Although there are only 6 Blue Angels aircraft at any one time, in the History of the Blue Angels, there has been a total of 272 pilots who have worn the coveted blue flight suit, first adopted in 1954. Robert Cass Right Wing 1960-1962 Capt. 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. [35], In 1949, the team acquired a Douglas R4D Skytrain for logistics to and from show sites. [23][24] The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels during an air show in July 1946. [2] The "Blues" still employ many of the same practices and techniques used in the inaugural 1946 season. Current Blue Angel Pilots Edit List of Current Pilots Arranged by the number on the jet they fly. Blue Angel No. Kevin J. Davis 21 April 2007: Capt. Also, they fly some of the oldest Hornets in the inventory. It also upgraded its logistics aircraft to the Douglas R5D Skymaster. Commander John Magda; he was killed in action on 8 March 1951.[41]. [124][125], Four former Blue Angels pilots have been killed in action or died after being captured, all having been downed by anti-aircraft fire.[136]. [9] As converted aircraft were delivered, they were used for testing maneuvers starting in mid 2020. The pilots and jets sport navy blue and yellow coloring. 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. "We got the first woman applicant two years ago," Swartz says. 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. [85], The Fat Albert (BUNO 164763) was retired from service in May 2019 with 30,000 flight hours. Another European tour followed in 1973, including air shows in Iran, England, France, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Voris was again tasked with assembling the team (he was the first of only two commanding officers to lead them twice). As of the 2020 season[update], there have been 272 demonstration pilots in the Blue Angels since their inception.[13][14]. 5 Dirty Roll on Takeoff; No. [88][89], In July 2022, Lt. Amanda Lee was announced as the first woman to serve as a demonstration pilot in the Blue Angels. [1] Formed in 1946, the unit is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931. Because it takes six to eight years to log the 1,250 hours of flying time needed to try out for the Blue Angels, there has yet to be a female Blue Angel pilot. [20]. Its mission is to support wounded veterans who proudly volunteered to serve our nation and preserve our freedom. Bob Clarke replaced Butch Voris as the leader of the team. ", "Blue Angels commander steps down after subpar performance", "EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2011 Facts and Figures", "One-Off "Blue Angels" Ford Mustang Auctioned at Air Show", "Blue Angels Use Biofuel at Patuxent Air Show", "Blue Angels to Soar on Biofuel During Labor Day Weekend Air Show", U.S. Navy Cancels Blue Angels 2013 Performances, "U.S. Navy Cancels Blue Angels 2013 Performances", "Thunderbirds, Blue Angels to Resume Air Shows", "Wearing Gold: The Blue Angels Return To The Skies (March 16, 2014)", "The Blue Angels' New 'Fat Albert' C-130J Probably Has Dual Citizenship", "Get To Know the Blue Angels Pilots Flying Across Dallas-Fort Worth Wednesday", "New in 2021: Blue Angels to start flying F/A-18 Super Hornets", "Blue Angels to make final flight in the legacy F/A/-18 Hornet as they transition to Super Hornets", "Navy's Blue Angels to get 1st female demonstration team pilot: Lt. Amanda Lee will soon train for the 2023 air show season", "Blue Angels: Historical Aircraft - 60+ Years of Aviation Excellence", "Fat Albert C-130 Gives You A Buzz Cut In This Crazy Head-On Takeoff Video", "Richard Cormier; War Hero, Blue Angels Leader", "Robert F. Aumack, Commander, USN (Ret. The first four pilots and those after them, were and are some of the best and most experienced aviators in the Navy.[33]. For 73+ years, the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron has flown air shows in front of millions of people around the world. Lt. Bill Worley (Opposing Solo) 14 January 1968: killed when his Tiger crashed during a practice double Immelmann. United States Navy's flight demonstration squadron. The age of the Blue Angels display team is astounding. The Navy Times reported that Lt. Hontz said, "It is a testament to the training of the pilots that this incident remained very benign. Blue Angels pilot Brandon Cordill by mtsunews 13 June 2014 Brandon Cordill shares with the audience how a series of events eventually landed him with a role as a pilot with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team, which will fly in the Great Tennessee Air Show June 14-15 in Smyrna, Tennessee. 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. Kuss' body was recovered just yards away from the crash site. Each year the team typically selects three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support. The squadron's six demonstration pilots currently fly the F/A-18 Hornet in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each year, where they still . The Blue . Changeover Roll a left Echelon barrel roll where the echelon formation changes over to diamond formation after 90 off bank. Mike Gershon (Opposing Solo #6) 13 July 1985: his Skyhawk collided with Lt. Andy Caputi (Lead Solo #5) during a show at Niagara Falls, Gershon was killed and Caputi ejected and parachuted to safety. The flight surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the ground, and participates in each post-flight debrief. The 83 litho features the Blues in the A-4 Skyhawk flying past Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii. [62], In 2000, the Navy was conducting investigations in regard and connected to the loss of two Blue Angels pilots in October 1999. Her dream came true in 2011, when she received her wings. Dear Davis Family & Blue Angels Team, Our heart aches with all of you suffering the loss of a wonderful Pilot, and friend to our son, Ryan Courtade (MC2(AW/NAC}, team photographer. The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels perform at the Bethpage Air Show over Jones Beach in New York in 2022. John J. Magda 1950, Killed in Action March 1951, Russell J. Bartlett Sept 2002 to Sept 2004. 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. Cmdr. The Blue Angels' first public demonstration also netted the team its first trophy, which sits on display at the team's current home at NAS Pensacola. At just 3 years old, twin brothers Matt and Johan Suyderhoud were attending their first airshow. [33] The Blue Angels were disbanded,[34] and its pilots were reassigned to a carrier. )", "Navy Relieves Commander of Miramar Air Station: Military: Capt. 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. The team then returns to their home base in Pensacola, Florida, in March, and continues to practice throughout the show season. As in year's past, the Museum is host the planes and pilots during their stay, but this year is different--the Blue Angels are in our very own parking lot, offering an up-close-and-personal view. [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. Behind them in the photo, kneeling down and pointing the boys toward the camera was Lt. David Anderson, a Blue Angels Pilot. In a precision flying team that has not lost a pilot since 1985, safety is priority number one. John Magda, was killed in action on March 8, 1951. [39], The Blue Angels pilots continued to perform nationwide in 1950. The first Blue Angels pilots were Naval Advanced Training Command flight instructors with wartime experience flying the F6F Hellcat, so it was a natural fit for the exhibition to team to fly. This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total. Moseley ejected safely and Moneymaker was able to land his airplane, which then required a complete right wing replacement. Marine Corps Maj. Charles Moseley and Cmdr. On 25 October 1951, the Blues were ordered to re-activate as a flight demonstration team, and reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. Capt. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Flight surgeons serve a two-year term. [21], The Blue Angels were originally formed in April 1946 as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. [33] On 13 July, the team acquired, and began flying the straight-wing Grumman F9F-2B Panther between demonstration shows. 7 aircraft in Friday's "practice" so that pilots from the fleet and future team members can experience the show. [26], The original Blue Angels insignia or crest was designed in 1949, by Lt. [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 replaced it with an Ex-RAF C-130J (BUNO 170000). In 1971, the team which wore the gold flight suits for the first show,[52] conducted its first Far East Tour, performing at a dozen locations in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, and the Philippines. The Solos showcase the high performance capabilities of their individual aircraft through the execution of high-speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns. A Navy Blue Angel pilot, formerly of Akron, was killed Monday when his jet crashed into the desert while the team was practicing loops, officials said. It is a thread. [citation needed]. U.S. Navy Lt. Amanda Lee has been selected as the . . [1], The Blue Angels transitioned from propeller-driven aircraft to blue and gold jet aircraft (Grumman F9F-2B Panther) in August 1949. Line-Abreast Loop the most difficult formation maneuver to do well (No. In 3 years, my Dad taught 1,800 pilots to fly for the Army, Navy and Marines . Current Blue Angel Pilots L Lieutenant Amy Tomlinson Lieutenant Ben Walborn Lieutenant Commander Frank Weisser Lieutenant Jim Tomaszeski Lieutenant Robert Kurrle, Jr M Major Christopher Collins Categories Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. It was their first supersonic aircraft. 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. The Blue Angels performed Saturday at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., the team's first show since an April 21 crash killed one of its members. The application and evaluation process runs from March through early July, culminating with extensive finalist interviews and team deliberations. Lt. Cdr. No Booklet Steve Miller band: best of 1968-1973 Stone Temple Pilots: Purple Stuck mojo: snappin' necks. Lt. Ted Steelman 1 December 2004: ejected from his F/A-18 approximately one mile off Perdido Key after his aircraft struck the water, suffering catastrophic engine and structural damage. In 1967, the Blues toured Europe again, at six sites. 6 jet and crashed due to G-force-induced Loss Of Consciousness (G-LOC) during an air show at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina. [66] The names of the two members involved were later released on the Pensacola News Journal website/forum as pilot No. 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. The change was because one pilot and another officer in the organization had been removed from duty for engaging in an "inappropriate relationship". In July 1963 the team performs its 1000 demonstration in California. Officer 1960-1962 Capt. The team then flies to its show venue for the upcoming weekend on Thursday, conducting "circle and arrival" orientation maneuvers upon arrival. 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. The Blue Angels base their selection of officers on their professional ability, military bearing and communication skills. The Blue Angels continued flying with the Tiger until 1968. 4 USMC Maj. Clint Harris and the administrative officer, Navy Lt. Gretchen Doane. Roy M. "Butch" Voris, ensured that the first pilots were . The Blue Angels also produce a yearly Lithograph featuring a photo of the team flying in the 6-plane delta formation with a noted landmark in the background. This plane also let them perform new maneuvers like the famous Dirty Loop. Don Bentley 8 March 1973: all three survived a multi-aircraft mid-air collision during practice over Superstition Mountain, near El Centro, California. Kevin Davis, a native of Pittsfield, Mass.jpg, US Navy 070425-N-7559C-002 Lt. Cmdr. I felt that if we weren't the best, it would be my naval career." [16], Applicants "rush" the team at one or more airshows, paid out of their own finances, and sit in on team briefs, post-show activities, and social events. Anthony Walley, talks with Jimmie White I, father of fallen Arkansas State Trooper Jimmie White II prior to the dedication of the Jimmie White II Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Ar.jpg, US Navy 060428-N-7517M-012 Naval Recruiting District Atlanta Sailors recite the oath of enlistment led by Blue Angels pilot, Lt. Anthony Walley.jpg, US Navy 070831-N-3271W-002 Lt. Cmdr. The Phantom was the only plane to be flown by both the "Blues" and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds (the "Birds"). Lt. Nile Kraft (Opposing Solo) 22 February 1977: killed when his Skyhawk struck the ground during practice. They perform aerial displays at public exhibitions throughout most of the year. No Booklet George Strait: straight out of the box George Strait: blue clear sky . The highest speed flown during an air show is 700mph (just under Mach 1) and the lowest speed, is 126mph (110 knots) during Section High Alpha with the new Super Hornet (about 115 knots with the old "Legacy" Hornet). 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