BLUE ANGELS - Insane Footage Takes You Inside the Cockpit


BLUE ANGELS - Insane Footage Takes You Inside the Cockpit - YouTube

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USAF/RET. 1966-1990

It never tire of displays like this. I was fortunate enough to work the flight line for two Thunderbirds shows. Watching the precision, choreographed movements of the ground crews was impressive. Every member looked and dressed like a recruiting poster.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Air Show in Beaufort Air Station. Last time we took a ride in the Huey. I was sitting halfway out of the door.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

In the parts of the video where the pilot is gritting his teeth, is that where he is pulling a lot of "G's"?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Yep, you got it. And I just love the way you can see the vapor trails coming off the LEX when he is pulling high G's too. Pretty darn neat. Thanks for the link, onebadvet.

I too was intrigued by his extreme facial expressions.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Look at the other jets reflections in the pilots visor.

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Dum vivo cano

With the two floating bridges in the background of the video, that looks like the show they put on over Lake Washington up here in the Seattle area. They do put on quite a show at the SeaFair festival every year...

Afterall, they are the best...

Have seen them at the Memphis Air Station and up here at Whidbey Island, where they put on an even better show than for the general masses...

Don't get any better...

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.............SmithNut

Yes, neither the Blue Angels nor the Thunderbird aviators/pilots wear G-suits while flying their shows. This is primarily done as a safety precaution to prevent a suit inflating and causing a control issue. By the way, what you see the aviator (that's what the US Navy and Marines call their pilots) is doing when he's gritting his teeth is what is known as a "valsalva maneuver" to help keep blood in his head and chest, rather than in his extremities, to prevent his blacking out due to the high "G" maneuvers.

Regards,

Dave

I've seen several T-bird & B-Angel shows but I was invited to see an airshow at Offutt by my friends husband and his rank got us into the VIP area on the flightline. The choreography of the groundcrews was beautiful, and added to the excitement.

I was thrilled when the T-Bird and Raptor pilots came over and autographed the handouts. I didn't care that it was only children getting autographs, I lined up with the little ones.

When I saw the T-Birds they were flying T-38's and later F-4's.

That should narrow down the time frame.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Wow, those folks have some amazing skills and talent!

I'd love to do that, but I don't think I could pass the gum-chewing test.

Actually that's called the anti G straining maneuver, bearing down on your core to minimize blood loss to the brain. The valsalva is used to help clear the ears primarily during descent. I've used both many times as a naval aviator.

I'm fortunate to live around Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels and see a practice show often. They practice twice a week here. First time I saw the Blues they were flying F-4s, I was face down in the sand and stickers doing pushups going through AOCS at NAS Pensacola, the DI had us stand up to watch and told us we'd never make it. He was wrong.

My wife and I were camping at the grounds at Pensacola NAS when my son got his wings. I was out early on a Tuesday morning walking our two dogs. I didn't know the Blue Angels practiced that day. Apparently the planes had flown out over the gulf and came back over the base at tree top levels I've never seen any dogs get so flat so fast in my life.

My wife got to pin my son's wings on in the air museum. A young astronaut presented them, it was very impressive.

Great video. It looks like the dude getting all the face time was a ride-along. Check out the wingtips at about 0:56. You can see some serious flex when he puts on the G.

My buddy Droopy is #7 at the time of this video. No way would I ever want to be that close to another jet that close to the ground, inverted. The join-up while inverted was pretty impressive though.

Huh! Thanks for the correction. I was told it was called the valsalva maneuver by an Air Force flight surgeon I used to work with, but what do you expect from a zoomie? Also, many thanks for your service.

Regards,

Dave

Very Kool, first time I saw the Blues, they were flying F-4s at LRAFB around 1971 on Armed Forces Day, my Dad was an IP in the C-130E.. now the first time I saw the T-Birds they were flying the F-100s on their second go around after a very brief tour in the F-105s, that was at Sewart AFB, Tenn. around 1966, my Dad was an IP in the C-130B transitioning very shortly to the E model. Shortly before he went to SEA.

He had an office in the US Embassy in Saigon, where he worked for MACVSOG, he had about 75hrs in the MC-130E, Combat Talon I. Yes he was occupying said office during the TET offensive?? I don't know much, as he did not say much, unless one of his USAF buddies dropped by the farm, and they all told all their best stories?

Actually they flew the F-4s first, I think from around 68-73, I'm not gonna look it up, and flew the T-38s from the end of the F-4s until lead was late with a pull-out and they all flew into the ground at Nellis AFB, NV..... very sad. They then transitioned into the F-16, which they still fly.

I saw that video and it makes me wonder how they can fly so darn close upside down and not hit each other. I have trouble flying a radio control airplane going away and then coming back at me. Do it upside down to boot. CRASH! Altimeter ZERO.

I think there must be a communication between these pilots that transcends normal como-something visceral-innate-and even 6th sense. In a very, very small way-some of us may have experienced this when riding "in formation" on our bikes (very small) As long as everyone has his/her antennae up, and stays alert-all goes well. Oh, that would be fanticable (sp), which we no is long for small!

One of the pilots, currently serving with the Angels, is on his second time around with the unit.

He's seen quite a bit of carrier/Iraqi mission action in between.

His family is from Atlanta/Sandy Springs, Ga.

Both the Blues and the T-Birds flew practice shows at NAS Pensacola last Tuesday and Wednesday, then did a few flybys together over Pensacola Beach. Awesome! Pics and video available on the Pensacola News Journal website. A couple of the Blues traded paint due to some turbulence.

Last time I think I saw the Blues was back in 1991 at an airshow in Belle Chasse, LA at Alvin Callender Field. We were in Belle Chasse attending my grandmother's funeral on the Saturday of the air show. And Grandma's house was right off the end of the runway, so we had a great view right out of the back yard. And back then, the 159th wing of the LA ANG (which is based there) also had their own flight demo team and they also performed right before the Blues. The 159th flies the F-15 and boy, those big birds are something else when doing precision formation flying. When the Blues performed, I swear that one of the solo pilots came in so low he had to climb up to clear a McDonald's sign. I think there was more than a little rivalry between the Coonass Militia (now Bayou Militia because of PC) and the Blues and both were really sharp that day. It was a grand send-off for Grandma and helped brighten an otherwise sad day.