The American Tradition Of The Military Flyover

U.S. Naval Institute: Praise from Above: The American Tradition of the Military Flyover

The Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds aerial performance teams undertook an impressive joint flyover program in April, honoring frontline workers and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combined with National Guard flyovers, more than 100 sorties stretched across the United States in more than 40 states, soaring above communities that are not often treated to these displays of military technology and aerial precision. This new exposure to a 100-year-old tradition raised questions of how flyovers began, why they continue, and what a flyover symbolizes today.

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WNU Editor: This is a tradition that I hope continues for a long time.

US Navy Blue Angels Conduct A Flyover Of The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (Video)

Business Insider: Watch the flyover of a US Navy aircraft carrier from inside the cockpit of a Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet

* The US Navy Blue Angels conducted a flyover of the ships of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group in the Atlantic on Wednesday.
* Videos posted by the US military offer views of the flyover from inside the cockpits of the Blue Angels F/A-18C/D Hornets.
* The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was expected to return home last month, but it has been kept at sea due to coronavirus concerns, especially after a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt upended the ship's Pacific deployment.

The Blue Angels performed a high-flying salute to the sailors aboard the various ships of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group currently underway in the Atlantic on Wednesday.

On Thursday, two cockpit videos were released from the flyover, giving viewers the ability to ride along with the demonstration team's F/A-18 Hornets as they flew over the aircraft carrier and its escort ships.

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WNU Editor: These videos never get old.

Blue Angels And Thunderbirds Conoduct Flyovers To Honor Coronavirus Responders

NBC: Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyovers honor coronavirus responders

"An amazing display of gratitude and patriotism from the best pilots on earth," said the head of University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. "Thank you."

The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds gave a loud salute Tuesday to health care workers and others on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus with flyovers planned in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The event began at about noon in Newark, New Jersey, and New York City, the Thunderbirds said in a press release. The demonstration squadrons then headed to Trenton, New Jersey, for a 10-minute show that began at 1:45 p.m.

The final stop was in Philadelphia at 2 p.m.

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Update #1: Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over the skies in salute to frontline workers. See the photos. (USA Today)
Update #2: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds pay tribute to first responders in NYC flyover (Military Times/AP)

WNU Editor: Impressive.

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels To Team Up To Fly Over Multiple Cities As A Show Of Solidarity For Health Care Workers

Military.com: Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Team Up for Dramatic Salute to Coronavirus Responders

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels demonstration teams are set to fly over multiple cities as a show of solidarity for health care workers on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the "air shows" -- part of Operation America Strong -- are meant to pay tribute to the medical communities "confronting COVID."

"And it's really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak," Trump said during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House.

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WNU Editor: Not everyone is happy with this fly-overs .... Trump says military's Blue Angels, Thunderbirds will perform over cities. Not all are thrilled (USA Today).

US Navy Blue Angels Formation Flying During A Sunset Over A Florida Beach

US Navy Blue Angels formation flying during sunset over Florida Beach 🏖 pic.twitter.com/678EDIP4wB

— Fighter-pictures (@fighterpics) April 21, 2019

WNU Editor: You do not see that everyday.

Blue Angels To Get 18 Early Production Super Hornets

The U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, perform during the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Schumaker

Warzone/The Drive: Blue Angels To Get 18 Early Production Super Hornets And Revised Routine For 2021 Season

The Blue Angels' Super Hornet routine will be shorter and its maneuvers modified to reduce airframe fatigue and increase safety.

The Navy is hard at work preparing the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, aka The Blue Angels, to transition from legacy F/A-18 Hornets to Super Hornets. With a new mount comes a lot of work and planning, as well as some significant changes to the Blue Angels iconic routine and to the 'new' aircraft themselves.

The transition, which will occur between the end of a shortened 2020 season and the beginning of a shortened 2021 season, will include providing the team with a whopping 18 Super Hornets. All of these jets will be low-rate initial production (LRIP) units—among the oldest around—that are not equipped for front line combat and are presently either in storage or being used as trainers or test airframes.

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WNU Editor: This is quite an upgrade.

Blue Angels To Get New Super Hornets By The End Of 2021

Warzone/The Drive: It's Official! Blue Angels To Receive Full Squadron Of Super Hornets By End Of 2021

Blue Angels will be relinquishing their Legacy Hornets for Super Hornets in the not so distant future according to DoD contract announcement.

Well, it's actually happening. The Navy's Flight Demonstration Team, better known as the Blue Angels, is set to be fully equipped with Super Hornets by the end of 2021. The news was released with little fanfare via the daily contract announcements posted on the DoD's website, but it is very exciting news for the team and its huge global fanbase.

The contract includes the procurement of 11 kits that are based on a recent engineering study that will allow 9 F/A-18Es and 2 F/A-18Fs to be modified to suit the team's unique needs. This includes the removal of certain items, such as the jet's nose-mounted M61A2 cannon, and the installation of others, including air show smoke systems that help onlookers trace the team's path through the sky. Other modifications include a heavy spring in the control column that provides constant forward force. This helps the Blue Angel pilots pull off their especially tight formation aerobatics. There are some avionics modifications as well and, of course, the iconic blue and gold paint job.

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Update #1: U.S. Navy Blue Angels to Get Super Hornets By The End of 2021 (Aviationist)
Update #2: The Blue Angels Are Getting 'New' Jets (Popular Mechanics)

WNU Editor: No F-35s?

This Blue Angels Cockpit Video Is Amazing

We Are The Mighty: This Blue Angels cockpit video is terrifying and amazing

This cockpit video footage of Blue Angel 4 in the "slot" position shows F/A-18 Hornets flying INCHES from each other — even as they do advanced aerial acrobatics.

Oh, and it's a 360 degree video, so you can get the full picture of what these maneuvers are like (minus the 8's pulled during the demonstration).

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels showcase the pride and badassery of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Each year, they perform more than 50 flight demonstrations at more than 25 air show sites.

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Blue Angels Flying Just Inches Apart (Video)

GO GRAB SOME DREAMS! @USNavy @BlueAngels are kicking off the 2018 season today at KNJK! RRRRREADY BREAK!!!
Have fun @tylermdavies @blueangel6bh @BlueAngelDoc and the team! #blueangels #BAFans #SaturdayMorning pic.twitter.com/jGVHdTo1Pm

— Match (@matchproductns) March 10, 2018

The Warzone/The Drive: This Cockpit Video Of The Blue Angels Flying Just Inches Apart In Formation Is Nuts

With the 2018 season having just kicked off at NAF El Centro this weekend, this crazy video is a refresher on the amazing flying the team pulls off.

The Blue Angels 2018 show season officially begun on Saturday with the team's kickoff display at their winter training ground in El Centro, California. The air show at the relatively remote naval aviation training facility is one of the best in the country and it's a staple rite of passage event for the Navy's Flight Demonstration team. And every so often we get some footage of the team in action that reminds us just how seemingly super natural their flying abilities flying are.

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WNU Editor: That is way too close.

Video Tribute To A Fallen Blue Angel

Popular Mechanics: Air Show Photographers Made This Video Tribute to a Fallen Blue Angel

​Two professional photographers honor Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss.​

On June 2, Marine Capt. and Blue Angels pilot Jeff Kuss lost his life in a crash during practice for an air show. Just minutes before he had been in the air for a photo shoot with his teammate, Navy Lt. Ryan Chamberlain, air show performer Sean Tucker, and professional aviation and spaceflight photographer, Mike Killian.

"It was a great day that went really bad, really fast," Killian says. Now he and another aviation photographers have compiled their imagery of riding with Capt. Kuss, into a new video tribute to the aviator.

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Blue Angels At The Super Bowl

#BlueAngelsFly over #SB50! #BA70Years #America pic.twitter.com/mcjlBqBUXN

— Blue Angels (@BlueAngels) February 8, 2016

Terrifying Video Shows How Tight A Blue Angels Formation Is

Daily Mail: No room for manoeuvre: Heart-stopping footage shows US Navy Blue Angels pilots flying mere INCHES from each other as they swoop over the sea

* Cockpit video posted to social media shows the jets swooping over water
* The footage has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook
* Camera pans around the cockpit as the jets fly in an amazing formation

This heart-stopping footage shows just how daring Blue Angels pilots really are.

A cockpit video posted to social media shows the US Navy stunt pilots flying in formation mere inches away from each other.

At these distances a twitch on the controls at the wrong time could mean disaster.

WNU Editor: That is very very very close.

Blue Angels Did A Fly-Over The Pentagon This Weekend

AP: Blue Angels flew over the Pentagon, DC area

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Blue Angels flew over the Pentagon and the Washington area on Sunday as part of a team photo shoot.

U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron was in the region for Sunday's shoot, which was scheduled between approximately 6:15 and 6:45 p.m.

The Blue Angels flew the squadron's six-jet F/A-18 Hornet Delta Formation. In a statement, the team said it would be making multiple passes from east to west over Ronald Reagan International Airport. The team flew all around the city from north to south between photo runs. A seventh jet flew alongside as a photo platform.

WNU editor: I am looking forward to the pictures and video when they are released.

Former Blue Angels Commander Disciplined For Permitting A Culture Of Porn, Homophobia And Harassment

Blue Angels Dived Into Porn, Homophobia And Harassment, Study Says -- CNN

(CNN) -- One of the nation's most prestigious teams of flying aerobats dive-bombed into the depths of sexual harassment and stayed there for at least a year, a new Navy study says.

Under the command of Capt. Gregory McWherter, members of the Blue Angels openly passed around pornography and flew with it in their cockpits during airshows. They cursed gays and spread dirty talk about women.

Their chauvinistic behavior turned the squadron into a hostile workplace, a Navy investigation into the shenanigans said. And McWherter not only tolerated them; he set examples of bad behavior and animated those under his command.

McWherter was reprimanded after a disciplinary proceeding this week and was previously relieved of his duties as an executive officer.

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More News On The Former Blue Angels Commander Being Disciplined For Permitting A Culture Of Porn, Homophobia And Harassment

Former Blue Angels CO reprimanded for 'toxic' climate -- Navy Times
Navy Captain Ignored Lewd Conduct in Blue Angels -- Military.com
Former Blue Angels commander found guilty in Navy probe, reprimanded -- Washington Post
Former Navy Blue Angels Commander Reprimanded -- ABC News
Former Blue Angels commander disciplined for ignoring lewd and crude conduct -- FOX News
Navy report: Blue Angels boss tolerated porn, lewdness -- USA Today
Naked Photos in Aircraft Cited in Navy Reprimand -- AP
Navy Pilots Passed Porn in Cockpit -- Time
Former Blue Angels commander found guilty in Navy probe, reprimanded for 'frat house' behavior -- al.com
Former commander of Navy's Blue Angels reprimanded for encouraging 'toxic' behavior -- UPI

Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Returning To The Sky

Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Returning To The Sky As Pentagon Loosens Purse Strings On Community Programs -- al.com

Those hoping to see the Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds soar through the sky in the coming year are in luck.

The Pentagon announced it is allowing community and public outreach activities, including aerial demonstration teams, to return, albeit at a reduced schedule. Community outreach programs were cancelled in March after sequestration's across-the-board cuts began. The new Continuing Resolution passed by Congress last week will pave the way for those activities to return but at a reduced rate.

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My Comment: This announcement may be a bit premature. More military budget cuts and sequestration cuts are coming down the pipeline .... and they will be impacting all services.

No Blue Angels At This Year's Naval Academy Graduation

Naval Academy Graduation Has To Do Without The Blue Angels -- Baltimore Sun

Sequester cuts have grounded the flight team for 2013

He saw his first Blue Angels show in Detroit at age 6, and Thomas Frosch says the experience inspired him to want to become a pilot. He saw four more performances while attending the Naval Academy, including one the "Blues" put on before his graduation in 1992.

Now commander and flight leader of the Blue Angels, Frosch, a Navy lieutenant commander, was looking forward to returning to Annapolis this week, where he would have led his team through its traditional jaw-dropping show as part of the Academy's graduation week.

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My Comment: And no "Fleet Week" for lower Manhattan

Blue Angels And The Thunderbirds Are A Casualty Of The U.S. Federal Deficit

 

Budget Cuts Ground Blue Angels, Thunderbirds -- CNN 

(CNN) -- The nation's best military fliers have had their wings clipped, thanks to the forced spending cuts imposed on the federal government this year.

The U.S. Navy on Tuesday announced it was canceling all the air shows its Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron had scheduled for the rest of the year. The Navy action follows the Air Force's April 1 announcement that its Thunderbirds team would not perform again this year.

"Recognizing budget realities, current Defense policy states that outreach events can only be supported with local assets at no cost to the government," said a statement Tuesday from the office of the Commander Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

"This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them."

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My Comment: With more cuts expected .... I will be not surprised if the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are cancelled next year.

Blue Angels 2013 Season Officially Canceled

 

Blue Angels 2013 Season Officially Canceled -- PNJ 

The cancellation of Blue Angels air shows extends past the federal fiscal year ending in September and means the November 1-2 Homecoming Show at Pensacola Naval Air Station has been scrapped, too. “It’s not just the fiscal year,” said Navy Lt. Aaron Kakiel, spokesman for the Naval Air Forces Command in San Diego.

So the Navy is also canceling the Blues' four air shows in October. More importantly for the November 2013 season finale in Pensacola, their practices in October are canceled as well.

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My Comment: Any bets that the 2014 season will be cancelled also?

Should The Pentagon Retire The Air Force's Thunderbirds And The Navy's Blue Angels?

Sequester: Pentagon Suspends Thunderbird, Blue Angel Air Shows -- Breitbart

In its continuing bid to make the automatic sequester cuts as painful to the public as possible, Obama's Pentagon has announced that it is suspending its aerial acrobatic flying teams, like the Air Force's Thunderbirds and the Navy's Blue Angels. With the decision, the Obama Administration is continuing the fiction that the last dollar government spends is on services most valued by the public.

Each branch of the military operates its own aerobatic team. The Navy and Marines have the Blue Angels. The Air Force has the Thunderbirds. The Army has a parachute team called the Golden Knights. These teams are publicly popular features of air shows across the country. After performances this past weekend, the Pentagon will suspend public appearances until at least after September 30th, the last day of the fiscal year subject to sequester cuts.

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My Comment: I have trouble believing that we are even having this debate .... but such is the state of the U.S. defense budget today.

Fly Along With The Blue Angels

Photo Gallery: Fly Along With The Blue Angels -- North Escambia

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly with the Blue Angels during their air show over Pensacola Beach?

Today, NorthEscambia.com takes you along for a ride during a Blue Angel practice. Fasten your seat belt, hang on, and then…

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WNU Editor: The photo gallery starts here.

Hat Tip: Theo Spark