Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Blue Angels switching to bigger planes in 2021
WFAA ^ | 04/22/2019 | Travis Pittman

Posted on 04/22/2019 4:33:54 AM PDT by DFG

Get a good look at the U.S. Navy Blue Angels while you have a chance. They will be changing to a new plane in a couple of years.

The Pensacola News Journal reports the team plans to switch from the F/A-18 Hornet to the F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2021 to mark the team's 75th anniversary.

"The jet is more powerful, especially at lower altitudes, so we believe that our maneuvering will be more visible to the crowd and more impressive overall," Cmdr. Frank Weisser, a former Blue Angel pilot, told the Journal.

(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; blueangels; hornet; navair; superhornet
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-73 next last

1 posted on 04/22/2019 4:33:54 AM PDT by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DFG

One hopes this will not be a replay of when the Blue Angels switched to the F-4.


2 posted on 04/22/2019 4:36:27 AM PDT by robowombat (Orthodox)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

The super hornet seems to be to the hornet about what the hellcat was to the wildcat.


3 posted on 04/22/2019 4:39:41 AM PDT by yarddog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: robowombat

Yep - many remember the F-4 as ‘the best and baddest” because of the engine sound and smoke but it wasn’t a prime machine.


4 posted on 04/22/2019 4:42:31 AM PDT by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

The blue Angel’s airframes are about the oldest in the fleet. They’re due for an upgrade.

CC


5 posted on 04/22/2019 4:42:40 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trebb

I seem to recall a F4 pilot shot down during Vietnam said that with the engines out it had the flying characteristics of a brick.

CC


6 posted on 04/22/2019 4:45:34 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

That’s a pretty good analogy.


7 posted on 04/22/2019 4:46:12 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DFG


Maybe it is time to switch planes.  They are
getting overly confident with what they have
now. This formation is just crazy.

8 posted on 04/22/2019 4:46:32 AM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Two weeks ago, we watched the Blue Angels practice at their home at NAS Pensacola. There were an estimated 6,000 of us sitting on the grass at the flight line. The location is actually on grounds of the Museum of Naval Aviation.

They practice weekly I think, check their web site for the schedule.

The museum of Naval Aviation is one of the best aviation museums

It’s a great road trip venue


9 posted on 04/22/2019 4:49:41 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) Honduras must be invaded to protect America from invasion)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: trebb
Yep - many remember the F-4 as ‘the best and baddest” because of the engine sound and smoke but it wasn’t a prime machine.

A Phantom loaded with "Snakeyes" and a full load of 20mm was a beautiful sight when one was engaged in fisticuffs with an NVA battalion.

10 posted on 04/22/2019 4:53:07 AM PDT by BwanaNdege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

” They are getting overly confident with what they have
now. This formation is just crazy.”

It’s OK, they’re Navy pilots.


11 posted on 04/22/2019 4:54:01 AM PDT by dljordan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

Photoshop.


12 posted on 04/22/2019 4:57:28 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

I hope so.


13 posted on 04/22/2019 5:00:49 AM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: trebb

Back when the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels both used the F-4, I was sitting on my parents car hood at the end of the active runway during a Thunderbirds show. The single “fill-in” plane came screaming in from behind me at less than 500 ft AGL and blew me off the hood. Good day for a kid.


14 posted on 04/22/2019 5:07:17 AM PDT by Pecos (My rights as an individual are not subject to a public vote.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

Forced perspective. They’re really close but not THAT close. Lol


15 posted on 04/22/2019 5:07:49 AM PDT by Afterguard (Deplorable me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Celtic Conservative

The blue Angel’s airframes are about the oldest in the fleet.

...

I recall an article saying they take used aircraft from the fleet. I wonder if their new models will also be used.


16 posted on 04/22/2019 5:13:58 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I was hoping for KC 135s or even 737s. That would be cool.


17 posted on 04/22/2019 5:15:51 AM PDT by King Moonracer (Bad lighting and cheap fabric, that's how you sell clothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

I would tend to think so. Makes sense that the newest aircraft be at the pointy end of the sword, i.e. on active duty.

CC


18 posted on 04/22/2019 5:16:22 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I’d like to see them do it with C17s.


19 posted on 04/22/2019 5:24:58 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham ("God is a spirit, and man His means of walking on the earth.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Personally, they should disband the group and put those pilots on combat flight duty against Islamic terrorists. Redirect the money used by this and other demonstration teams to combat operations. If not that, then to building the wall.


20 posted on 04/22/2019 5:35:36 AM PDT by Reno89519 (No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-73 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson