Blue Angels and the Bridge
by Bill Gallagher
Title
Blue Angels and the Bridge
Artist
Bill Gallagher
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The qualifications to become a pilot for the Blue Angels are some of the most stringent. The "Boss" or commanding officer must have at least 3,000 hours of tactical fighter jet flight time. The commanding officer is in jet # 1.
To qualify for jet #'s 2 through 7 the officer must have 1250 hours. The demonstration pilots typically spend two years with the team. Afterwards they are released back to their normal duties.
In their 65 years of existence the Blue Angels have flown 10 different aircraft. Today the crew flies the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and they use a C130 for transport and also include the C130 in their show.
They started in 1946 with the F=8 Bearcat and the F9 Panther. The 50's introduced them to the F-11 Tiger and the 6 plane formation known as the Delta Wing that is still being flown today.
During the 1960's they were flying the F-4 Phantom. This was the one and only 2 seat airplane flown by the Blue Angels.
In 1974 the team transitioned to the A-4 Skyhawk. The Skyhawk was a smaller, lighter aircraft with a tighter turning radius. Finally in 1986 the team started flying the F/A-18 that they are still flying today.
Until recently the Blue Angels would fly every year in the San Francisco Bay Area during Fleet week. However they did not fly last year and from what I understand they wont be flying again this year due to the cut backs in the military.
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Uploaded
May 8th, 2012
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