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Formed in 1946, the Blue
Angels of the US Navy (USN) are the world's first officially
sanctioned military aerial demonstration team. The group
performs more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the
United States each year, where they still employ many of the
same practices and techniques in their aerial displays as in
1946. Their first performance was in 1956 in Toronto,
Canada. During the four-day Paris Air Show in 1965, the Blue
Angels were the only team to receive a standing ovation.
Since their inception, they have flown for more than 427
million spectators worldwide. The team has operated eight
aircraft so far, including the current 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 second half of World
War II. It was the most successful aircraft in naval
history, destroying 5,163 aircraft in service with the US
Navy and Marine Corps, and an additional 52 with the Royal
Navy's Fleet Air Arm during World War II. The Blue Angels,
known simply as the “Navy Flight Exhibition Team” back then,
flew three specially modified Hellcats during their
inaugural performance at Craig Field, Florida. On July 19,
1946, the team officially adopted the name “Blue Angels”
after a popular nightclub in New York City.
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat
(1946 - 1949)
The Bearcat was the last piston-engine carrier-based fighter
plane built by Grumman. Affectionately called “Bear”, it was
intended to be an interceptor aircraft. It is often
mentioned as one of the best handling piston-engine fighters
ever built, even outperforming many early jets.
Grumman F9F-2 Panther
(1949 - 1954)
The Panther was the most widely used USN jet fighter of the
Korean War. It flew 78,000 sorties and was responsible for
the first air kill by the Navy in the conflict. It was the
first jet aircraft flown 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 straight wing of the Panther with a
more modern swept wing.
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (1957
- 1969)
The Tiger is a single-seat carrier-based fighter aircraft,
best known for its use as a demonstration plane. Its career
as a fighter lasted only four years, but the Blue Angels
flew it for nearly ten. It was the squadron's first
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
superiority fighter and a workhorse fighter-bomber for the
US Air Force (USAF), Navy and Marine Corps during the
Vietnam War. It was the only plane to be flown by both the
“Blues” and the USAF Thunderbirds.
Douglas A-4F Skyhawk (1974
- 1986)
In December 1974, the team downsized to the more economical
subsonic Skyhawk. It was the Navy's primary light bomber in
the early years of the Vietnam War. The Skyhawk was also the
pioneer of the “buddy” self air-to-air refueling concept,
allowing aircraft to supply fuel to others of the same type
without the need for a dedicated tanker.
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18
Hornet (1986 - Present)
The Blue Angels have been using the Hornet since they
completed their 40th anniversary year and unveiled the sleek
aircraft on November 8, 1986. The power and aerodynamics of
the Hornet allow them to perform a slow high angle of attack
“tail sitting” maneuver, and to fly a loop with landing gear
down in formation, neither of which has been duplicated by
the Thunderbirds. |
