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Description
Timeline
F6F-5 Hellcats in 1946
F6F-5 Hellcats in 1946
The "Blues" support crew watches the team perform in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet fighter.
The "Blues" support crew watches the team perform in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet fighter.
F9F-8 Cougar formation in 1956
F9F-8 Cougar formation in 1956
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, 1957-69
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, 1957-69
McDonnell F-4J Phantom IIs
McDonnell F-4J Phantom IIs

* 1946: The "Navy Flight Exhibition Team" is formed and takes the name Blue Angels.
* 1950: The team is ordered to Combat Duty Status in response to the Korean Conflict.
* 1954: "Blues" pilot LCDR Hawkins becomes the first naval aviator to survive an ejection at supersonic speeds. The first Marine Corps pilot, Capt Chuck Hiett, joins the team. Team is rebased at NAS Pensacola in the winter of 1954.
* 1956: The team gives its first performance outside the United States in Toronto, Canada.
* 1957: Blue Angels go supersonic with the conversion from F9F to F11F
* 1965: The Blue Angels are the only team to receive a standing ovation during the four-day Paris Air Show.
* 1968: LT Mary Russell becomes the first woman assigned to the "Blues."
* 1974: The team transitions to the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and is reorganized to add support officers and redefine the squadron’s mission, which emphasizes the support of recruiting efforts.
* 1986: The Blue Angels complete their 40th anniversary year in November and unveil their present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.
* 1986: LCDR Donnie Cochran, is selected to join the Blue Angels. He is the first African-American Naval Aviator to be selected.
* 1992: The Blue Angels become the first foreign flight demonstration team to perform in Russia. More than a million spectators witness the "Blues" performances during a month-long European tour.
* 1994 CDR Donnie Cochran assumes command of the Blue Angels.
* 1998: CDR Patrick Driscoll makes the first "Blue Jet" landing on a "haze gray and underway" aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).
* 2000: Show season attendance tops 15 million spectators.
* 2006: Blue Angels mark 60 years in history in performing since 1946.
* 2007: The Blue Angels have been been flying the F/A-18 Hornet in flight demonstrations for 20 years.

Source:Blue Angels Monumental Moments

[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Demonstrators

1. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat - June-August 1946
2. Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat - August 1946-1949
3. Grumman F9F-2 Panther - 1949-June 1950 (first jet);
1. Grumman F9F-5 Panther - 1951-Winter 1954/55
4. Grumman F9F-8 Cougar - Winter 1954/55-mid-season 1957 (swept-wing)
5. Grumman F11F-1 Tiger - mid-season 1957-1969 (first supersonic jet)
6. McDonnell F-4J Phantom II - 1969-December 1974
7. Douglas A-4F Skyhawk - December 1974-November 1986
8. McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18A, F/A-18B Hornet - November 1986-Present

[edit] Support

1. Douglas R4D Sky Train - 1949-1955
2. Curtiss R5C Commando - 1953
3. Douglas R5D Skymaster - 1956-1968
4. Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation - 1969-1973
5. Lockheed C-130 Hercules - 1970-Present

[edit] Routines
The solos make a "knife-edge" pass. The far aircraft is actually slightly higher than the near aircraft to make them appear in-line to the audience.
The solos make a "knife-edge" pass. The far aircraft is actually slightly higher than the near aircraft to make them appear in-line to the audience.
Blue Angels aircraft perform the "Section High Alpha", the slowest manuever of their show. During the maneuver the two jets slow down to 125 knots (232 km/h) as they pitch the nose of the F/A-18 up to 45 degrees.
Blue Angels aircraft perform the "Section High Alpha", the slowest manuever of their show. During the maneuver the two jets slow down to 125 knots (232 km/h) as they pitch the nose of the F/A-18 up to 45 degrees.
Blue Angel number seven roars past during the Fleet Week 2007 air show over the San Francisco Bay.
Blue Angel number seven roars past during the Fleet Week 2007 air show over the San Francisco Bay.
Blue Angels on Delta Formation.
Blue Angels on Delta Formation.

* Fat Albert (C-130) - JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off)
* Fat Albert - Flat Pass
* Fat Albert - Head on Pass
* Fat Albert - Short-Field Assault Landing
* Engine Start-Up and Taxi Out
* Diamond Take-off (Either a low transition, a loop on takeoff, a half-Cuban 8 takeoff, or a Half Squirrel Cage)
* Solos Take-off (Blue Angel #5: Dirty Roll on Take-Off; Blue Angel #6: Low Transition, Split S on Take-Off)
* Diamond 360: Aircraft 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in their signature 18" wingtip-to-canopy diamond formation. (Called the Diamond 360 by the Blue Angels themselves, not the Pass in Review which is a Thunderbird maneuver)
* Opposing Knife-Edge Pass
* Diamond Roll
* Opposing Inverted to Inverted Rolls
* Diamond Aileron Roll
* Fortus
* Diamond Dirty Loop
* Minimum Radius Turn
* Double Farvel: Diamond formation with aircraft 1 and 4 inverted.
* Opposing Minimum Radius Turn
* Echelon Parade
* Opposing Horizontal Rolls
* Left Echelon Roll: The roll is made into the Echelon which is difficult and dangerous.
* Sneak Pass: the fastest speed of the show is about 700 mph (just under Mach 1 at sea level) Video
* Line-Abreast Loop
* Opposing Four-Point Hesitation Roll
* Vertical Break
* Opposing Pitch Up
* Barrel Roll Break
* Section High-Alpha Pass: (tail sitting), the show's slowest maneuver[2]
* Low Break Cross
* Inverted Tuck Over Roll
* Tuck Under Break
* Delta Roll
* Fleur de Lis
* Solos Pass to Rejoin
* Loop Break Cross (Delta Break): After the break the aircraft separate in six different directions, perform half Cuban eights then cross in the center of the performance area.
* Delta Breakout
* Delta Pitch Up Break to Land

* Note, the maneuver sequence has changed in 2008 from what it was in 2007.

Source: Videos and pictures of these maneuvers

Description
Timeline
F6F-5 Hellcats in 1946
F6F-5 Hellcats in 1946
The "Blues" support crew watches the team perform in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet fighter.
The "Blues" support crew watches the team perform in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet fighter.
F9F-8 Cougar formation in 1956
F9F-8 Cougar formation in 1956
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, 1957-69
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, 1957-69
McDonnell F-4J Phantom IIs
McDonnell F-4J Phantom IIs

* 1946: The "Navy Flight Exhibition Team" is formed and takes the name Blue Angels.
* 1950: The team is ordered to Combat Duty Status in response to the Korean Conflict.
* 1954: "Blues" pilot LCDR Hawkins becomes the first naval aviator to survive an ejection at supersonic speeds. The first Marine Corps pilot, Capt Chuck Hiett, joins the team. Team is rebased at NAS Pensacola in the winter of 1954.
* 1956: The team gives its first performance outside the United States in Toronto, Canada.
* 1957: Blue Angels go supersonic with the conversion from F9F to F11F
* 1965: The Blue Angels are the only team to receive a standing ovation during the four-day Paris Air Show.
* 1968: LT Mary Russell becomes the first woman assigned to the "Blues."
* 1974: The team transitions to the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and is reorganized to add support officers and redefine the squadron’s mission, which emphasizes the support of recruiting efforts.
* 1986: The Blue Angels complete their 40th anniversary year in November and unveil their present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.
* 1986: LCDR Donnie Cochran, is selected to join the Blue Angels. He is the first African-American Naval Aviator to be selected.
* 1992: The Blue Angels become the first foreign flight demonstration team to perform in Russia. More than a million spectators witness the "Blues" performances during a month-long European tour.
* 1994 CDR Donnie Cochran assumes command of the Blue Angels.
* 1998: CDR Patrick Driscoll makes the first "Blue Jet" landing on a "haze gray and underway" aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).
* 2000: Show season attendance tops 15 million spectators.
* 2006: Blue Angels mark 60 years in history in performing since 1946.
* 2007: The Blue Angels have been been flying the F/A-18 Hornet in flight demonstrations for 20 years.

Source:Blue Angels Monumental Moments

[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Demonstrators

1. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat - June-August 1946
2. Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat - August 1946-1949
3. Grumman F9F-2 Panther - 1949-June 1950 (first jet);
1. Grumman F9F-5 Panther - 1951-Winter 1954/55
4. Grumman F9F-8 Cougar - Winter 1954/55-mid-season 1957 (swept-wing)
5. Grumman F11F-1 Tiger - mid-season 1957-1969 (first supersonic jet)
6. McDonnell F-4J Phantom II - 1969-December 1974
7. Douglas A-4F Skyhawk - December 1974-November 1986
8. McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18A, F/A-18B Hornet - November 1986-Present

[edit] Support

1. Douglas R4D Sky Train - 1949-1955
2. Curtiss R5C Commando - 1953
3. Douglas R5D Skymaster - 1956-1968
4. Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation - 1969-1973
5. Lockheed C-130 Hercules - 1970-Present

[edit] Routines
The solos make a "knife-edge" pass. The far aircraft is actually slightly higher than the near aircraft to make them appear in-line to the audience.
The solos make a "knife-edge" pass. The far aircraft is actually slightly higher than the near aircraft to make them appear in-line to the audience.
Blue Angels aircraft perform the "Section High Alpha", the slowest manuever of their show. During the maneuver the two jets slow down to 125 knots (232 km/h) as they pitch the nose of the F/A-18 up to 45 degrees.
Blue Angels aircraft perform the "Section High Alpha", the slowest manuever of their show. During the maneuver the two jets slow down to 125 knots (232 km/h) as they pitch the nose of the F/A-18 up to 45 degrees.
Blue Angel number seven roars past during the Fleet Week 2007 air show over the San Francisco Bay.
Blue Angel number seven roars past during the Fleet Week 2007 air show over the San Francisco Bay.
Blue Angels on Delta Formation.
Blue Angels on Delta Formation.

* Fat Albert (C-130) - JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off)
* Fat Albert - Flat Pass
* Fat Albert - Head on Pass
* Fat Albert - Short-Field Assault Landing
* Engine Start-Up and Taxi Out
* Diamond Take-off (Either a low transition, a loop on takeoff, a half-Cuban 8 takeoff, or a Half Squirrel Cage)
* Solos Take-off (Blue Angel #5: Dirty Roll on Take-Off; Blue Angel #6: Low Transition, Split S on Take-Off)
* Diamond 360: Aircraft 1, 2, 3 and 4 are in their signature 18" wingtip-to-canopy diamond formation. (Called the Diamond 360 by the Blue Angels themselves, not the Pass in Review which is a Thunderbird maneuver)
* Opposing Knife-Edge Pass
* Diamond Roll
* Opposing Inverted to Inverted Rolls
* Diamond Aileron Roll
* Fortus
* Diamond Dirty Loop
* Minimum Radius Turn
* Double Farvel: Diamond formation with aircraft 1 and 4 inverted.
* Opposing Minimum Radius Turn
* Echelon Parade
* Opposing Horizontal Rolls
* Left Echelon Roll: The roll is made into the Echelon which is difficult and dangerous.
* Sneak Pass: the fastest speed of the show is about 700 mph (just under Mach 1 at sea level) Video
* Line-Abreast Loop
* Opposing Four-Point Hesitation Roll
* Vertical Break
* Opposing Pitch Up
* Barrel Roll Break
* Section High-Alpha Pass: (tail sitting), the show's slowest maneuver[2]
* Low Break Cross
* Inverted Tuck Over Roll
* Tuck Under Break
* Delta Roll
* Fleur de Lis
* Solos Pass to Rejoin
* Loop Break Cross (Delta Break): After the break the aircraft separate in six different directions, perform half Cuban eights then cross in the center of the performance area.
* Delta Breakout
* Delta Pitch Up Break to Land

* Note, the maneuver sequence has changed in 2008 from what it was in 2007.

Source: Videos and pictures of these maneuvers