Blue Angels Collection
Formed in 1946, the Blue Angels of the US Navy (USN) are the world’s aboriginal clearly accustomed aggressive aeriform affirmation team. The accumulation performs added than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States ceremony year, area they still apply abounding of the aforementioned practices and techniques in their aeriform displays as in 1946. Their aboriginal achievement was in 1956 in Toronto, Canada. During the four-day Paris Air Show in 1965, the Blue Angels were the alone aggregation to accept a continuing ovation. back their inception, they accept aureate for added than 427 actor assemblage worldwide. The aggregation has operated eight aircraft so far, including the accepted F/A-18 Hornet.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat (1946)
Descended from the F4F Wildcat, the Hellcat was one of the two primary USN carrier fighters in the added bisected of World War II. It was the best acknowledged aircraft in argosy history, antibacterial 5,163 aircraft in account with the US Navy and Marine Corps, and an added 52 with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm during World War II. The Blue Angels, accepted artlessly as the “Navy Flight Exhibition Team” aback then, flew three distinctively adapted Hellcats during their countdown achievement at Craig Field, Florida. On July 19, 1946, the aggregation clearly Adopted the name “Blue Angels” afterwards a accepted bistro in New York City.
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat (1946 – 1949)
The Bearcat was the aftermost piston-engine carrier-based fighter alike congenital by Grumman. Affectionately alleged “Bear”, it was advised to be an interceptor aircraft. It is generally mentioned as one of the best administration piston-engine fighters anytime built, alike outperforming abounding aboriginal jets.
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (1949 – 1954)
The Panther was the best broadly acclimated USN jet fighter of the Korean War. It flew 78,000 sorties and was amenable for the aboriginal air annihilate by the Navy in the conflict. It was the aboriginal jet aircraft aureate by the Blue Angels.
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (1954 – 1957)
The Cougar is a carrier-based fighter aircraft based on the Panther. It replaced the beeline addition of the Panther with a added avant-garde swept wing.
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (1957 – 1969)
The Tiger is a single-seat carrier-based fighter aircraft, best accepted for its use as a affirmation plane. Its career as a fighter lasted alone four years, but the Blue Angels flew it for about ten. It was the squadron’s aboriginal supersonic jet.
McDonnell F-4J Phantom II (1969 – 1974)
The Phantom II is a tandem-seating, supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber. It was the primary air ahead fighter and a crammer fighter-bomber for the US Air Force (USAF), Navy and Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It was the alone alike to be aureate by both the “Blues” and the USAF Thunderbirds.
Douglas A-4F Skyhawk (1974 – 1986)
In December 1974, the aggregation downsized to the added economical subsonic Skyhawk. It was the Navy’s primary ablaze adviser in the aboriginal years of the Vietnam War. The Skyhawk was additionally the avant-garde of the “buddy” cocky air-to-air refueling concept, acceptance aircraft to accumulation ammunition to others of the aforementioned blazon after the charge for a committed tanker.
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (1986 – Present)
The Blue Angels accept been application the Hornet back they completed their 40th ceremony year and apparent the glassy aircraft on November 8, 1986. The ability and Aerodynamics of the Hornet acquiesce them to accomplish a apathetic aerial bend of advance “tail sitting” maneuver, and to fly a bend with landing accessory bottomward in formation, neither of which has been bifold by the Thunderbirds.