Sky Watch Friday - Blue Angel Show 1

This is part 1 of 2 posts on the Blue Angels. Today's post is from Pensacola Beach where they had an air show. This subject will continue next Friday with the practice show at their home field, NAS Pensacola.

The first spectacle to greet us upon arriving was Fat Albert. Fat Albert is a C-130T Hercules air craft. It is part of the Blue Angel squadron but it officially belongs to the US Marine Corp whereas the rest of the planes are part of the US Navy. Also, both Navy and Marine pilots fly the aircraft. Technically, the USMC is part of the US Navy but don't try telling a Marine that.





After everyone settled down, it was time for the real action. The Blue Angels are a Navy demonstration squadron. According to some sources they are one of the oldest formal demonstration team, dating back to 1946. The team is regularly changed to different pilots every few years.











The Blue Angels' planes are F/A-18 Hornets. They fly at lower speeds when in formation but during the solo flights they are going at just under the speed of sound. That is approximately 768 mph (1,236 kph) or 1 mile in 5 seconds (1 kilometer in 3 seconds).











This Ship "Dry Totugas" was the center point for the flight path during the show.



Blue Angels and United States flags.



Emergency crews on hand were the Life Flight emergency transportation team, the local bomb squad and the Coast Guard. I am still not sure why the bomb squad was there but glad to know they were just in case.











Dave and his new Panama Jack hat.


Boy 1 looking cool in his shades.



Boy 2 building in the sand. See the last post on the frequency of sand structures.



My feet in the sand.



The Pensacola Beach water tower that looks like a giant beach ball.



Lastly, enjoy this video of the Blue Angels acrobatic maneuvering.




For more sky photos visit Sky Watch Friday: http://skyley.blogspot.com/



~Jessica~