Blue Angels

[Jim Puke]

Living in a small southern town normally does not allow one to experience many BIG TIME shows of any type gracing the community. I live in Vidalia Ga...and we have a sweet onion of some renown...that we celebrate the last weekend in April, each year, with the Vidalia Sweet Onion Festival. There are things going on throughout the community during this weekend, starting on Thursday night, with the opening ceremonies. We have a street dance, arts & crafts festival, rodeo and an air show. The airshow is normally the big draw as our airport has sufficient runway length to allow for large aircraft. There are many static displays of all types of aircraft, military and civilian, and we also have a real "airshow' with lots of folks displaying their skill at the controls. And, this year we have the Blue Angels again...third time in 7yrs...and boy do they ever put on a show. Also, I have been watching them practice for the past 2 days...just amazing.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

That's GREAT. Yea they fly pretty good.
Guess you missed this post of mine. Last week they were at Corpus NAS.
They do report to the Admiral that my Son works for. He knows them quite well. They are outstanding guys, just for the record.
Jim

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=222198

 

[rugerjunkie]

Saw them about 10 years ago and they are amazing! We were actually out a ways back from the main crowd and they would pass over us and turn in for the next pass over the crowd. The solo pilots got up close and personal a few times! Any closer and we could have read the name on his helmet. We were all waving and got a salute and a wing wiggle from one of them and cant describe what kind of awesome that was!

Ive also hung out several times near Nellis AFB in Vegas and watched the Thunderbirds practice. Thats as good as any show too! And cheaper than a casino!!!

 

[Dave P.]

I've seen them several times over the years.
Really liked to watch when they flew the old
F-4 Phantoms, talk about smoke and noise!
Dave

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I also saw them fly the F-4 which was probably the hardest plane to fly their routine in. It was built to be an Interceptor not a nimble fighter.
Hell I saw them when the were flying the F9F Panther Friend of mine was one of the first Blues when they were flying F6F Hellcats

 

[ruger randy]

dang it, wyandot. you are almost as old as dirt.......haha


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ruger randy

 

[Wyandot Jim]

dang it, wyandot. you are almost as old as dirt.......haha


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ruger randy

YEP
A pretty cool story about a Blue that was one of Son's Instructor Pilots.

http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?adbid=605687642865025&adbpl=fb&adbpr=126834980750296&cid=social_20150106_38289077&id=85087&issue=3&short_code=2a00u

From F6F to F18

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

For a number of years, it seemed there was some kind of connection between trap and skeet ranges and air bases here in SoCal. My old range in Redlands is "right next door" to what was then Norton AFB, a long gone range in Orange County was in the pattern for the now empty MCAS El Toro, and another more recently defunct one butted right up to that fence at the former NAS, now MAS, Miramar where we saw Tom Cruise riding his motorcyle. It was great to learn where the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds would be flying when they were here, and head to the appropriate range on Thursday or Friday to watch the guys practice. One could almost imagine it would be possible to reach up and tickle the underside of the planes as they flew right over our heads!

I can't give extra points to either team for their flying ability. In fact, I've heard the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels have flown together on occasion at the Blue Angels' winter home in the SoCal desert (NAF El Centro) and would love a chance to see that! But while I grew up in San Diego where I was introduced to the Blue Angels--my best buddy's Dad was a Naval aviator--and blue and gold were the school colors of both high schools I attended, I must admit I still like red, white and blue a little better on the planes.

That preference may have been originally influenced by a college girl friend's brother, who was on the Thunderbirds' ground crew at Nellis around 1970-71... they were flying F-4s while he was with them, and the paint scheme was new with that aircraft. It was pretty to start with, then became "perfection" in my mind when they switched to the T-38. I know the Talon broke the tradition of using fighters in the team, but like with any pretty girl, its looks allowed some forgiveness!

Thanks for bringing back a lot of fond memories, to both Jims!

Rick C

 

[RSIno1]

We were actually out a ways back from the main crowd and they would pass over us and turn in for the next pass over the crowd.

We were having a car show in Ohio and we were staying at the same hotel as the Thunderbirds. They formed up using the hotel so we got a show along with their families.

 

[Jim Puke]

Rick, I have never seen the TBirds...but I would love to. And, I agree with you, that Talon is one great looking aircraft...looks better than the Hornet, at least to me.

 

[Fox Mike]

dang it, wyandot. you are almost as old as dirt.......haha


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ruger randy

Oh dear! What does that make me? I remember seeing them flying the F6F. In the late '60s, when they flew for the Naval Academy Graduation part of their flight path was directly over my house in Eastport. F4s are NOISY!

 

[volshooter]

Seen them around 65 in Ft. Dix. They flew real close over base housing. Still impressed.