Blue Angels
| Blue Angels | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Country: |
 United States
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| Currently used aircraft type: | McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 |
| Sponsor: | United States Navy |
| Base airfield: | Naval Air Station Pensacola |
| Airfield in winter: | Naval Air Facility El Centro |
| Founding: | April 24, 1946 |
| Colours: |
Blue Angel Blue , Insignia Yellow |
| Weblink: | www.blueangels.navy.mil |
The Blue Angels ( English for Blue Angels ) are a aerobatic team of the US Navy , which included members of the States United Marine Corps belong. The Blue Angels were founded in 1946 and perform in front of over 10 million viewers every year. As of 2016, you are flying six McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 Hornet fighter jets . Four of the Angels stay together in different formations during the flight show, while the other two fly single maneuvers as solos .
The Blues are based at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida and report to Naval Air Training Command , the command center of the US Navy responsible for training pilots.
Another aerobatic team of the US armed forces are the Thunderbirds , which are part of the Air Force .
history
founding
After the end of the Second World War , the story of the Blue Angels began , which when they were founded was simply called the Navy Flight Exhibition Team (German: the Navy Flight Demonstration Team ). On April 24, 1946, the then Chief of Naval Operations , Admiral Chester Nimitz , issued instructions to establish an aerobatic team. In addition to strengthening the morale of the members of the US Navy, it was primarily to media attention for naval aviation , which differs from the next budget cuts with the competition by more and more United States Army solved United States Army Air Forces had to fight. That same month, was Lieutenant Commander Roy Marlin Voris, a Weltkriegs- ace selected to pilot for the new season to recruit. He selected two more pilots who were initially stationed at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville , Florida and who practiced over the Everglades over the next few months .
In June 1946, the three of them flew their first demonstration on the Grumman F6F Hellcat at the Southeastern Air Show in Jacksonville. The show was around 17 minutes long at the time and only consisted of a few formation flights. In the weeks that followed, the squadron flew to several locations in the United States. During a stay in New York , the name Blue Angels was made the official season name. It is derived from a nightclub of the same name in this city.
In August, the Angels switched to the Grumman F8F Bearcat , and the following year the team increased to four, and later to five pilots. On May 30, Voris left the Angels , who held air shows across the United States for the following years. In 1948 the team moved to the naval air base in Corpus Christi , Texas .
Dissolution and resuscitation
From the beginning of 1950, the Blues first flew a model aircraft with jet propulsion, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther . At the end of the year the squadron was relocated again, now back to Florida, to Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton . The Blue Angels only stayed there until mid-1950. During the Korean War , the Navy urgently needed good pilots, so the Angels were withdrawn from their aerobatic team and it was disbanded. The pilots were prepared for the front line deployment in California at Moffett Field Naval Air Station near Mountain View . At the beginning of November the pilots reported on the USS Princeton (CV-37) , where they formed the core of the squadron "VF-191 Satan's Kittens ".
On October 25, 1951, the Blue Angels were officially re-established and relocated back to the Naval Air Base in Corpus Christi. The new season again presented Lt. Cdr. Voris together, who also became their commander again. The unit also switched to the improved Grumman F9F-5 Panther . In June 1952, the first air show followed at the Mid-South Naval Festival in Memphis , Tennessee . In 1955 the squadron switched to the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar . In addition, the Blue Angels were relocated to Florida again, since then they have had their home airfield in Pensacola .
First appearances abroad
In 1956 the squadron was upgraded to its current size of six aircraft, and in September of the same year the squadron made its first international appearance with a demonstration in Toronto , Canada. In the following years, the Blue Angels first switched to the Grumman F11F Tiger in 1957 , which was a flop in actual service in the Navy and only flew until 1961, but remained in service with the Angels until 1969. In 1963 the Blue Angels flew their 1000th performance over Pocatello , Idaho .
During the years on the Tiger , further appearances followed in Canada, but also for the first time in Bermuda in 1959 , then in Mexico in 1964, where an estimated 1.5 million viewers saw the Blue Angels at the Aeronaves de Mexico Anniversary Air Show . In 1965, after a tour of the Caribbean , the "Angels" also flew their first shows in Europe, where they were a highlight of the Paris Air Show . After the appearances in 1965 were more north-western Europe, in addition to France also England, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Iceland, the season in 1967 flew mainly in southern Europe, Italy and Turkey and for the first time on the African continent in Tunisia.
Enlargement of the season
In 1970 the squadron switched to the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II , for the first time on an aircraft that was not manufactured by the Grumman Aerospace Corporation . The program was expanded to include many maneuvers, some of which are still in the program today. In the same year, the Blue Angels also flew in South America for the first time. Your show in Quito , Ecuador was the first appearance on such a high-altitude airfield and was particularly demanding due to the lower air pressure. In the following year, the 'Blues' flew first demonstrations in the Far East, for example in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam . In 1972 there was another European tour that included England, France, Spain, Turkey, Italy and Greece as well as a show in Tehran , Iran. After just five years, the huge, double-sonic Phantom was put back in the hangar, and the Angels switched to the smaller, more agile Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II .
In 1974 the Navy Flight Demonstration Team also became the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron , which allowed the Angels to lead a larger staff. The previous team leader has now officially become the commanding officer of the squadron. This also made the squadron's mission focus more on recruiting new naval aviators.
On July 4, 1976, the Blue Angels flew a choreography with the Canadian Forces Air Command aerobatic team , the Snowbirds, at the Naval Air Base in Willow Grove , Pennsylvania, for the bicentenary of United States independence . The squadron stayed on the Skyhawk and also on and over the area of North America for the following years .
Time on the Hornet
After more than ten years on the Skyhawk , for the 1987 flying season, the aerobatics switched to the McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 Hornet . They made further appearances on the American continent until 1992, and for the first time in 19 years the Blue Angels made another trip overseas. The Angels showed their show for the first time in the former Eastern Bloc, flew in Russia and Bulgaria. In Germany, too, the squadron stopped on its way west, but a flight demonstration was not planned according to the strict safety regulations in force there after the Ramstein air conference in 1988.
In 1993 the commanding officer of the squadron Robert E. Stumpf was replaced. Stumpf, who represented the season at the Tailhook Symposium in 1991 , got caught up in the so-called “ Tailhook scandal ”.
In 1998 the Blue Jets landed on an aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for the first time . The Blue Angels made their last trip to Europe in 2006, the year of their 60th anniversary, when they gave a demonstration in the Netherlands.
Planes
Aerobatic planes
An overview of the aircraft flown:
| From | To | plane | particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1946 | August 1946 | Grumman F6F Hellcat | |
| August 1946 | Late 1949 | Grumman F8F Bearcat | |
| Early 1950 | Late 1954 | Grumman F9F-2 and F9F-5 Panthers | first jet |
| Early 1955 | Mid-1957 | Grumman F9F-8 Cougar | improved panthers with swept wings |
| Mid-1957 | Late 1969 | Grumman F11F-1 Tiger | first supersonic aircraft |
| Early 1970 | Late 1974 | McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II | largest aircraft |
| Early 1975 | Late 1986 | McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II | |
| November 1986 | current | McDonnell Douglas F / A-18A and B Hornet | Service record, 28 years of service (status: 2014) |
The squadron has twelve jets, ten of which are single-seat F / A-18A used on the show and two two-seated F / A-18B used for VIP flights.
All jets are only slightly changed for use in the squadron: In addition to the expansion of the M61 Vulcan machine cannon to make space for a paraffin oil tank , the function of the control stick has been improved in order to optimize control during overhead flight. The paraffin oil is used to create a noticeable trail of smoke behind the aircraft. For this purpose, the paraffin oil is injected into the running engines. This makes it easier for the spectators to follow the flight paths and increases the safety for the pilots, who can better recognize the position of an approaching aircraft.
Each of the aircraft still has the catch hook for landing on aircraft carriers and is otherwise generally suitable for combat. After minor modifications and a new paint job, each jet could be used in combat within 72 hours. It is planned that the Blue Angels will move from the F / A-18A and -B versions to 9 Boeing F / A-18 E and 2 F / A-18F, i.e. from the Hornet to the Superhornet, in the period from 2021 to 2022 , switch.
Transport aircraft
The Blue Angels also maintain a transport aircraft to transport the ground crew and spare parts to the air shows . From the establishment of the squadron, this was a Douglas C-54 Skymaster , which was replaced in 1968 by a Lockheed C-121 Constellation . At the end of 1970, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the transport aircraft still used today, was handed over to the squadron. It should be noted that the aircraft does not officially belong to the US Navy, but to the Marine Corps.
The C-130, nicknamed Fat Albert (after Bill Cosby 's cartoon series of the same name), is taking part in the show today, for which JATO missiles were attached to it until mid-November 2009 . These jet-assisted take-off missiles allowed the aircraft to take off on runways that only need to be around 800 meters long. The Fat Albert took off after less than 500 meters and reached a height of over 300 meters within a very short time. Since the JATO rockets used are no longer produced, the JATO launches of the Fat Albert had to be deleted from the flight program at the end of the 2009 season. According to its own statements, the US Navy is already working on a replacement for the spectacular JATO launches.
Painting
The Blue Angels aircraft are painted in the official colors of the US Navy; they are primed blue with gold markings. The words "US Navy" are emblazoned under both wings, on the sides you can read "Blue Angels" under the cockpit, as well as the insignia of the squadron. When the season was founded, all golden paintwork was decorated with real gold leaf . The vertical stabilizer shows the number of the aircraft within the squadron.
The Fat Albert is primed blue and white with gold markings and bears the words "United States Marines". The coat of arms is emblazoned here on the vertical stabilizer.
The coat of arms in its current form is divided diagonally, blue at the top right, gold at the bottom left. In the blue part, four aircraft silhouettes in the form of the F-18 can be seen on a white background; earlier coats of arms here bore the outline of the current aircraft. The coat of arms of the Naval Air Training Command is incorporated in the golden part .
staff
Pilots
Every Blue Angels pilot is a member of the US Navy or US Marine Corps. Any officer who is qualified for carrier landings can apply to the Angels . The basic requirement is "career orientation". For the pilots on planes two to seven, at least 1250 flight hours on jets are required. The allocation of these positions to applicants takes place via election by the remaining pilots, which must be unanimous. A period of service with the Angels lasts two years and is not paid extra. The pilot of number one, i.e. the commanding officer, on the other hand, is nominated by the Chief of Naval Air Training , which requires over 3000 hours of flight experience and command of a jet squadron. The squadron's transport aircraft is generally only flown by marines, while three officers and five ranks are used on the Fat Albert . Both pilots must be qualified as aircraft commander and have at least 1200 flight hours.
So far 232 pilots have flown with the Blue Angels , the average age was 33 years. 25 pilots have been killed in accidents with the Blues so far. The last fatal crash occurred on June 2, 2016, when the number six crashed at an air show in Smyrna for reasons that have not yet been clarified. The pilot Captain Jeff Kuss was killed. There is no substitute pilot for flying members of the squadron who are sick because he or she might not get enough opportunity to train with the crew. In the event of illness, one position of the relay remains empty, only if number one fails, the whole relay remains on the ground.
In contrast to fighter pilots, pilots do not wear an anti-g-suit , which prevents the blood from sinking into the legs and abdomen even with high G values . Such pants "flutter" so much when inflated that they give off small blows on the control stick , which is located between the pilot's legs. Instead, the Angels train their abs accordingly.
Ground crew
In addition to the nine flying officers, seven more are on the ground. These include those responsible for public affairs , replenishment, administration, coordination and maintenance, a commentator who announces the squadron's maneuvers to the audience, and a flight doctor . The officers have been with the Blue Angels for two and three years .
In addition, around 110 crew ranks work for the Blue Angels , of which around 45 accompany the squadron to an air show. The teams are proposed to the fleet by their superiors and can then face the Blue Angels selection process , which consists of discussions with the officer of the respective department. You stay with the relay for three years.
The average age is 26 years. In contrast to the pilots, who previously only flew women in the Fat Albert , female officers and men have been deployed on the ground since 1968. In 2007, 15 squadron members were female.
show
Preparations
The Angels' flying season runs from March to November. During this time, the squadron flies around 70 air shows at around 35 events each year. In addition to the air shows, which are now watched live by up to 15 million people every year, there are also social events for the pilots. The pilots visit around 50,000 children in hospitals and schools each year. From the beginning of December to the beginning of March, the pilots stay for winter training at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro , California. Each pilot has to complete 120 flights.
In September each year, the organizers of air shows can apply to the Department of Defense (DoD) for a performance by the Blue Angels for the next season. This happens regularly hundreds of times. The DoD then makes a pre-selection, sorts out too small events or unsuitable airfields. In addition to these criteria, it must also be ensured that the aerobatic team of the United States Air Force , the Thunderbirds , and the Blue Angels do not both appear within a radius of 150 kilometers in order not to create competition between the teams and thus undermine the recruiting task. The remaining applications are passed on to the commander of the Blue Angels , who then works with the squadron to create a travel plan that is announced each year at the beginning of December.
procedure
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While the escort crew flies to an event with the Fat Albert , the jets are steered there by the pilots themselves.
The air show itself always runs according to a firmly planned but weather-dependent pattern. There must be a horizontal visibility of at least three nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) from the center of the airfield. A cloud base of at least 8,000 feet (around 2.5 kilometers) is also required for the full program. Reduced programs require 3500 feet (around 1 kilometer) or, as an absolute minimum, 1500 feet (around 500 meters). In addition, participation is Fat Albert possible. If the transport aircraft takes part, it is the starter of the show, takes off with JATO support, flies a train over the airfield and touches down again.
The Hornets start only then divided into two groups. The four fighter planes taking off first form a diamond formation, the other two are the solos . These two groups fly their maneuvers alternately. The show begins with a flyover of the Diamonds in an extremely close formation, as it is flown by no other aerobatic team. The wingtip and cockpit canopy of two aircraft are only 18 inches (45 centimeters) apart. The first maneuver of the solos is the so-called opposing knife-edge pass ; the two planes fly directly towards each other at low altitude, only to pass each other at a distance of just a few meters. This is followed by several types of rolls and loops . With the Sneak Pass , a solo then reaches the highest speed of the show, almost 700 knots, just below the speed of sound , at just 50 feet (15 meters, the lowest height of the show) above the runway . A short time later, the Solos finally reached the lowest speed of just 125 knots (230 kilometers per hour). In Section High-Alpha Pass , the noses of the Hornets point 45 ° into the sky, while the planes “balance on their tails”. All six Angels then fly together for the first time in a role in the Delta formation, before the Diamonds fly the “ Fleur-de-Lis ”, the “signature” of the formation. After the six planes have scattered in all directions, they turn back to the center of the airfield, which they fly over at the same time, staggered in height. After another flight over the place in the delta, the Angels break away one by one and fly in to land.
There is also a supporting program at the events, for example a two-seater F / A-18B is available on the ground, and a squadron pilot is available to answer questions from the audience. In addition, some local media representatives have the opportunity to watch a reduced program in the back seat.
literature
- Robert K. Wilcox: First Blue: The Story of World War II Ace Butch Voris and the Creation of the Blue Angels . Thomas Dunne Books, New York City 2004, ISBN 978-0-312-32249-6
- Nicholas A. Veronico: Blue Angels: 50 Years of Precision Flight . Motorbooks International, St. Paul, Minnesota 1996, ISBN 978-0-7603-0138-8
- Nicholas A. Veronico: The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History: Sixty Years of Aerial Excellence . Motorbooks International, St. Paul, Minnesota 2005, ISBN 978-0-7603-2216-1
- Luigino Caliaro: acrobats of the air. The aerobatic teams in the world . Krone Verlag, Lünen 2006, ISBN 978-1-4054-7905-9
- Manfred Leihse, ARTISTS IN THE SKY , the history of the aerobatic teams from 1921 to today. Motorbuchverlag 1973, ISBN 3-87943-283-X (pages 139-143)
Movie
In the IMAX film The Magic of Flight , in addition to the development of aviation, impressive flight scenes by the Blue Angels are the main component. There is also a DVD version of this film in English.
Web links
- Official Homepage (Engl.)
- Private side over the Blue Angels (Engl.)
- Video recordings of the show in RealMedia format
Individual evidence
- ^ Robert K. Wilcox 2004, page 3
- ↑ Interview with stocking on pbs.org (Engl.)
- ↑ a b c d Official FAQ section of the Blue Angels ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF)
- ↑ Les Blue Angels on Super Hornet!
- ↑ International Council of Air Shows: Fat Albert JATO Launches to End this Season. Retrieved December 7, 2009 .
- ↑ "Nov. 14 is final JATO for popular Fat Albert" ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , navytimes.com, October 31, 2009
- ↑ Nicholas A. Veronico 1996, p. 14
- ↑ Internet Movie Database: The Magic of Flight (Engl.)
