Blue Angels

[SPIT]

I was just watching a docu about the Blue Angels and it appeared that they flew OVER the spectators. Is this normal at displays in the USA ? also whilst on the ground they seemed to spend an awful lot of time shaking each others hands and congratulating each other.

[Courtney Mil]

The crowd line isn't a totally hard line. Remember the Reds have been known to appear from behind the crowd as the opening to their display. Not knowing the docu and what era it is, it's hard to comment although the display regs aren't that different between nations.

[garyscott]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbGO1BBWt_A

Reds 2008 Rhode Island, enter from crowd rear.
At quite a few UK airshows, acts have appeared from behind the crowd line many times.

[AGS Man]

Having not seen the Reds for a long time I'm not sure what they do now but I do remember seeing them up to 3 times a day in Cyprus and Vixen break was over the crowd line but that was pre Ramstein.

[Sun Who]

Display Approvals

Whether or not an aerobatic display team can start or finish across the crowd line (in the UK at least) depends on what their display approval says and on whether or not the conditions on the day are deemed suitable for them to exercise that approval. The Blades for instance, have such an approval and exercise it regularly as, I believe, do the Reds.

Sun.

[mmitch]

At the Biggin Hill airshow this June the Reds started their display from crowd rear.
mmitch.

[Chris_H81]

I think this one is just about on the correct side of the crowd line? (Keep watching...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ba2wWgc8cU

The infamous Blue Angels "Tent Pass" - GIF on Imgur

I thought they were kites at first!