Blue Angel History

The Blue Angels is an elite team of aviators made up of Navy and Marine servicemen and women. The name was derived from the Blue Angel nightclub, a popular hot spot in New York City in the 1940s. Since their creation in 1946, the Blue Angels have dazzled an estimated 427 million people. The highest elevation flown in a show is 15,000 feet and the lowest is just 50 feet.

Creation

Chief of Navy Operations Chester W. Nimitz came up with the idea of an exhibition flying team after World War II to maintain public interest in naval aviation. The first demonstration flight took place in June 1946 at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

Aircraft

The original team flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat. In August 1946 the Blue Angels began flying the Grumman F8F Bearcat. By the end of the decade the team was flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther, their first jet. In 1951 they transitioned to the F9F-5, a newer version of the Panther. Over the next few decades the team flew the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, the Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II and the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II.

Current Plane

The team's present aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet, was introduced in 1986. It is the first fighter and attack aircraft and is currently being used in our nation's wars. It has a wingspan of more than 40 feet and can reach a top speed of 1200 mph. There are currently 12 aircraft in the team, and each one costs $21 million.

Locations

The first team flew out of Jacksonville, Florida. In 1950, the Blue Angels were needed for the Korean conflict. The team was temporarily reassigned to the USS Princeton and became part of Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191), "Satan's Kittens." From 1951 to 1954 their base was in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1954 the Blue Angels moved to Pensacola, Florida, where they are based today.

Mission

The Blue Angels officially became part of naval recruiting efforts when the group was reorganized in 1974. The Air Force's team, known as the Thunderbirds, has the same mission for that branch of the military. The two teams are not allowed to fly within 150 miles of each other to maximize recruiting efforts.

Pilots & Support Crew

To be chosen for the Blue Angels, a candidate must be a Navy or Marine Corps tactical jet pilot with at least 1250 hours of flight time. The average pilot's age is 33. Each demonstration pilot serves a 2-year term. Since 1970 the Blue Angels have traveled with a support crew of 40 military personnel from the Marine Corps. The group flies on a Lockheed-Martin C-130T Hercules, with the nickname Fat Albert. It carries everything needed to run a successful air show, including maintenance parts and communication equipment.

Finding a Show

The Department of Defense receives hundreds of requests every year for the Blue Angels to perform at an air show. Each application is reviewed by the Blue Angels Commanding Officer. The current show schedule is always posted online at the Blue Angels website.