Blue Angels

Highlights and Memories

The year 1946 marked the first performance of the Blue Angels, a flight demonstration team inspired by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations. Flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the Blue Angels would perform daring maneuvers to thrill the public and maintain interest in naval aviation. The flight team originated with 4 pilots and an 11-man ground crew.

Shows back then were only 17 minutes long and consisted of “V” and “Echelon” (parallel but unaligned) formations. It didn’t take long to wow crowds everywhere and add new formations. “Diamond” and “Solo” formations took off in the ’40s. The ’50s offered up tons of new maneuvers including “Tuck-under Break,” the “3-in-1,” the first six-plane “Delta” and “Solo’s Back-to-Back.”

The ’60s delighted fans with stunning new maneuvers including “Diamond Landing,” “Six-Plane Delta Landing,” “Lead Solo’s Dirty Roll on Take-off,” the “Half Cuban-eight” and the “Farvel” formation (leader inverted in the “Diamond”). Step back into the 70s and you’re in for a treat with breathtaking new “Diamond” maneuvers including loops and inverted planes as well as new solo tricks including the “Dirty Loop,” the “Opposing Dirty Roll on Take-off” and the “Tuck-away Break.” Blue Angels shows today last approximately 45 minutes. Six pilots perform 30 exciting maneuvers during each show — never repeating a stunt.

Always on the cutting edge, Blue Angels aircraft have transitioned with technology. In 1946, they switched to the Grumman F8F-1 for its increased power and maneuverability. They began using planes with jet engines in 1949. Jet engines proved to be much more powerful than those previously used. From 1953 to 1956, Blue Angels flew Grumman F9F-8 Cougars; They flew Grumman F11F-1 Tigers from 1957 to 1968. McDonnell Douglas Phantoms premiered in 1973, only to be upstaged by McDonnell Douglas Skyhawks in 1974. Since 1986, the Blue Angels have been working their magic with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets.

Monumental Moments

1947 — First public performance showcasing the now-famous “Diamond” formation at the World Air Carnival in Birmingham, Alabama

1949 — Blue Angels flew a series of shows for Life Magazine

1950 — Blue Angels ordered to Combat Duty Status in response to the Korean Conflict

1954 — Blue Angels pilot LCDR Hawkins experienced mechanical problems and became the first Navy pilot to survive a supersonic ejection

1956 — Blue Angels first-ever performance outside the U.S. in Toronto, Canada

1965 — Paris Air Show: Flight demonstration teams from all over the world performed. Blue Angels were the only team that received a standing ovation during the four-day event

1968 — LT Mary Russell became the first woman assigned to the Blue Angels team

1969 — During a practice show, CAPT Vince Donile exceeded the speed of sound, breaking a large number of windows in the surrounding area

1974 — Blue Angels began flying the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and reorganized to add support officers and redefine the squadron’s mission. The new mission emphasized the support of recruiting efforts

1986 — Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year. They unveiled their present aircraft — the sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. This was the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft now serving on the nation’s front lines of defense

1992 — Blue Angels became the first flight demonstration team to perform in Russia

1992 — More than one million people viewed Blue Angels’ performances during a 30-day European tour

2000 — This show season brought out more than 15 million spectators