In the 1940s, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz had a vision to form a flight exhibition team showcasing the professionalism, excellence, and teamwork of the United States Navy and naval aviation. The exhibition team would boost morale, encourage aspiring pilots, and awe the American public.
On April 24, 1946, that vision came to life. Nimitz, chief of naval operations, ordered the official establishment of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron.
You may know them by a more familiar name: The Blue Angels.
Six-Plane Delta Formation
In their early years, the Blue Angels entertained the public with combat maneuvers in the F6 Hellcat, the F8 Bearcat, and the F9 Panther. In the 1950s, they refined their show to include acrobatic maneuvers in the F9 Cougar and F-11 Tiger and introduced the first six-plane delta formation, the same formation still flown today. Over the years, the Blue Angels have flown a plethora of aircraft, and this year they celebrate 78 years of captivating performances, now flying the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Six exceptional high-speed aircrafts flying in close formation, 18 inches from canopy to wing tip at times. They perform a variety of jaw-dropping maneuvers, flying just under Mach 1 at 700 miles an hour for a sneak pass, and pulling high G forces for the minimum radius turn and pitch up break maneuvers. The Blue Angels demonstration is spectacular.
160-Person Team
Yet there is far more to the show than meets the eye.
“Many people see our demonstration and probably don't know everything that goes into our team,” explains MC1(SW/AW) Cody Deccio, Blue Angels Public Affairs. “The public is familiar with the six F/A-18 demonstration pilots who perform during the airshow, but in total, the Blue Angels consists of 160 personnel, all active-duty Sailors and Marines who have served operation tours before being selected to come serve on our team. Along with the pilots, the Blue Angels team includes support officers and enlisted personnel who fulfill roles such as aircraft maintenance, medical assistance, logistics, administration, and public affairs. All of them are necessary to ensure every show runs smoothly.’
To this day, that original vision to inspire fellow Americans has been upheld by the exceptional Blue Angels team as they venture across the country, showcasing the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and the precision and power of naval aviation.
In August, the skies above the Rockies will once again be filled with the thrumming of high-powered aircraft engines as they approach the speed of sound when Blue Angels perform at Colorado Springs' very own Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on August 17th and 18th.
Websites: https://www.pprairshow.org/ and https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/show/
Facebook + Instagram: @PikesPeakAirshow