Angled Angels
Flight Leader Captain Ryan J. Bernacchi leads the main four US Navy Blue Angels Boeing F/A-18 Hornets in their close 'overlapping' formation pass during their captivating and dynamic display at the 2017 NAS Jacksonville Airshow
After WWII and under the directions of Admiral Nimitz the Team was formed and in 1946 flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, followed just a few months later by yet another Grumman type - the F8F Bearcat
By the end of the 1940's they had transitioned to their first jets - again Grumman in the shape of the F9F-2 Panther.
Through the early 1950's they moved up to the F-9F-5 version of the latter before transitioning in 1955 to the swept wing F9F-8 Cougar
With Jet development moving swiftly, in 1957 they took on the rakish looking F11F-1 Tiger before 'muscle' arrived with a break from Grumman taking on the McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II in 1969
During the mid 70's Oil crisis and with fuel economy at the fore, in 1974 the Team took on the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II before, just over a decade later, in 1986 they moved to the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet on which the team have just passed their 21st Anniversary flying this formidable front-line service Fighter.
Currently in service not only with the US Navy and Marine Corps but also with the Swiss, Finland and the Royal Canadian Air Force, moves are afoot to re-equip with the newer F/A-18 Super Hornet but whatever they fly, their display is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of these Naval Flyers.
Aircraft No's 5 & 6 also took part in their display with No.7 as the spare.
IMG_8631
Angled Angels
Flight Leader Captain Ryan J. Bernacchi leads the main four US Navy Blue Angels Boeing F/A-18 Hornets in their close 'overlapping' formation pass during their captivating and dynamic display at the 2017 NAS Jacksonville Airshow
After WWII and under the directions of Admiral Nimitz the Team was formed and in 1946 flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, followed just a few months later by yet another Grumman type - the F8F Bearcat
By the end of the 1940's they had transitioned to their first jets - again Grumman in the shape of the F9F-2 Panther.
Through the early 1950's they moved up to the F-9F-5 version of the latter before transitioning in 1955 to the swept wing F9F-8 Cougar
With Jet development moving swiftly, in 1957 they took on the rakish looking F11F-1 Tiger before 'muscle' arrived with a break from Grumman taking on the McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II in 1969
During the mid 70's Oil crisis and with fuel economy at the fore, in 1974 the Team took on the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II before, just over a decade later, in 1986 they moved to the McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet on which the team have just passed their 21st Anniversary flying this formidable front-line service Fighter.
Currently in service not only with the US Navy and Marine Corps but also with the Swiss, Finland and the Royal Canadian Air Force, moves are afoot to re-equip with the newer F/A-18 Super Hornet but whatever they fly, their display is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of these Naval Flyers.
Aircraft No's 5 & 6 also took part in their display with No.7 as the spare.
IMG_8631