Blue Angels...
Discussion
Stu R said:
Cracking pictures 
Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
They are different in a few ways. The Blue Angels use the F18 which is a mach 2 fighter that is much larger than the trainer used by the Red Arrows. As a result, most of the show is at a higher speed. The Blue Angels also fly in three / four / five plane configurations with one or two of the planes doing solo maneuvers around the formation. Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
So same, but different.
My cousin is a Harrier pilot for the US Marines, I asked him why they don't have a flight team for air shows, he told me that it was hard enough to fly the Harrier by itself, four or five in formation performing aerial maneuvers would be a suicide mission.
Finally saw an F22. I never thought I would see a fighter I liked more than the F15. I was wrong.
Joecooool said:
Stu R said:
Cracking pictures
Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
They are different in a few ways. The Blue Angels use the F18 which is a mach 2 fighter that is much larger than the trainer used by the Red Arrows. As a result, most of the show is at a higher speed. The Blue Angels also fly in three / four / five plane configurations with one or two of the planes doing solo maneuvers around the formation. Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
So same, but different.
My cousin is a Harrier pilot for the US Marines, I asked him why they don't have a flight team for air shows, he told me that it was hard enough to fly the Harrier by itself, four or five in formation performing aerial maneuvers would be a suicide mission.
Finally saw an F22. I never thought I would see a fighter I liked more than the F15. I was wrong.
Shaw Tarse said:
Joecooool said:
Stu R said:
Cracking pictures
Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
They are different in a few ways. The Blue Angels use the F18 which is a mach 2 fighter that is much larger than the trainer used by the Red Arrows. As a result, most of the show is at a higher speed. The Blue Angels also fly in three / four / five plane configurations with one or two of the planes doing solo maneuvers around the formation. Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
So same, but different.
My cousin is a Harrier pilot for the US Marines, I asked him why they don't have a flight team for air shows, he told me that it was hard enough to fly the Harrier by itself, four or five in formation performing aerial maneuvers would be a suicide mission.
Finally saw an F22. I never thought I would see a fighter I liked more than the F15. I was wrong.
I admire both display teams, but even as a Brit, I have to say that the Angels formations look tighter than the Arrows these days. Maybe it is the size difference between the planes, but IMO we are splitting hairs as they are both brilliant. Also used to like the Patrouille de France in their Magisters way back when....
Are the Dead Sparrows still the only mob to barrel roll 5 abreast (gives you some idea since I was last following it)?
Are the Dead Sparrows still the only mob to barrel roll 5 abreast (gives you some idea since I was last following it)?
The Red Arrows HAVE suffered some fatalities. Two Gnats collided during a practice routine in the early 1970s. They've also lost a few other aircraft (mainly Hawks), luckilly without any major injury to the pilots.
The two major US military air display teams (the USAF's Thunderbirds and the US Navy's Blue Angels) are described as formation display teams. They both operate versions of front line fighters (in the case of the F-18, a fighter-bomber). Therefore, the dislays they perform are more of an emphasis on speed, power and tight formation flying
The Red Arrows operate the smaller and nimbler Hawk trainer. Therefore, their displays concentrate on aerobatics with a bigger variety of formation changes.
The displays conducted by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are very different to the Arrows. For a better comparison, I would compare the Red Arrows' displays with those of the Patrouille de France (Alpha Jets) and the Frecci Tricolori (Macchi 339s).
The two major US military air display teams (the USAF's Thunderbirds and the US Navy's Blue Angels) are described as formation display teams. They both operate versions of front line fighters (in the case of the F-18, a fighter-bomber). Therefore, the dislays they perform are more of an emphasis on speed, power and tight formation flying
The Red Arrows operate the smaller and nimbler Hawk trainer. Therefore, their displays concentrate on aerobatics with a bigger variety of formation changes.
The displays conducted by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are very different to the Arrows. For a better comparison, I would compare the Red Arrows' displays with those of the Patrouille de France (Alpha Jets) and the Frecci Tricolori (Macchi 339s).
Joecooool said:
Stu R said:
Cracking pictures
Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
They are different in a few ways. The Blue Angels use the F18 which is a mach 2 fighter that is much larger than the trainer used by the Red Arrows. As a result, most of the show is at a higher speed. The Blue Angels also fly in three / four / five plane configurations with one or two of the planes doing solo maneuvers around the formation. Are they as good as the Red Arrows then?
So same, but different.
My cousin is a Harrier pilot for the US Marines, I asked him why they don't have a flight team for air shows, he told me that it was hard enough to fly the Harrier by itself, four or five in formation performing aerial maneuvers would be a suicide mission.
Finally saw an F22. I never thought I would see a fighter I liked more than the F15. I was wrong.
Eric Mc said:
The Red Arrows HAVE suffered some fatalities. Two Gnats collided during a practice routine in the early 1970s. They've also lost a few other aircraft (mainly Hawks), luckilly without any major injury to the pilots.
The two major US military air display teams (the USAF's Thunderbirds and the US Navy's Blue Angels) are described as formation display teams. They both operate versions of front line fighters (in the case of the F-18, a fighter-bomber). Therefore, the dislays they perform are more of an emphasis on speed, power and tight formation flying
The Red Arrows operate the smaller and nimbler Hawk trainer. Therefore, their displays concentrate on aerobatics with a bigger variety of formation changes.
The displays conducted by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are very different to the Arrows. For a better comparison, I would compare the Red Arrows' displays with those of the Patrouille de France (Alpha Jets) and the Frecci Tricolori (Macchi 339s).
Ah the Frecci Tricolori, mad as hell. Of course there was the famous time when they wanted to finish their display with a supersonic pass while drinking Chianti. The organisers binned it " we can't expose the public to a Hi tiddly Iti boom boom"The two major US military air display teams (the USAF's Thunderbirds and the US Navy's Blue Angels) are described as formation display teams. They both operate versions of front line fighters (in the case of the F-18, a fighter-bomber). Therefore, the dislays they perform are more of an emphasis on speed, power and tight formation flying
The Red Arrows operate the smaller and nimbler Hawk trainer. Therefore, their displays concentrate on aerobatics with a bigger variety of formation changes.
The displays conducted by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are very different to the Arrows. For a better comparison, I would compare the Red Arrows' displays with those of the Patrouille de France (Alpha Jets) and the Frecci Tricolori (Macchi 339s).
Thank you for giving that old (two Ronnies joke) a good home
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