Author: mekongblazing Added: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:54:56 -0800 Duration: 3Two F-18 Hornets from the Blue Angels buzz each other at the Chicago Air and Water show.
Author: wildernessfilm Added: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:52:44 -0800 Duration: 60A TVC for the "Incredible india" campaign, showing india's culture and tradition. "This clip of professionally-shot broadcast stock footage belongs to the archive of Wilderness Films India Ltd., and has been filmed on either Digital Betacam or 1080i HD. Please write to us for licensing queries at wfil@wildfilmsindia.com and admin@wildfilmsindia.com." mahamastaka, holi, drums, elephants, caparisoned, camel, aerobatic display, tricolor, Naheu boat race, snake boat, Jagannath rath yatra, bahubali, thrissurpooram, thrissu puram
I ts my dream to fly high, but this one very amazing how to fly. watch it and learn. Ranked 3.11 / 5 | 399 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video Submitted By: valerij79 Tags: Dance Kite Show How Fly Park Fun Instructional Sun Summer Trick Tricks Jet Sky Flying Wings Wing Air Show String Kite Kites Shows Categories: How To People & Stories
Creeping militarism describes the insidious insertion of the military, extreme patriotism, and constant war into American life. It permeates our culture and shapes our view of the rest of the world, and we probably barely notice it. It shapes our domestic policies too, from our feelings on the death penalty to gun control. The [...]
Today we head to Andrews Airforce Base, the home of Air Force One, for a armed forces open house and air show. Check out the stunt helicopters, fighter planes and armored vehicles. Bookmark To:
Taken during the Stewart Air Force air show, this is a low, slow pass of this gaint air transport plane. Ranked 3.14 / 5 | 526 views | No comments Click here to watch the video Submitted By: jocatch Tags: Galaxy c5 air show air plane
Taken at the Stewart Air Force base airshow, this video shows Fat Albert, a C130, doing a short field takeoff with assist from real rockets strapped on the sides. Ranked 3.25 / 5 | 856 views | 1 comment Click here to watch the video Submitted By: jocatch Tags: c130 airplane air show rocket
Taken during the Stewart Airforce base open house, this video shows a Galaxy C5 doing a short take off roll. Ranked 3.41 / 5 | 674 views | No comments Click here to watch the video Submitted By: jocatch Tags: plane c5 takeoff air force air show
2008 Blue Angels Fleetweek Schedule: Thursday October 9, 2008Noon-5pmBlue Angels Survey FlightsFriday October 10, 20083pm-4pm Blue AngelsSaturday October 11, 20083pm-4pm Blue Angels
Oshkosh: The Spirit of Aviation is narrated by actor Harrison Ford, an EAA member, pilot, and chairman of the EAA Young Eagles program. It presents an insider's look of people who share the passion for aviation as they participate in "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration." To experience AirVenture Oshkosh on the web, visit www.AirVenture.org
Hangar flying with Pilot Dan, Pilot Mike, and Pilot Kent, along with a special report from the Westfield International Airshow Pilot Kent is calling in from Ritzville, Washington. Feedback and Followups: We start off this week with Pilot Kent telling the harrowing story of his recent truck accident. Luckily, the only fatalities were the truck and his PowerBook. He's already replaced the PowerBook with a new MacBook Pro, with the help of Pilot Bill of the Apple Air Force. Apple couldn't help with the truck, though. Pilot Dan and Pilot Mike mention an NPR story about a 1956, in-air collision of two passenger planes, over the Grand Canyon, that was the impetus for todays nationwide ATC coverage. And lastly in this section, we give many thanks to Rinker Buck for allowing us to record and publish his reading from his book, Flight of Passage , to the Oxford Flying Club. News and Interviews: Pilot Dan attended the Westfield International Airshow at Barnes Air National Guard Base, in Massachusetts, where the Blue Angels were performing. He explains a bit about how the Blue Angels Team is configured and how they coordinate maneuvers during the show. We also hear about a conversation he overheard about why the full Blue Angels team almost didn't make it to the show. From there, we move on to some interviews he was able to get with performing pilots. Bill Horrigan, Stearman pilot: Bill is a former airline pilot who now occasionally flies a Stearman at airshows. He gives us a bit of the history of his plane along with some of it's flying characteristics. Bill talks about how tough the Stearman is and some of the maintenance issues. We hear about what instrumentation is installed, it's range, and how to hold a chart in an open cockpit aircraft. Bill finishes up with a discussion of takeoff and landing distances and how some of it's characteristics could be modified. Jim Vocell, Chief Pilot for the American Airpower Museum, Farmingdale, NY: Jim was displaying a 1944 C-47, a derivative of the DC-3, the first really reliable transport plane, for both passengers and cargo. He gives us a history of this particular plane, and how the American Airpower Museum came to own it. We get a comprehensive overview of the flight characteristics, including takeoff and landing distances, useful load, engines and props, range, and fuel usage. Jim gives some tips to pilots who may want to fly into Republic Field, where the museum is located. Billy Segalla, pilot with the Iron Eagles Acrobatic Team: Billy starts off with a little info on the two Christen Eagle aircraft flown by the team and a bit about their overall show schedule. The Eagle aircraft have an amazing power to weight ratio, allowing extremely tight turns. He talks about the differences between Eagles and Pitts as well as the custom modifications they've made. The aircraft are flown from show to show, including 3 1/2 hour over-water flights from Florida to Guatemala and El Salvador. Billy finishes with the upcoming schedule for the Iron Eagles. Capt. Emily Naylor, C-5 pilot for the Air National Guard: Pilot Dan started off on the wrong foot by asking Capt. Naylor, Are there any pilots around? After a vain attempt at an apology, he went on with the interview. She starts off with how long she's been flying the C-5 and informs us the C-5 is the largest aircraft in the U.S. military. Capt. Naylor says it actually a very easy plane to fly, it just reacts a little slower to control inputs. She describes a typical long flight. She then talks about how she got her ratings and how it felt to go from piloting a small plane to the C-5 and finishes with why she thinks there are so few women in aviation and how to encourage them to get involved. Hangar Flying: First off, Pilot Kent did some flying to get some aerial photos of his accident site so it could be included with his accident report. Pilot Dan talks about the really terrible weather they've been getting on the East Coast, forcing quite a few flight cancellations. Pilot Mike describes his flight back from the 2006 Gaston's Fly In, and how he almost busted the St. Louis Class Bravo airspace because of an out of date marking on sectional chart. Chart updates can be found in your local AFD's. For you non-pilots who are listening, the crew give some explanation of the pilot-eese they were using to describe the different altitudes, airspace, charts, and AFD's. You can self report any infraction, and Pilot Mike tells you how and why you would want do that. Show Links: Westfield International Airshow NPR story on the Grand Canyon Crash of '56 Pilotcast #37A with a reading by Rinker Buck Official Blue Angels website Pilotcast #33 interview with Cmdr. Boss Foley The Boeing Stearman Republic Field, home of the American Airpower Museum Iron Eagles Acrobatic Team The Christen Eagle The C-5 Galaxy St. Charles County Smartt Airport where Pilot Mike almost busted Class Bravo
Hangar flying with Pilot Dan, Pilot Mike, and Pilot Kent, along with a special report from the Westfield International Airshow Pilot Kent is calling in from Ritzville, Washington. Feedback and Followups: We start off this week with Pilot Kent telling the harrowing story of his recent truck accident. Luckily, the only fatalities were the truck and his PowerBook. He's already replaced the PowerBook with a new MacBook Pro, with the help of Pilot Bill of the Apple Air Force. Apple couldn't help with the truck, though. Pilot Dan and Pilot Mike mention an NPR story about a 1956, in-air collision of two passenger planes, over the Grand Canyon, that was the impetus for todays nationwide ATC coverage. And lastly in this section, we give many thanks to Rinker Buck for allowing us to record and publish his reading from his book, Flight of Passage , to the Oxford Flying Club. News and Interviews: Pilot Dan attended the Westfield International Airshow at Barnes Air National Guard Base, in Massachusetts, where the Blue Angels were performing. He explains a bit about how the Blue Angels Team is configured and how they coordinate maneuvers during the show. We also hear about a conversation he overheard about why the full Blue Angels team almost didn't make it to the show. From there, we move on to some interviews he was able to get with performing pilots. Bill Horrigan, Stearman pilot: Bill is a former airline pilot who now occasionally flies a Stearman at airshows. He gives us a bit of the history of his plane along with some of it's flying characteristics. Bill talks about how tough the Stearman is and some of the maintenance issues. We hear about what instrumentation is installed, it's range, and how to hold a chart in an open cockpit aircraft. Bill finishes up with a discussion of takeoff and landing distances and how some of it's characteristics could be modified. Jim Vocell, Chief Pilot for the American Airpower Museum, Farmingdale, NY: Jim was displaying a 1944 C-47, a derivative of the DC-3, the first really reliable transport plane, for both passengers and cargo. He gives us a history of this particular plane, and how the American Airpower Museum came to own it. We get a comprehensive overview of the flight characteristics, including takeoff and landing distances, useful load, engines and props, range, and fuel usage. Jim gives some tips to pilots who may want to fly into Republic Field, where the museum is located. Billy Segalla, pilot with the Iron Eagles Acrobatic Team: Billy starts off with a little info on the two Christen Eagle aircraft flown by the team and a bit about their overall show schedule. The Eagle aircraft have an amazing power to weight ratio, allowing extremely tight turns. He talks about the differences between Eagles and Pitts as well as the custom modifications they've made. The aircraft are flown from show to show, including 3 1/2 hour over-water flights from Florida to Guatemala and El Salvador. Billy finishes with the upcoming schedule for the Iron Eagles. Capt. Emily Naylor, C-5 pilot for the Air National Guard: Pilot Dan started off on the wrong foot by asking Capt. Naylor, Are there any pilots around? After a vain attempt at an apology, he went on with the interview. She starts off with how long she's been flying the C-5 and informs us the C-5 is the largest aircraft in the U.S. military. Capt. Naylor says it actually a very easy plane to fly, it just reacts a little slower to control inputs. She describes a typical long flight. She then talks about how she got her ratings and how it felt to go from piloting a small plane to the C-5 and finishes with why she thinks there are so few women in aviation and how to encourage them to get involved. Hangar Flying: First off, Pilot Kent did some flying to get some aerial photos of his accident site so it could be included with his accident report. Pilot Dan talks about the really terrible weather they've been getting on the East Coast, forcing quite a few flight cancellations. Pilot Mike describes his flight back from the 2006 Gaston's Fly In, and how he almost busted the St. Louis Class Bravo airspace because of an out of date marking on sectional chart. Chart updates can be found in your local AFD's. For you non-pilots who are listening, the crew give some explanation of the pilot-eese they were using to describe the different altitudes, airspace, charts, and AFD's. You can self report any infraction, and Pilot Mike tells you how and why you would want do that. Show Links: Westfield International Airshow NPR story on the Grand Canyon Crash of '56 Pilotcast #37A with a reading by Rinker Buck Official Blue Angels website Pilotcast #33 interview with Cmdr. Boss Foley The Boeing Stearman Republic Field, home of the American Airpower Museum Iron Eagles Acrobatic Team The Christen Eagle The C-5 Galaxy St. Charles County Smartt Airport where Pilot Mike almost busted Class Bravo
Pilotcast Exclusive in-flight video of an F/A-18 flight with a U.S. Navy Blue Angel! This is the Blue Angel flight video mentioned in Pilotcast #33,. This movie is premiering to the public exclusively on The Pilotcast! Watch as Patrick Raycraft, a Photojournalist for the Hartford Courant gets a thrilling ride in the two seat U. S. Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet with Kojack, Blue Angel 7. The first week of March, Pat was in El Centro, California, photographing the winter training of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. Pat flew almost 55 minutes in the cockpit. This is an amazing QuickTime video of the highlights of that flight, taken with a cockpit camera recording directly on to a DVD recorder built-in the the two seat FA-18. The Pilotcast crew offers sincere thanks again to Pat, his friend CMDR. Boss Foley, the U.S. Navy, and the Blue Angels. Contact us at by email: pilotcast (AT) gmail.com Pilotcast show notes are at http://www.pilotcast.com
Pilotcast Exclusive in-flight video of an F/A-18 flight with a U.S. Navy Blue Angel! This is the Blue Angel flight video mentioned in Pilotcast #33,. This movie is premiering to the public exclusively on The Pilotcast! Watch as Patrick Raycraft, a Photojournalist for the Hartford Courant gets a thrilling ride in the two seat U. S. Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet with Kojack, Blue Angel 7. The first week of March, Pat was in El Centro, California, photographing the winter training of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. Pat flew almost 55 minutes in the cockpit. This is an amazing QuickTime video of the highlights of that flight, taken with a cockpit camera recording directly on to a DVD recorder built-in the the two seat FA-18. The Pilotcast crew offers sincere thanks again to Pat, his friend CMDR. Boss Foley, the U.S. Navy, and the Blue Angels. Contact us at by email: pilotcast (AT) gmail.com Pilotcast show notes are at http://www.pilotcast.com
Pilot Dan, Pilot Kent, and Pilot Mike interview the Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, Cmd. Stephen Boss Foley Introduction: We're also joined this episode by our first in-studio guest, Patrick Raycraft, a Photo Journalist for the Hartford Courant and longtime friend of Boss Foley. The first week of March, Pat was in El Centro, California, photographing the winter training of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Pat was also lucky enough to get a flight in one of the F/A 18 Hornet jets used by the Blue Angels. He got almost 55 minutes in the cockpit. We've got a link to an amazing QuickTime video of parts of that flight, taken with a cockpit camera. A short bio of Boss Foley Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron Grew up in Charlestowm, Massachusetts Graduated Hamilton College in 1984, with a degree in English Commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida, in 1985 Designated a Naval Aviator, in September, 1985 Served aboard the USS Independence, in support of Operation Desert Shield Graduated from U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, aka Top Gun, in 1991 Served as a Top Gun Instructor, flying the A-4, F-16, and F/A-18 Hornet In 1998, he won the Michael G. Hoff, Attack Aviator of the Year Award After 9/11, he deployed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and flew 48 missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom An Honors graduate of the Naval War College Assigned Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, in November, 2004 Has more than 5800 flight hours and 788 carrier landings Several decorations and awards, including 2 for Distinguished Combat Recently selected for promotion to Captain Talking with Boss Foley: Where does the title Boss come from? Goes back to the early days of flight demonstrations where the flight leader is recognized as the Boss As the first Naval Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels adopted the term for the flight leader of the team The flight leaders of both the Thunderbirds and the Snowbirds are also referred to as Boss Someone who is charge of an Air Show is known as the Air Boss What does it take to become a Blue Angel? The Blue Angels were formed in the mid-1940's, by Admiral Chester Nimitz, to promote the legacy of Naval Air Power The primary purpose of today's Blue Angels is to reach out and bolster our military readiness through recruitment of young sailors and marines To become a Blue Angel it only takes a typical Naval Fighter Pilot, or... There are a host of Blue Angels with duties other than flying the aircraft, such as Public Affairs, Administration, Maintenance, Supply, and Aircraft Technician The public seems to think of the Blue Angels as sleek blue jets and fighter pilots in blue flight suits, but they are much more than that The Blue Angels are a collective representation of Naval Aviation Members consider it a phenomenal opportunity to promote the legacy that has ben bestowed on them Caveat: There are specific selection criteria including hours of flight time, experience, dedication, and commitment to the Naval core values Pride, heritage, and legacy are all terms that are affiliated not only with the Blue Angels, but all the Naval Services Talk a little about the Blue Angel Training Facility at El Centro, California Each year, the season concludes in mid November and begins again, in earnest, in late November There is a 50% turnover for officers, and a 30%-40% turnover for enlisted personnel The Blue Angel Team consists of 110 personnel and 14 aircraft, including a C-130 known as Fat Albert Because of the high turnover, there's a very rigorous training program, steeped in tradition The training applies to all members of the team, not just the pilots Training continues through the winter months, before embarking on an 8 month demonstration season, from mid March to mid November El Centro is the training facility for the Blue Angels as well as many other Naval assets The Angels chose El Centro because it provides a sterile environment for team personnel instead of the distracting family environment of Pensacola, Florida, with the goal to be completely in tune with each other by time the show circuit starts Every aspect of how the Blue Angles conduct business is choreographed like the flying maneuvers, from maintenance to signing autographs The desert of El Centro also provides phenomenal weather conditions for flight operations, during the winter What's it like transitioning from an F/A-18 to a Cessna? There aren't many pilots who have the time to do any Cessna flying It's been a while since Boss Foley has done any GA flying You need to ensure you are as qualified to fly a GA aircraft as you are flying a high powered combat aircraft There are currently no GA enthusiasts on the Blue Angels Team Even with 32000 lb. of thrust available, is it still possible to stall an F/A-18 with too much angle of attack? The Boeing F/A-18 was originally developed by McDonald-Douglas It's not easy to find another aircraft with the thrust to weight characteristics, maneuverability characteristics, weapons systems, and ergonomics of an F/A-18 The Hornet is exceptional in it's high angle of attack maneuverability capability and thrust to weight performance characteristics Are those solid fuel JATOs (Jet-Assisted Take-Off) on Fat Albert? Yes, they use solid fuel propellant There are 3 Marine Corp. C-130 pilots on the team The remaining support for Fat Albert is from 3 Marine Corp. officers and 3 Marine Corp. enlisted personnel There's also Marine Corp. F/A-18 pilot on the team As a Blue Angels pilot, seeing a Fat Albert takeoff is very exhilarating, because it's the only time we get to see our own demo Just like any other maneuver, the team trains for the asymmetrical firing of the JATOs At air shows, what is the relationship between the Blue Angels and the FAA? The team of the Blue Angels and the FAA are all focused on the same issues, the primary one being safety for both the performers and the spectators The groundwork for any show is laid many months in advance Every airshow site has a list of very specific procedures, objectives, and milestones they need to work through to make the site appropriate for a jet demonstration team Even though the FAA has further restricted the airspace around these airshows in the last few years, these were not triggered by 9/11 but rather by general safety concerns Pilot Dan: General Aviation owes a huge debt to these demonstration shows because of the large crowds that attend and reminds them that this country created General Aviation and have a great tradition with it What did it feel like the first time you were catapulted off an aircraft carrier? The first was in 1985 in a T-2 Buckeye We were mustered at 4:45 on a rainy morning, for our briefing Had been training for the previous month, at Meridian, Mississippi Lot's of butterflies in my stomach, at the briefing After a weather delay, we took off, in formation, from the Naval Air Station, Key West, and headed for the carrier The training is so rigorous, that the tasks tend to to become automatic Carrier landings are very difficult, but the take-offs are relatively easy Was screaming with exhilaration during that first take-off Then you realize you got to make a landing if you want to do it again, and the training takes over Carrier landings at night are a much more difficult, and never becomes routine All of the Blue Angels members came from the operational force and will return to it when their tour with the Angels is complete How do you counteract the G-forces involved with flying a high powered jet? As a high powered jet fighter pilot you get accustomed to the G-forces, but there's also a very rigorous training program to prepare for those Gs The training involves physical, mental, and physiological aspects One of the best ways is to keep in good physical condition, with emphasis on anaerobics Be well rested, well nourished, and well hydrated Even as little as a couple of days of not being exposed to the G-forces can be enough for the onset of it's effects G suits are not worn by the Blue Angels pilots During a low level practice run in Chicago, Pilot Mike saw the jet pass so close to his office building, he was able to see the lightning bolts on the pilots helmet. Do you make a conscious effort to delay your appearance after the previous act in order to make a big entrance? The performance has been choreographed for the highest level of effect and to be entertaining We want to make sure the spectators see what a team can do when they focus on dedication, teamwork, and hard work Even though they put on an amazing show, we should remember it's the same kind of flying our operational forces are doing every day Some final thoughts from Boss Foley We are very blessed to be a part of the Blue Angels legacy Those blessings are not just from the previous members of the team but from our fellow countrymen My vision is that we are a team recognized for our excellence not only in flight demonstration, but for the public visits we make Our official mission is to enhance the recruiting of our Naval Service, but we also need to be good samaritans and good citizens and demonstrate what one can achieve with with a high degree of scrutiny, preparation, dedication, teamwork, and a focus on what's good and right Seeing some of the children attending our shows, I hope to inspire them to become good people and responsible, great Americans and great patriots We all share that responsibility Patrick's story will be running in the June 18th issue, of the NorthEast magazine, in the Hartford Courant Cool images of the Blue Angels: If you're interested in finding out more about the Blue Angels: Here's the official Blue Angels website Steven Force Tupper does an online radio program, Airspeed Online. He recently aired an informative episode on the Blue Angels which we used as a resource for the interview with Boss Foley. Thanks, Steve! You can listen to it by clicking on the mp3 icon. For a great film on the principles of flight with amazing footage of The Blue Angels taken from the jets IN FLIGHT check out The Magic of Flight DVD from Amazon: An extra added bonus: For those of you who have been asking, here are some more Pilotcast crew images - of Pilot Mike during the recording of Pilotcast #33, and Pilot Mike and Pilot Kent in Madison, WI: The larger versions of these images may be frightening to small children and to regular listeners, compared to the images they had in thier minds. Contact us at by email: pilotcast (AT) gmail.com Song: Angels and Aeroplanes by Peter James Music on the Pilotcast is from the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Check it out at http://music.podshow.com Pilotcast show notes are at http://www.pilotcast.com The Pilotcast THANKS Pilot Bill for the GREAT work on these show notes!
Pilot Dan, Pilot Kent, and Pilot Mike interview the Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, Cmd. Stephen Boss Foley Introduction: We're also joined this episode by our first in-studio guest, Patrick Raycraft, a Photo Journalist for the Hartford Courant and longtime friend of Boss Foley. The first week of March, Pat was in El Centro, California, photographing the winter training of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Pat was also lucky enough to get a flight in one of the F/A 18 Hornet jets used by the Blue Angels. He got almost 55 minutes in the cockpit. We've got a link to an amazing QuickTime video of parts of that flight, taken with a cockpit camera. A short bio of Boss Foley Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron Grew up in Charlestowm, Massachusetts Graduated Hamilton College in 1984, with a degree in English Commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida, in 1985 Designated a Naval Aviator, in September, 1985 Served aboard the USS Independence, in support of Operation Desert Shield Graduated from U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, aka Top Gun, in 1991 Served as a Top Gun Instructor, flying the A-4, F-16, and F/A-18 Hornet In 1998, he won the Michael G. Hoff, Attack Aviator of the Year Award After 9/11, he deployed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and flew 48 missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom An Honors graduate of the Naval War College Assigned Flight Leader of the Blue Angels, in November, 2004 Has more than 5800 flight hours and 788 carrier landings Several decorations and awards, including 2 for Distinguished Combat Recently selected for promotion to Captain Talking with Boss Foley: Where does the title Boss come from? Goes back to the early days of flight demonstrations where the flight leader is recognized as the Boss As the first Naval Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels adopted the term for the flight leader of the team The flight leaders of both the Thunderbirds and the Snowbirds are also referred to as Boss Someone who is charge of an Air Show is known as the Air Boss What does it take to become a Blue Angel? The Blue Angels were formed in the mid-1940's, by Admiral Chester Nimitz, to promote the legacy of Naval Air Power The primary purpose of today's Blue Angels is to reach out and bolster our military readiness through recruitment of young sailors and marines To become a Blue Angel it only takes a typical Naval Fighter Pilot, or... There are a host of Blue Angels with duties other than flying the aircraft, such as Public Affairs, Administration, Maintenance, Supply, and Aircraft Technician The public seems to think of the Blue Angels as sleek blue jets and fighter pilots in blue flight suits, but they are much more than that The Blue Angels are a collective representation of Naval Aviation Members consider it a phenomenal opportunity to promote the legacy that has ben bestowed on them Caveat: There are specific selection criteria including hours of flight time, experience, dedication, and commitment to the Naval core values Pride, heritage, and legacy are all terms that are affiliated not only with the Blue Angels, but all the Naval Services Talk a little about the Blue Angel Training Facility at El Centro, California Each year, the season concludes in mid November and begins again, in earnest, in late November There is a 50% turnover for officers, and a 30%-40% turnover for enlisted personnel The Blue Angel Team consists of 110 personnel and 14 aircraft, including a C-130 known as Fat Albert Because of the high turnover, there's a very rigorous training program, steeped in tradition The training applies to all members of the team, not just the pilots Training continues through the winter months, before embarking on an 8 month demonstration season, from mid March to mid November El Centro is the training facility for the Blue Angels as well as many other Naval assets The Angels chose El Centro because it provides a sterile environment for team personnel instead of the distracting family environment of Pensacola, Florida, with the goal to be completely in tune with each other by time the show circuit starts Every aspect of how the Blue Angles conduct business is choreographed like the flying maneuvers, from maintenance to signing autographs The desert of El Centro also provides phenomenal weather conditions for flight operations, during the winter What's it like transitioning from an F/A-18 to a Cessna? There aren't many pilots who have the time to do any Cessna flying It's been a while since Boss Foley has done any GA flying You need to ensure you are as qualified to fly a GA aircraft as you are flying a high powered combat aircraft There are currently no GA enthusiasts on the Blue Angels Team Even with 32000 lb. of thrust available, is it still possible to stall an F/A-18 with too much angle of attack? The Boeing F/A-18 was originally developed by McDonald-Douglas It's not easy to find another aircraft with the thrust to weight characteristics, maneuverability characteristics, weapons systems, and ergonomics of an F/A-18 The Hornet is exceptional in it's high angle of attack maneuverability capability and thrust to weight performance characteristics Are those solid fuel JATOs (Jet-Assisted Take-Off) on Fat Albert? Yes, they use solid fuel propellant There are 3 Marine Corp. C-130 pilots on the team The remaining support for Fat Albert is from 3 Marine Corp. officers and 3 Marine Corp. enlisted personnel There's also Marine Corp. F/A-18 pilot on the team As a Blue Angels pilot, seeing a Fat Albert takeoff is very exhilarating, because it's the only time we get to see our own demo Just like any other maneuver, the team trains for the asymmetrical firing of the JATOs At air shows, what is the relationship between the Blue Angels and the FAA? The team of the Blue Angels and the FAA are all focused on the same issues, the primary one being safety for both the performers and the spectators The groundwork for any show is laid many months in advance Every airshow site has a list of very specific procedures, objectives, and milestones they need to work through to make the site appropriate for a jet demonstration team Even though the FAA has further restricted the airspace around these airshows in the last few years, these were not triggered by 9/11 but rather by general safety concerns Pilot Dan: General Aviation owes a huge debt to these demonstration shows because of the large crowds that attend and reminds them that this country created General Aviation and have a great tradition with it What did it feel like the first time you were catapulted off an aircraft carrier? The first was in 1985 in a T-2 Buckeye We were mustered at 4:45 on a rainy morning, for our briefing Had been training for the previous month, at Meridian, Mississippi Lot's of butterflies in my stomach, at the briefing After a weather delay, we took off, in formation, from the Naval Air Station, Key West, and headed for the carrier The training is so rigorous, that the tasks tend to to become automatic Carrier landings are very difficult, but the take-offs are relatively easy Was screaming with exhilaration during that first take-off Then you realize you got to make a landing if you want to do it again, and the training takes over Carrier landings at night are a much more difficult, and never becomes routine All of the Blue Angels members came from the operational force and will return to it when their tour with the Angels is complete How do you counteract the G-forces involved with flying a high powered jet? As a high powered jet fighter pilot you get accustomed to the G-forces, but there's also a very rigorous training program to prepare for those Gs The training involves physical, mental, and physiological aspects One of the best ways is to keep in good physical condition, with emphasis on anaerobics Be well rested, well nourished, and well hydrated Even as little as a couple of days of not being exposed to the G-forces can be enough for the onset of it's effects G suits are not worn by the Blue Angels pilots During a low level practice run in Chicago, Pilot Mike saw the jet pass so close to his office building, he was able to see the lightning bolts on the pilots helmet. Do you make a conscious effort to delay your appearance after the previous act in order to make a big entrance? The performance has been choreographed for the highest level of effect and to be entertaining We want to make sure the spectators see what a team can do when they focus on dedication, teamwork, and hard work Even though they put on an amazing show, we should remember it's the same kind of flying our operational forces are doing every day Some final thoughts from Boss Foley We are very blessed to be a part of the Blue Angels legacy Those blessings are not just from the previous members of the team but from our fellow countrymen My vision is that we are a team recognized for our excellence not only in flight demonstration, but for the public visits we make Our official mission is to enhance the recruiting of our Naval Service, but we also need to be good samaritans and good citizens and demonstrate what one can achieve with with a high degree of scrutiny, preparation, dedication, teamwork, and a focus on what's good and right Seeing some of the children attending our shows, I hope to inspire them to become good people and responsible, great Americans and great patriots We all share that responsibility Patrick's story will be running in the June 18th issue, of the NorthEast magazine, in the Hartford Courant Cool images of the Blue Angels: If you're interested in finding out more about the Blue Angels: Here's the official Blue Angels website Steven Force Tupper does an online radio program, Airspeed Online. He recently aired an informative episode on the Blue Angels which we used as a resource for the interview with Boss Foley. Thanks, Steve! You can listen to it by clicking on the mp3 icon. For a great film on the principles of flight with amazing footage of The Blue Angels taken from the jets IN FLIGHT check out The Magic of Flight DVD from Amazon: An extra added bonus: For those of you who have been asking, here are some more Pilotcast crew images - of Pilot Mike during the recording of Pilotcast #33, and Pilot Mike and Pilot Kent in Madison, WI: The larger versions of these images may be frightening to small children and to regular listeners, compared to the images they had in thier minds. Contact us at by email: pilotcast (AT) gmail.com Song: Angels and Aeroplanes by Peter James Music on the Pilotcast is from the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Check it out at http://music.podshow.com Pilotcast show notes are at http://www.pilotcast.com The Pilotcast THANKS Pilot Bill for the GREAT work on these show notes!
