Blue Angels

The Blue Angels’ mission is to enhance U.S. Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States, its elected leadership and foreign nations. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

A Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all naval aviators. It includes the graceful aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane diamond formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of its two solo pilots. Finally, the team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers locked as a unit in the renowned, six-jet delta formation.

During the aerobatic demonstration, the Blue Angels operate six F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, split into the diamond (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the lead and opposing solos (Blue Angels 5 and 6). Most of the show alternates between maneuvers performed by the diamond and those performed by the solos. The diamond, in tight formation and usually at lower speeds, performs maneuvers, such as formation loops, barrel rolls and transitions from one formation to another.

The solos fly many of their maneuvers just under the speed of sound, showcasing the high performance capabilities of their individual Hornets through the execution of high-speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls and very tight turns. Some of the maneuvers include both solo F/A-18s performing at once, such as opposing passes (toward each other in what appears to be a collision course) and mirror formations (back-to-back, belly-to-belly or wingtip-to-wingtip, with one jet flying inverted). The solos join the diamond near the end of the show for a number of maneuvers in the delta formation.

The parameters of each show must be tailored to local weather: in clear weather the “high” show is performed. In overcast conditions, a “low” show is performed. In limited visibility (weather permitting) the “flat” show is presented. The “high” show requires an 8,000-foot ceiling and visibility of three nautical miles from the show’s centerpoint. “Low” and “flat” ceilings are 3,500 and 1,500 feet respectively.

Routine
• FA-18 Engine Start-Up and Taxi Out
• Diamond Take-off (Either a low transition with turn,
loop on takeoff, a half-Cuban 8 takeoff or a Half Squirrel Cage)
• Solos Take-off (Blue Angel #5: Dirty Roll on Take-Off; Blue Angel #6: Low Transition pitch up)
• Diamond 360: Aircraft 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in their
signature 18″ wingtip-to-canopy diamond formation.
• Opposing Knife-Edge Pass
• Diamond Roll: The whole diamond formation rolls
as a single entity.
• Opposing Inverted to Inverted Rolls
• Diamond Aileron Roll: All four diamond jets perform
simultaneous aileron rolls.
• Fortus: Solos flying in carrier landing configuration with #5 inverted, establishing a “mirror image” effect.
• Diamond Dirty Loop: The diamond flies a loop with all
four jets in the carrier landing configuration.
• Minimum Radius Turn
• Double Farvel: Diamond formation with aircraft
1 and 4 inverted.
• Opposing Minimum Radius Turn
• Echelon Parade
• Opposing Horizontal Rolls
• Left Echelon Roll: The roll is made into the echelon, which is somewhat difficult for the outside aircraft.
• Sneak Pass: The fastest speed of the show is about
700 mph (just under Mach 1 at sea level)
• Line-Abreast Loop: The most difficult formation
maneuver to do well. #5 joins the diamond as the
five jets fly a loop in a straight line
• Opposing Four-Point Hesitation Roll
• Vertical Break
• Opposing Pitch Up
• Barrel Roll Break
• Section High-Alpha Pass (tail sitting): The show’s
slowest maneuver
• Low Break Cross
• Inverted Tuck Over Roll
• Tuck Under Break
• Delta Roll
• Fleur de Lis
• Solos Pass to Rejoin
• Loop Break Cross (Delta Break): After the break the
aircraft separate in six different directions, perform
half Cuban eights then cross in the center of the
performance area.
• Delta Breakout
• Delta Pitch Up Break to Land

History
At the end of World War II, Chester W. Nimitz, then-Chief of Naval Operations, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in naval aviation. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels performed their first flight demonstration less than a year later in June 1946 at their home base, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Fla. Flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat, they were led by Lt. Cmdr. Roy “Butch” Voris.

Only two months later on Aug. 25, 1946, the Blue Angels transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat. One year later, the 1947 team, led by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Clarke, introduced the now famous “Diamond Formation.”

By the end of the 1940s the Blue Angels were flying their first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. In response to the demands placed on naval aviation in the Korean Conflict, the team reported to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton as the nucleus of Fighter Squadron 191
(VF-191), Satan’s Kittens, in 1950.

The team reorganized the next year and reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, where they began flying the newer and faster version of the Panther, the F9F-5. The Blue Angels remained in Corpus Christi until the winter of 1954 when they relocated to their present home base at NAS Pensacola, Fla. It was here that they progressed to the swept-wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar.

The ensuing 20 years saw the Blue Angels transition to two more aircraft, the Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (1957) and the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II (1969).
In December 1974, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team began flying the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and was reorganized as the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. This reorganization permitted the establishment of a commanding officer via a flight leader, added support officers and further redefined the squadron’s mission, emphasizing the support of recruiting efforts.

On Nov. 8, 1986, the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year during ceremonies unveiling their present aircraft, the new sleek F/A-18 Hornet, the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft now serving on the nation’s front lines of defense.

In 1992, more than one million people viewed the Blue Angel’s performances during a 30-day European deployment to Sweden, Finland, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain. This was the first European deployment in 19 years.

The 2008 show season brought out more than 13 million spectators. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 455 million fans.