Blue Angels F4 old-timer pilot interview new vid (Nov.'21) long, but good (crank up playback speed - no **** ) .
For a brief period, and I believe it was in 1954, the Blues received F9F-6 Cougars. However there was a defect in the stabilizer trim system that resulted in one of the pilots having to eject at supersonic speed, perhaps the first time a pilot had survived such an ejection. The aircraft were returned to Grumman and the team reclaimed their F9F-5 Panthers until the -8 Cougar was ready. I believe that all the delivered F9F-6s had to be grounded until Grumman fixed the trim problem before they were returned to service.
I fail to see the vast difference between the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. Both teams are excellent and equal except, maybe, for the more active press of the Navy. I have seen the B.A. over the years and since 1950 and the Thunderbirds almost as long. No difference.
The Big difference to me is the sound ..each have a distinct sound .. i do prefer the t-birds roar Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk
The Falcon has a loud burner note. It's a massive engine. Though it takes 2 Bugs on burner to make an impressive note that will reverberate throughout the city limits. At least for myself, the Blues give a better show. Navy jocks have the bigger ego, and will push the envelope further than USAF. When the Blues come to town, they LET YOU KNOW. They buzz the town up good in low level flight. They will hot dog it up before showtime. The Birds come to town, land, park, do some ramp PR, then go hit the hotel. Yawn. Blues know how to rock it. Example; the Blues do this routine where the audience is focused on the diamond formation performance in front of them, then out of nowhere, the Solo Blue comes fast on the audience's six, hits the burner and scares the mess out of the audience. The Blues have more faux "near mid-air" demonstrations than USAF. In everything they do, the Blues T/O in formation. The Birds, one by one. The Birds are good, don't get me wrong, but the excitement value just isn't there. They are just a clean, wholesome, show that exhibits textbook 'keep in tight' formation flying.
^^^ all that, plus the Blues have Fat Albert! The last couple times I saw them they started to remind me of the Snowbirds
Ironically, the first time I saw this done, it was the Thunderbirds doing it, and this was back in their F-100 days in the 1960s!
You mean Ball HEAD? I have one, it blows. Big-ass Bogen 3036, with the normal head, and then I bought a Bogen ball head for it.. I went back to the normal head.
Travis AFB. I bet they are wondering what they did wrong to hang out in the middle of nowhere for a couple of days
