My kids were raised seeing the Blues, as well as the Thunderbirds, back in the '90s; when the air shows were really outstanding. And since we lived in Southern California at the time, the kids have been to Miramar, Edwards, El Toro, March, Norton... yeah, good times. Just about the only worthwhile thing the .gov ever did for the family, good show and free admission.
My nephew was a mechanic for the Blue's. Those pilots are pulling 5-8g's without a G suit on, they just train their muscles to keep blood flowing. That close a sudden movement from a G suit and they would all be angels.
When I was at Millington for "A" school in '88, they came through there all the time. A few times, my uncle was coming through in his rig. He'd pick me up so I could spend a weekend in Henry County; if the Angels were practicing he'd pull the rig to the side of the road, & we'd sit atop the cab and watch them. --Tennessee Budd
Back in the 60's, I was stationed at NAS Argentia NFLD. One day the Canadian Air Force Demonstration team landed to refuel and rest on their way back from England where they had done a show. The next morning they put on a short show for the base in thanks for the accommodations. There was one segment where they flew out over the water about a mile or so then came screaming back in over the runway about 20 feet off the deck. About halfway down the runway, they pointed the planes skyward, went to almost full military power and it was like they disappeared into the sky. Truly impressive. A bunch of us were standing on top of the hanger where our unit was based watching and when they pulled that maneuver we all looked at each other with a "Holy Shit" expression. Sadly, I don't recall what they were flying.
I had the privilege of seeing the Blue Angels perform in a former Warsaw Pact country back in the mid-90's. We had a great viewing location just off the end of the taxiway - close enough to have the table umbrella's get blown over after a very low pass that would have caused an FAA bureaucrat to shit his pants. Those guys really put on a show.
My wife and I were staying in a hotel, 2014, top floor, maybe 15 stories, right on the beach outside Pensacola. The beach area starts filling in with lots of people. We were out on our deck wondering what was going on. All of a sudden, here come the Blue Angels on final approach about 200 feet off the water right in front of us. The people on the beach went crazy cheering. It was spectacular.
When the airshow is held at Downtown Airport in Kansas City, both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds (depending on which is booked) make several of their low loitering turns right over my house, often low enough to see the pilot.
I grew up going to the airshow each year at Amarillo AFB before it was closed. There were several times that a jet would break the sound barrier back then. This was before they were banned from doing so by the FAA.
During normal operation, it was not unusual for the B-52s stationed there to pass over our house at low level. They would rattle the windows if they were real low. No air show needed.
#10 - IMHO that is a good definition of "insanity"!!! Or maybe it's simply bravery and skill.
ReplyDeleteHere's another view of that insanely close formation.
Deletehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Blueangelsformationpd.jpg
I just hope no one slips so they become real angels...
My kids were raised seeing the Blues, as well as the Thunderbirds, back in the '90s; when the air shows were really outstanding. And since we lived in Southern California at the time, the kids have been to Miramar, Edwards, El Toro, March, Norton... yeah, good times. Just about the only worthwhile thing the .gov ever did for the family, good show and free admission.
DeleteThe Blues are a demonstration team specifically for airshows. Airshows are venues for demonstrations of skills.
DeleteYou need to go watch the Blue Angels. If you haven't seen them perform, you need to go.
If you have seen them before, you need to go.
I first saw them when they flew F-4s. Most recently, I saw them in 2016.
I know their routine yet am still surprised and amazed.
My nephew was a mechanic for the Blue's. Those pilots are pulling 5-8g's without a G suit on, they just train their muscles to keep blood flowing. That close a sudden movement from a G suit and they would all be angels.
DeleteWhen I was at Millington for "A" school in '88, they came through there all the time. A few times, my uncle was coming through in his rig. He'd pick me up so I could spend a weekend in Henry County; if the Angels were practicing he'd pull the rig to the side of the road, & we'd sit atop the cab and watch them.
Delete--Tennessee Budd
Back in the 60's, I was stationed at NAS Argentia NFLD. One day the Canadian Air Force Demonstration team landed to refuel and rest on their way back from England where they had done a show. The next morning they put on a short show for the base in thanks for the accommodations. There was one segment where they flew out over the water about a mile or so then came screaming back in over the runway about 20 feet off the deck. About halfway down the runway, they pointed the planes skyward, went to almost full military power and it was like they disappeared into the sky. Truly impressive. A bunch of us were standing on top of the hanger where our unit was based watching and when they pulled that maneuver we all looked at each other with a "Holy Shit" expression. Sadly, I don't recall what they were flying.
DeleteNemo
Gif 1) I used to load lumber into cans like that when I was a kid. I always wondered how much fun they had trying to get that thing unloaded.
ReplyDeleteThat was my thought. How do they get them out?
DeleteTilt table, gravity off load.
DeleteUnload? I'm still watching them load it.
Delete# 9 has dirty knees , must have been praying ?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but I would't deep kiss her!
DeleteMight last more than thirty days, though.
DeleteThat's a long truck, I counted over sixty 20 foot loads.....
ReplyDeleteHahahaha!
DeleteThose weren't twenty footers. Probably eight, maybe ten foot.
DeleteEvil Franklin
I had the privilege of seeing the Blue Angels perform in a former Warsaw Pact country back in the mid-90's. We had a great viewing location just off the end of the taxiway - close enough to have the table umbrella's get blown over after a very low pass that would have caused an FAA bureaucrat to shit his pants. Those guys really put on a show.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen them fly the F-4......
DeleteI think they put on their best shows when they were flying the A-4's. Almost never out of view of the audience.
Delete#7: Wait until its finished, then set it on fire.
ReplyDelete#10: Way too noisy for my liking. Having to be close to airdales to pluck them out of the drink seeing this vid brings back all that noise.
ReplyDeleteI see the Blue Angels all the time since their summer home is in Pensacola just south of me.
ReplyDeleteIt never gets old.
The Albanian Air Force in exile. I think they are gone now but a great encore to the Thunderbirds.
DeleteMy wife and I were staying in a hotel, 2014, top floor, maybe 15 stories, right on the beach outside Pensacola. The beach area starts filling in with lots of people. We were out on our deck wondering what was going on. All of a sudden, here come the Blue Angels on final approach about 200 feet off the water right in front of us. The people on the beach went crazy cheering. It was spectacular.
ReplyDelete#8 What the heck is he doing? Working on an A/C unit? Insane.
ReplyDeleteRichard in Colorado
He's hiding from a jealous husband. If you look close, you can see him in the window.
DeleteWhen the airshow is held at Downtown Airport in Kansas City, both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds (depending on which is booked) make several of their low loitering turns right over my house, often low enough to see the pilot.
ReplyDeleteI grew up going to the airshow each year at Amarillo AFB before it was closed. There were several times that a jet would break the sound barrier back then. This was before they were banned from doing so by the FAA.
During normal operation, it was not unusual for the B-52s stationed there to pass over our house at low level. They would rattle the windows if they were real low. No air show needed.
5 - those are empty and he's stealing them for the scrap value
ReplyDeleteThere are no old bold pilots
ReplyDeleteI Fu@king hate monkeys!
ReplyDelete