to enter the P-56 must seek an additional waiver and meet a number of additional requirements. The Secret Service was granted use authority of the P-56 by the FAA, which provides the Secret Service the authority to administratively control who flies within the P-56. The Secret Service, in consultation with the Capitol Police and Park Police, advises the FAA on the waiver and it is the FAA that issues the Certificate of Authorization to the pilot.


https://www.dhs.gov/news/2014/04/29/written-testimony-usss-director-house-committee-oversight-and-government-reform

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x928/ew8aurtwsaczjek_215d873e25ad847fe5611b5a9160a11b706a799b.jpg

[Airbubba]

To me it looks like one of those Angels has been briefed to do the flyover inverted ;).

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1280x1080/covid_blues_2_large__de506d7d8912993e5faf47508988b01fbe6c0bc 7.jpg


I was thinking the same thing. :ok:

A former colleague who did a tour with the Blues said that if they showed up in a public area with a uniform configuration different from the Boss, like an unzipped flight suit pocket, they would have to pay a fine to the coffee mess. Don't know if this is still the case after all the purges and investigations in the post-Tailhook era.

Maybe he was paying homage to the T-bird lead solo whose number is by tradition inverted.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x1349/lead_solo_large__f0825b0023a6c267a321a6c40c5ed1d3284e2835.jp g


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x665/1000w_q95_number_5_48a1a50d83e12b4bd948515d43a31973d169c7c4. jpg

[Lonewolf_50]

I'm not familiar with those terms myself.
Non Mission Capable, Supply (NMCS) and Non MIssion Capable, Maintenance (NMCM)
In short, is the bird up or down?

[Big Pistons Forever]

Busted aircraft used to be just called a down bird, now they are identified as subject to an unscheduled un-serviceability........

[gums]

Salute!

Didn't we used to have the term "NORS"?

Gums recalls...

[BEagle]

No doubt the term 'tits-up' for a broken jet is no longer permitted under some snowflake equality directive?

[Procrastinus]

Great video in post #12.
Bit of a 'hairy' at 2.58?

[Airbubba]

Great video in post #12.
Bit of a 'hairy' at 2.58?

Here's another very similar video that seems to render sharper on my devices, perhaps due to the transcoding:

https://youtu.be/Iyk8zw0yxhE

The near paint swap with the right wing position aircraft occurs on this clip at about 2:25. :eek:

As previously observed, at some point the number 2 jet was swapped with the number 7 narrator's plane (family model as gums would call it :)) in the right wing position of the formation.

Some recent B-roll video of the Blues at Navy Pensacola linked below including the cadence calls for the preflight walk down which I've seen many times but have only heard once over the years on the flight line for a show at SUS near STL. My AOCS Drill Instructor would be proud (and inevitably somewhat critical ;)).

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/748847/blue-angels-b-roll-package

[D John]

Great views, I wonder what the camera setup is in that cockpit?

[RAFEngO74to09]

In cockpit views from Florida flyovers - May 8, 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LIy6uDtB48

[Airbubba]

Great views, I wonder what the camera setup is in that cockpit?

In some of the other recent videos the cameras appear to be multiple GoPros. The 360 views are probably stitched together with editing software.

The white box on the left side of the F-18 glareshield looks like a Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver:

https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/stratus-3-ads-b-receiver.html

[ehwatezedoing]

https://youtu.be/Iyk8zw0yxhE


At 0:45" and on...
On the right side of his HUD, what are the purpose of those 6 or so "rectangular lights?"

[Airbubba]

At 0:45" and on...
On the right side of his HUD, what are the purpose of those 6 or so "rectangular lights?"

Here's one explanation, sounds plausible:

I finally spoke to a friend of mine who used to fly with the Blue Angels during the 2000/2001 show season. He said the lights on the glare shield were for the inverted pump indicator. The BA fly inverted longer than what is normally permitted for the Hornet so the Blue Angels aircraft are modified with a boost pump mounted to the top of the fuel tank. When they fly an inverted manuver for an extended period that pump is truned on, and while inverted fuel is pumped from the main tank to the feed tank. As fuel in the feed tanks is burned, the light would turns from green to yellow to red. When the light turns red it's time to roll back to a normal flight attitude.

Differences in Blue Angels' F/A-18s? - Jet Modeling - ARC Discussion Forums (http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/133297-differences-in-blue-angels-fa-18s/)

[RAFEngO74to09]

First photo of the ex-RAF C-130J that was bought for the Blue Angels as their "new" support aircraft.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/678x381/image_dbf035b2d2016f7f36c6a38056baca2b489648c7.png

https://theaviationist.com/2020/06/30/ladies-and-gentlemen-heres-the-first-photo-of-the-blue-angels-new-fat-albert/

[chopper2004]

We all knew that former Brize Norton J resident been converted as the new Blue Angels Fat Albert by Marshalls. As it happened there was a photo day / PR so I drove past and from distant managed to take a few shots,

cheers


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1333/02d93062_a10b_4178_ab04_88a42674661e_a55ef54143637310dd17104 fa00ef6f924ac8b6c.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1770x1180/d24ad668_b196_4036_959b_4125dcf3ca1f_b00de944cd67a21ceb66328 ef9ac3c8cc6b7cceb.jpeg

[RAFEngO74to09]

Transition from Legacy Hornet to Super Hornet + 75th Anniversary of formation coming up"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1odVh3f-ww