Figured some might like this. I've never seen them myself but...
Airplanes are cool and I read something where the BA can repaint and have these combat ready in 72 hours. In other words, they're full boogie F18's and not pared down for air show duty.
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I genuinely loved "formating". You might not believe it is possible to move a jet two inches up or down to hold an exact position relative to another jet, but you can. It is not a matter of moving the controls. You THINK the plane where you want it to go. Your entire world is that other plane. Whatever happens to the universe beyond that plane is irrelevant: blue, green, white, water, or dirt does not matter. Your only job is to keep that other jet RIGHT THERE.
Side note: I was recommended and considered to be the Thunderbird Narrator. I declined the job.
Your entire world is that other plane. Whatever happens to the universe beyond that plane is irrelevant: blue, green, white, water, or dirt does not matter. Your only job is to keep that other jet RIGHT THERE.
I genuinely loved "formating". You might not believe it is possible to move a jet two inches up or down to hold an exact position relative to another jet, but you can. It is not a matter of moving the controls. You THINK the plane where you want it to go. Your entire world is that other plane. Whatever happens to the universe beyond that plane is irrelevant: blue, green, white, water, or dirt does not matter. Your only job is to keep that other jet RIGHT THERE.
Side note: I was recommended and considered to be the Thunderbird Narrator. I declined the job.
I'm not a fluid dynamics or aero space engineer but how the air moves across those various surfaces, once they're bunched up like that has to be fascinating. Each plane, I would think, is dealing with different situation from a controls perspective?
Back in the early 70s we lived in Kingsville TX. I was still a whipper snapper back then, my dad would take us up on the roof with some lawn chairs to watch them.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
We have seen the Blue Angels a couple times at Mountain Home. It is amazing that they can stand the jet on its tail and move slowly down the runway. A very deft hand.
I will be watching for the program on Prime.
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
Dad used to tell about leading a flight of 18 B-17s past the control tower for a low level flyby for a visiting general- - - -wide open throttle, 100 feet altitude, with their wingtips overlapping. He got a "counseling" session over that shenanigan- - - - -"Yes, that's the way we do it in combat- - - - -BUT NOT IN TRAINING!" Flying the standard "50/50" formation (50 feet apart and 50 feet altitude difference) was a good way to let German fighters slip into the formation and shoot them up. Nobody did that in a combat situation.
Teal - yes, each plane flies in a different set of vortices generated at the wingtips. And they vary constantly with changing positions and distances. Each jet affects the other.
In my mind these guys will always be Bad Asses of the highest order! When I was a kid they always flew at the local Coast Guard Festival, we lived seven miles out from town and it was the turnaround spot for them, we got a better show than anyone in town did!!
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
Teal - yes, each plane flies in a different set of vortices generated at the wingtips. And they vary constantly with changing positions and distances. Each jet affects the other.
As a flight lead you can feel the other aircraft moving around you. If you’re the right wingman, if you move in closer to the lead, you can push him around and cause his right wing to move up. It’s an easy to aggravate your lead. 😊
I was acting as a lead safe overhead the Lexington many years ago, holding overhead just waiting for something bad to happen. One of our students went the wrong way (heading 130) when he was diverted with Bingo fuel (emergency fuel state). After several calls, the Air Boss finally got him going in the right direction (heading 310) toward Pensacola by cussing very LOUDLY over the radio. That was the only time I ever heard an Air Boss cuss on the radio. “G— dammit 904, Pensacola is 310, 310 do you copy?” The student responded with a huge, 180 degree bat turn just as I was catching him. Chit!
I finally caught up and joined on his right side. I pulled up alongside, waggled the wings to get him to look up but he was now heads down flying 310. A couple of mike clicks on the radio didn’t work either. I tried to call but he had switched off the frequency. I finally eased forward and a little left, in front of his right wingtip to allow my wingtip vortices to pick his wing up. He was shocked when he finally looked up and figured out that I would take him home.
In our advanced formation syllabus we taught studs to fly formation through aerobatics, wingovers, barrel rolls, etc. as confidence builders. We used to do it in four plane formation but we finally got smart and cut that out. You’d come back after one of those hops sweating your butt off. It paid off though when you were lost comm and had to follow the lead through bad weather or at night on an approach at the boat.
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
Absolute concentration and not exactly a fluid ride although it looks that way from the ground. A worthwhile show if held at an airport runway where they near put them on the pavement upside down. Been to five or six shows some also including the Thunderbirds.
Shows over populated areas like Louisville, Kentucky are not near as thrilling, as they have to keep things about 600 ft up. At an airport one can look through the canopy as they pass at eye level.
Probably the two most elite teams in the world. I suspect hundreds dream, but only the absolute best will make it.
Your entire world is that other plane. Whatever happens to the universe beyond that plane is irrelevant: blue, green, white, water, or dirt does not matter. Your only job is to keep that other jet RIGHT THERE.
In one way or another I’ve taught about helf of the Blues either in an aircraft or simulator and in reality, they’re all good guys that have complete confidence and trust in their, and their other wingmen’s skills and they’ll be in the right place at any given time. If the rest of the team doesn’t like a “rushee” they don’t get asked to be on the team.
They have to be open to criticism and own up to any mistakes….no room for a guy that that makes excuses. “Well, what I was trying to do was…..” won’t cut it.
Many times during my three IP tours I’ve had a stud start that and it’s “OK, I don’t care what you were trying to do, or what you meant to do,THIS is what you did. Now, let’s talk about how to avoid making that mistake again, or how to do it better.”
The last time the Blues performed here, my grandson and youngest granddaughter went with us. Afterwards I took them up to the rope line and I spoke with several of the guys and the kids got some autographs. They asked, “Pop, do you really know those guys.” 😁
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
