The Blue Angels or The Thunderbirds?

[Monster Dave]

The Air Force is gonna loan the Blue Angels a Smoke Angel to replace Fat Albert...



Now let's see em put that porker down on a rolling deck with a 20 knot crosswind!  

That would be something to see for sure!! Better remove the con-tower from deck first though!!

We're planning on getting out to Mirimar late this year for the air show. It's not until October, but at least it won't be so hot then!!

[YellowDuck]

I was in Boeing St. Louis last week, so I have to go with the BAs. But I love me some F-16s too.

[KnightofNi]

I love the thunderbirds overall, but i like the actual planes the blue angels use more.

[AJ]

Love the Blue Angels. First time I saw them, one buzzed the San Francisco Bay, sent up a huge jet of water behind it
If I weren't on my phone, i'd post a cool pic w cockpit view while doing their awesome moves over Alcatraz.

[slowpoke13]

Love the Blue Angels. First time I saw them, one buzzed the San Francisco Bay, sent up a huge jet of water behind it
If I weren't on my phone, i'd post a cool pic w cockpit view while doing their awesome moves over Alcatraz.

The BA used to be allowed to fly under the GGB. No longer...

[Monster Dave]

The BA used to be allowed to fly under the GGB. No longer...

I bet that would have been cool to see!

[Monster Dave]

Blue Angels - RAW COCKPIT FOOTAGE

Wow!


At 41 seconds at then at 3:05, you can really get an idea of how close are!!

What a ride that must be!! Put that strait on the top of my "If we win the lottery..." wish list!! 

[slowpoke13]

I bet that would have been cool to see!

No kidding. I've been to the top of the GGB South tower. I can only imagine if the BA were screaming under me.

[Statler]

depending on what year that cockpit footage was shot, I'm down in that gaggle of boats off Annapolis.   

[Punx Clever]

Something to remember when you watch the blues do what they do....  No G-suits.  Not sure if the thunderbirds are the same.  Either way, those guys push harder than the fleet guys, with tighter tolerances, without g-suits.  A-freaking-mazing.

[Triple J]

That cockpit footage is fantastic!  Too bad the lead pilot's cadence isn't included...that would have very cool.

[kopfjäger]

Blue Angels Awesome Take Off!!!

[Airborne]

Something to remember when you watch the blues do what they do....  No G-suits.  Not sure if the thunderbirds are the same.  Either way, those guys push harder than the fleet guys, with tighter tolerances, without g-suits.  A-freaking-mazing.

In an 18 the stick is between the legs, the g suit would inflate and cause unwanted motion translated to the stick, a problem in tight formation. (always what I heard).

The 16 has a side stick, the suit will not interfere.

Double Farvel

Blues High G

fly navy!

[Punx Clever]

In an 18 the stick is between the legs, the g suit would inflate and cause unwanted motion translated to the stick, a problem in tight formation. (always what I heard).

The 16 has a side stick, the suit will not interfere.


fly navy!

Same story I've gotten.  I suppose it also matters that the f-16 is better suited to pulling G's cause the pilot is more reclined too.

[orangelion03]

I first saw the T-Birds when they flew F-100s during a tour in South America, though I was only a year old and dont remember =)

Next time I saw them they were flying F-4Es.  About the same time I first saw the Blues flying F-4Js.  I cant begin to describe the sheer spectacle of 8 J-79s flying in close formation.  I was sorely disappointed when the teams switched to T-38s and A-4s, but I started taking a much more detailed view of HOW each team flew their respective aircraft.  The Blues just showed a little extra flair that set them apart for me.  After the tragedy of 1982 and the switch to the F-16, the Birds became even more  restricted and opened up their formation a few more feet.  The Blues kept their tight formation and fly the shit out of their Hornets.  Word has been going around for a couple of years that they might switch to the T-45 for cost reasons (Super Hornets are a tad pricey).

All that being said, I prefer the Red Arrows to the American teams, and no team on earth has the sheer panache that Italian Frecce Tricolore have.  Granted, they had their own tragedy at Ramstein, but you have to see these guys fly.  Ten aircraft in formation!  I had the pleasure of seeing them perform at Moffet Field in August of 1986  (along with the German "Vikings" demo team...a pair of F-104s!!)

FRECCE TRICOLORI 2010