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1. What is the
mission of the Blue Angels?
The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy recruiting, and credibly
represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation to the United States and its
Armed Forces to America and other countries as international ambassadors
of goodwill.
2. Who
authorized establishment of the Blue Angels?
The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the
establishment of the team on April 24,1946.
3. Where
did the name "Blue Angels" originate?
The name originated during a trip by the original team to New York in
1946. One of them came across the name of the city's famous Blue Angel
nightclub in New Yorker Magazine.
4. Where
was the Blue Angels' first air show?
Craig Field, Jacksonville, Florida on June 15, 1946.
5. Why
don't the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds fly together?
Current Department of Defense policy states the use of military aviation
demonstration teams is for recruiting purposes. Each demonstration team
showcases U. S. military aviation capabilities to the public separately to
maximize efforts.
The Blue Angels perform with the U. S. Army
parachute team, the Golden Knights, as do the Thunderbirds.
6. On
average, how many people view the Blue Angels each year?
An estimated 15 million spectators view the squadron during air shows each
year. Additionally, the Blue Angels visit over 50,000 people a show season
(March through November) at school and hospital visits.
7. How do
you determine where to hold an air show?
Each September the Department of Defense receives hundreds of requests to
hold air shows featuring the Navy Blue Angels. After the Department of
Defense screens requests for basic eligibility, requests are forwarded to
the Blue Angels' Commanding Officer.
The squadron officers review each air show
request, considering input from the Chief of Naval Information and Navy
Recruiting Command.
In December, the Blue Angels Events
Coordinator, along with Navy and Department of Defense officials meet at a
scheduling conference in Washington, DC for final considerations and
approval.
8. How
does someone become a Blue Angels demonstration pilot?
Navy and Marine Corps pilots meeting the basic requirements submit an
application directly to the team via the Officer Selection Officer, the
number six pilot.
Applicants visit the squadron at scheduled
show sites early in the show season to observe the team firsthand.
Finalists are selected mid-season and interviewed at the Blue Angels
squadron in Pensacola, Florida.
The new demonstration pilots are selected
by unanimous vote. The Chief of Naval Air Training selects the Flight
Leader/Commanding Officer.
9. What
are the basic requirements for becoming a Blue Angel demonstration pilot?
Each applicant must be career-oriented, carrier-qualified, active-duty
Navy or Marine Corps tactical jet pilot with a minimum of 1,350 flight
hours.
10. How
many Blue Angels demonstration pilots have there been?
Including the 2006 season, the Blue Angels have had 231 demonstration
pilots, and 31 Flight Leaders/Commanding Officers.
11. Do
the Blue Angels pilots go through Strike Fighter Wing Pacific's TOPGUN?
Some current and former Blue Angels pilots have gone through TOPGUN,
however, it is not a prerequisite.
12. What
happens if a Blue Angels demonstration pilot is ill or hurt?
Safety is paramount for every demonstration. Each pilot is responsible for
good health and safety, however, the Blue Angels Flight Surgeon will
medically down a pilot if one should become ill or injured.
Should the BOSS, Flight Leader/Commanding
Officer be grounded for medical purposes, the demonstration will be
canceled.
13. Why
don't the Blue Angels maintain a spare pilot?
With the number of practice hours required to safely fly a demonstration a
spare pilot would not be utilized. Each pilot must complete 120 training
flights during winter training in order to perform a public demonstration
safely.
The teamwork required for the high-speed,
low-altitude flying in the tight Blue Angels formation takes hundreds of
hours to develop, a substitute pilot would not get enough time in the
formation.
14. How
do the Blue Angels deal with stress?
The squadron focuses stress by exercising; weight training, cardiovascular
programs, and flexibility training; and by eating a healthy diet.
15. Why
don't the pilots wear G-suits?
G-suits are designed with air bladders (pockets) which inflate and deflate
to keep a pilots' blood from pooling in the pilots' legs while executing
sharp, unpredicted combat maneuvers. Unlike combat flying, the Blue Angels
demonstration pilots know the maneuvers they will fly prior to execution,
each pilot knows when one will be pulling gravitational forces.
Knowing and anticipating the changes in
gravitational forces allow the Blue Angels demonstration pilots to combat
the G-forces with muscle contractions. In addition, the Boeing F/A-18's
control stick is mounted so it is centered between the pilot's legs. The
Blue Angels have a spring, with 35 pounds of pressure, installed on the
control stick which gives the pilot a "false feel, " allowing
the pilot minimal room for uncommanded movement.
The pilots rest their right arms on their
thighs for support and stability while flying. The G-suits' inflating and
deflating air bladders would interrupt this support and stability, causing
uncommanded aircraft movement. Overall G-suits would detrimentally impact
flight safety.
16. How
many Blue Angels pilots made flag rank?
Thirteen former pilots have made flag rank. The flag officers include:
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RADM E. L. Feightner
(ret.), #5 - '52 |
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RADM W. A. Gureck (ret.), #2,4 -'55
-56 |
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RADM W. Lewis Chatham (ret.), #5 '52 |
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RADM Ernest Christensen (ret.), #3/4
'69-'70 |
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RADM Jim Maslowski (ret.), #3/4
'70-'71 |
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VADM Tony Less (ret.) #1 '74-'75 |
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RADM William E. Newman (ret.), #1
'78-'79 |
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RADM Dennis Wisely (ret.), #1
'80-'81 |
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RADM P. D. Moneymaker (ret.), #1
'89-'90 |
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VADM Pat Walsh, #3/4, '85-'87 |
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RADM David Anderson, #5,6,7, 85-87 |
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BGEN Mark Bircher, #2, 85-87 |
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RADM Doug " Hound Dog"
McClain, #7,3,4, 88-90 |
17. Have
any Blue Angels become astronauts?
Yes. CDR Chuck Brady, Flight Surgeon, 89-90.
18. What
is the average age of a Blue Angels pilot?
Pilots average 32 years old.
19. How
is the enlisted, support and maintenance, team selected?
Each applicant is carefully screened and selected by current team members.
20. What
is the average age of the enlisted, support and maintenance, team?
The average varies slightly, however, it is approximately 26 years old.
21. Are
the Blue Angels the "best of the best"?
The Blue Angels are representatives of the excellence and professionalism
found throughout the fleet. Each Blue Angels team member is an ambassador
and representative of their fleet counterpart.
22. How
long is a Blue Angels' tour of duty?
Demonstration pilots, Maintenance Officer, Events Coordinator, Supply
Officer and Flight Surgeon serve a two-year tour. All other members,
including the Narrator, serve a three-year tour. Each member returns to
the fleet after completing a tour with the Blue Angels.
23. How
many Marines serve in the squadron?
There are 15 Marines on the 2006 team. Eight in Fat Albert, six in
maintenance and #4.
24. How
many female Marines are on the team?
Regrettably there are no female Marines on the team. There is no
restriction prohibiting female Marines from joining the team.
25. How
many females are in the squadron?
The number of females varies each year. The 2006 team has 15 females.
26. How
do team members deal with the time away from home?
Individuals are made aware that they will be away from home a lot before
they volunteer for duty with the team and are selected based on their
ability to cope with, not only family separation, but with a strenuous
practice and show schedule.
Additionally, the Navy, Blue Angels, and
civilian communities at Pensacola and El Centro provide a family-type
support network.
27. Do
any of the Blue Angels get extra pay?
No. Each member of the squadron volunteers for duty with the Blue Angels.
Due to keen competition at all levels, each individual feels especially
honored to be associated with the team.
28. What
is considered minimum visibility for a Blue Angel performance?
To be able to perform, the Blue Angels must have at least three nautical
miles of visibility horizontally from centerpoint and a minimum cloud
ceiling of 1,500 feet.
At these minimums, the Blue Angels can
perform a limited number of maneuvers in what is called a "flat"
show.
When the ceiling is at least 3,500 feet and
visibility at least three nautical miles a "low" show can be
performed, which includes some rolling maneuvers.
With a minimum ceiling of 8,000 feet and
visibility of three nautical miles, the Blue Angels can perform their
"high" show, which includes all maneuvers.
29. What
is the lowest and highest maneuver heights performed during an air show?
This varies due to weather conditions. The highest is the vertical rolls
performed by the Opposing Solo (up to 15,000 feet) and the lowest is the
Sneak Pass (50 feet) performed by the Lead Solo.
30. What
is the most demanding maneuver performed?
All maneuvers are demanding, both mentally and physically, and reflect the
challenges met daily by fleet Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
31. What
are the fastest and slowest speeds flown during an air show?
The fastest speed is about 700 mph (just under Mach 1; sneak pass) and the
slowest speed is about 120 mph (indicated speed; Section High Alpha), both
flown by the solo pilots during the show.
32. How
many and what types of aircraft have the Blue Angels flown?
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June-August 1946 |
Grumman F6F Hellcat |
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August 1946-1949 |
Grumman F8F Bearcat |
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1949-June 1950
(Team sent to Korea, 1950-51) |
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (first jet) |
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1951-Winter 1954/55 |
Grumman F9F-5 Panther |
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Winter 1954-55-mid-season 1957 |
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar |
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mid-season 1957-1969 |
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (first
supersonic jet) |
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1969-December 1974 |
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II |
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December 1974-November 1986 |
McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II |
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November 1986-Present |
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet |
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(special thanks to Red G Graphics for the
images)
33. Why
don't the Blue Angels fly the Grumman F-14 Tomcat?
The F-14 is too large, is less fuel efficient, and more expensive than the
F/A-18, and would be difficult to fly in the close formations particular
to Blue Angel maneuvers.
34. How
many jets are in the Squadron?
The Blue Angels currently have 11 jets: numbers 1 through 6, 2 two-seat
(#7) jets and 3 spare jets.
35. What
are the major differences between the fleet model and the Blue Angel
F/A-18?
The Blue Angel F/A-18s have the nose cannon removed, a smoke-oil tank
installed and a spring installed on the stick which applies pressure for
better formation and inverted flying.
Otherwise, the aircraft that the squadron
flies are the same as those in the fleet. Each Blue Angel aircraft is
fleet capable and able to return to combat duty aboard an aircraft carrier
within 72 hours.
36. Are
Blue Angels' aircraft carrier capable?
All of the Blue Angels' jets are carrier-capable and can be made combat
ready in about 72 hours. The squadron's C-130 ("Fat Albert") is
a Marine Corps fleet aircraft manned by the squadron Marine Corps
detachment and was not designed for routine carrier operations.
37. How
do the jets get to each show site?
The jets are flown to each show site by the demonstration pilots.
38. How
much does an F/A-18 cost?
The 1997 basic acquisition price of a single F/A-18 Hornet is
approximately $28 million. The cost of additional weapons-related
equipment varies according to the configuration and use of each aircraft
can significantly increase the total price.
39. What
is the top speed and rate of climb of an F/A-18?
The F/A-18 can reach speeds just under Mach 2, almost twice the speed of
sound or about 1,400 mph. The maximum rate of climb of the F/A-18 is
30,000 feet per minute.
40. What
is the weight of an F/A-18?
An F/A-18 weighs about 24,500 pounds empty of all ordnance and aircrew.
41. Why
are the jets painted blue and gold?
The jets bear the official colors for the US Navy.
42. How
far can the F/A-18 fly on a full load of fuel or with external fuel tanks?
The F/A-18 can travel approximately 1,000 miles on a full load of fuel
without external tanks. Adding the external tanks extends the range to
approximately 1,200 miles.
43. How
much fuel does an F/A-18 Hornet use in a show?
On the average, one F/A-18 uses approximately 8,000 pounds or 1,300
gallons of JP-5 jet fuel at a cost of roughly $1,378.
44. How
much fuel is used over the course of a year, including transportation,
training, etc.?
Over a one-year period, the squadron, including Fat Albert, burns
approximately 3.1 million gallons of fuel.
45. How
do you produce the smoke and why do you use it?
The smoke is produced by pumping a biodegradable, paraffin-based oil
directly into the exhaust nozzles of the aircraft where the oil is
instantly vaporized into smoke.
The smoke provides a traceable path for
spectators to follow, so they can see the flight profile that has been
flown. It also enhances safety of flight by providing a valuable means by
which the solo pilots can see each other during opposing maneuvers and
conditions of lowered visibility or haze.
The smoke poses no hazard to the
environment.
46. Why
can't the public listen to the Pilots' conversation during the show?
Since all maneuvers are preceded by radio communication broadcasting these
radio calls or making the frequencies of their radios publicly available
could interfere with pilot communication, thereby jeopardizing safety of
flight.
47. What
are the policies/requirements governing back seat flights in the number 7
jet?
Orientation flights are given to three members of the local media at each
show site. Individuals must be accredited members of the media and are
recommended by Navy recruiters and air show sponsors, then reviewed and
approved by the Blue Angels.
A small number of VIP orientation flights
are also offered each year to individuals from television, sports, music
and the movie industry.
These individuals are selected by the Blue
Angels to generate national media coverage and convey a positive image of
the squadron and the Navy/Marine Corps.
These flights are in direct support of Navy
and Marine Corps recruiting objectives.
48. Why
is the C-130 called "Fat Albert?"
“Fat Albert” is a nickname given to the plane by Marine Corps Blue
Angel pilots in the 1970s because of its size and shape and is a reference
to the popular children’s cartoon of the same era.
49. What
does "JATO" stand for?
"JATO" means Jet Assisted Take Off and is used by the
Lockheed-Martin C-130 to clear short runways and gain high altitude in a
short period of time such as might be necessary in combat situations.
50. How
much fuel does Fat Albert hold?
Fat Albert holds 46,000 pounds of fuel.
51. What
is the normal cruising speed and shaft horse power per motor of Fat
Albert?
Fat Albert's cruising speed is 300 mph and shaft horse power is about
4,500 per engine.
52. What
is the maximum takeoff weight of Fat Albert?
155,000 pounds.
53. What
is the distance under Fat Albert's propellers to the ground?
Approximately six feet.
54. How
many crew members are assigned to fly Fat Albert, and what are their
positions?
Eight, 3 pilots, 2 flight engineers, a navigator, a flight mechanic, and a
loadmaster.
55. How
long has the team had the C-130?
Since 1970.
56. Have
the Blue Angels ever performed overseas?
Yes. Throughout the years, the Blue Angels have had a limited opportunity
to perform overseas.
The most recent was in 1992 when the team
completed a European tour performing in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Bulgaria,
Italy, the United Kingdom, Romania, Spain and Germany.
57. Is it
possible to schedule a tour of the Blues home base?
Unfortunately, not. Due to the hectic show and maintenance schedules, it
is extremely difficult to schedule tours or photographic opportunities.
People who desire to see the Blue Angels
between shows are encouraged to view a practice demonstration usually held
Tuesday mornings, weather permitting.
58. How
can fans obtain a VIP pass for a show?
Blue Angel reserved seating at an air show is extremely limited and
reserved strictly for family and friends of current team members.
Some air show sites reserve alternate
seating areas for a nominal fee. Interested individuals should contact the
local air show coordinator for additional information.
59. What
is the difference between a Blue Angel Hornet and the new F/A-18 E/F Super
Hornet?
The new Super Hornet is 25% larger, can fly 40% further, remain on station
80% longer and carry more weapons than its predecessors.
The Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F models are
scheduled to deploy with battle groups beginning January 2001.
This aircraft is the Navy's newest
acquisition and its advanced technology will be used to carry the fleet
into the 21st century.
60. Will
the Blue Angels fly the Super Hornet?
The decision to transition to the Super Hornet has yet to be determined.
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