FighterControl

Hi , since their inception, the Blue Angels have performed in front of nearly 500 million fans. 2013 was supposed to have been the year when the team expected to reach the half a billion milestone. Sequestration has grounded the team for 2013. I have been fortunate to have seen the team every year since 2008, these are a few my photos (to cheer up Mr Pink), I hope you enjoy them.

2008
Cleveland Air Show (and a fantastic low level flypast)


Blue Angel #6 Low by Sonic Images, on Flickr


Blue Angel #6 Pulls Vertical by Sonic Images, on Flickr

Fat Albert and the famous JATO

164763 C-130T Hercules Fat Albert by Sonic Images, on Flickr

NAS Brunswick Air Show


162437 #6 F/A-18A Hornet by Sonic Images, on Flickr

and a night time JATO (sorry about the poor quality but what a sight and sound)

164763 C-130T Hercules Fat Albert JATO by Sonic Images, on Flickr

2009
NAS Pensacola vist (a wet day)


163130 3 F/A-18A Hornet - Blue Angel by Sonic Images, on Flickr

Tyndall AFB Air Show(the weather was dreadful)


161967 1 F/A-18A Hornet by Sonic Images, on Flickr


162826 5 F/A-18A Blue Angel by Sonic Images, on Flickr

2010
MCAS Miramar Air Show


F/A-18C Hornet Formation, Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


Welcome back.. by Sonic Images, on Flickr

2011
NAF El Centro (winter training)


FA-18C Hornets, Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr

Centennial of Naval Aviation - NAS North Island (flypast)

Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr

2012
Robins AFB Air Show

Blue Angels 2012 by Sonic Images, on Flickr


Blue Angels 2012 by Sonic Images, on Flickr

MCAS Cherry Point Air Show

163464 7 F/A-18D Hornet - Blue Angel by Sonic Images, on Flickr

Wings Over Houston Air Show

164763 C-130T Hercules Blue Angels "Fat Albert" by Sonic Images, on Flickr


162437 5 F/A-18C Hornet Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


F/A-18C Hornets Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


F/A-18C Hornets Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


F/A-18C Hornets Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


F/A-18C Hornets Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr


F/A-18C Hornets Blue Angels by Sonic Images, on Flickr

I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed taking them. Thanks for looking.

Fantastic shots - do like Fat Albert at night - very well caught!

The best display I ever seen-low level at Finningley- and I've been watching since the 50's. Great shots ,great memories and come back soon.

Awesome collection of images! I've never seen the team but they've always been near the top of my wishlist, specifically at Fleet Week. Hopefully they'll be up and running again next season!

Hi Ice

You really have excelled your good self with this superb post

I never really got beyond the first two, and kept going back to them

Simply stunning, as all the pics are

Thanks for sharing, and very best regards as always

Patrick

Thanks guys for the comments. The last few years have been very good for me although I had to travel to the USA to try to capture a bit of what I used to experience in this country 20 years ago. I'm glad I did because I was sure that an era was ending in the USA and I wanted to capture it before it was to late, I had already missed the last of the Tomcats at Oceana in 2007 (my biggest regret not getting them flying on digital) but at least I got to photograph some great aircraft before sequestration. The USA will never be the same again I fear, but lets hope the Blue Angels get the nod to begin training again next year and continue entertaining the crowds at air shows, like it should be.

At least I didn't have to make this post in the Nostalgic section.

Some cracking shots there love the night shot of Fat Albert's JATO take off.

I am just bemused that the US economy is much much better than it was 3 years ago and yet all the cuts are coming in now !