Blue Angels video - for pure enjoyment

Capt MJ

Formerly Known As Attila The Hunnette
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This is one of my favorite older videos (2009).

For all the '20 appointees feeling the nerves about Plebe Summer, to the disappointed candidates who are pursuing paths B or C, to the '21 hopefuls starting to wrestle with the application steeplechase:

Effort=Results, though your results may take you in surprising directions. I have a piece of brass with those words engraved, given to me by the sailors at my first duty station, in my first division. It has been on every desk of mine since. Do the work, reap the results, be open and adaptive to life's curveballs.

I like this video because it shows the faces of people doing hard work, mentally and physically. The Blues don't wear G-suits, so when they are making faces, they are tensing their muscles - hard - to keep blood in all the right places and not pass out. They must be 100% in sync with their teammates, totally focused on the task at hand, because lives can be lost.

Just thinking about all the wannabees and gonnabees and families out there today.

 
This is one of my favorite older videos (2009).

For all the '20 appointees feeling the nerves about Plebe Summer, to the disappointed candidates who are pursuing paths B or C, to the '21 hopefuls starting to wrestle with the application steeplechase:

Effort=Results, though your results may take you in surprising directions. I have a piece of brass with those words engraved, given to me by the sailors at my first duty station, in my first division. It has been on every desk of mine since. Do the work, reap the results, be open and adaptive to life's curveballs.

I like this video because it shows the faces of people doing hard work, mentally and physically. The Blues don't wear G-suits, so when they are making faces, they are tensing their muscles - hard - to keep blood in all the right places and not pass out. They must be 100% in sync with their teammates, totally focused on the task at hand, because lives can be lost.

Just thinking about all the wannabees and gonnabees and families out there today.

I love the reference and "definition" on EFFORT. I watched the video in awe and even passed it on to my plebe as inspiration. Just curious as to why the Blue Angels don't wear G suits?
 
From the Blue Angels website:

Why don't the pilots wear G-suits?

G-suits are designed with air bladders (pockets) that inflate and deflate to keep a pilot's blood from pooling in the pilots' legs while executing sharp, unpredicted combat maneuvers. Unlike combat flying, the Blue Angels demonstration pilots know the maneuvers they will fly prior to execution, so each pilot knows when one will be experiencing heavy gravitational forces. Anticipating the changes in gravitational forces allows the Blue Angels demonstration pilots to combat G-forces with muscle contractions. Additionally, G-suits would detrimentally impact flight safety.The Boeing F/A-18's control stick is mounted between the pilot's legs. The Blue Angels have a spring tensioned with 40 pounds of pressure installed on the control stick that gives the pilot a "false feel." This allows the pilot minimal room for un-commanded movement. The pilots rest their right arms on their thighs for support and stability while flying. Therefore, inflating and deflating air bladders in a G-suit would interrupt this support and stability, causing un-commanded aircraft movement.

Stealth_81
 
Wow! Not really sure of a better word to use as a mom that knows very little about aviation. Thank you for the detailed information. It makes it all seem even more amazing. No doubt it will be in the back of my mind as I hope to watch the Blue Angels practice when I am in Annapolis next week for the Herndon Climb.
 
Enjoy! Hope you have great weather with unrestricted vizz, so they can do the full show. Lower ceiling = "the low show." Watching the practice is exactly the same as the full show.
 
Enjoy! Hope you have great weather with unrestricted vizz, so they can do the full show. Lower ceiling = "the low show." Watching the practice is exactly the same as the full show.

Where is the best location to watch the show?
 
Walk onto USNA, head for Hospital Point. Bring beach chair or blanket, sunscreen, hat, water, snacks, camera. Show center is the middle of the Severn River right about there. Anywhere along that side of USNA is not bad. Various bridges get closed 1-2 hours in advance. Traffic jams and clots. For a 2 pm show, people start pouring in around 11.

Practice show the day before is exactly the same, including time, bridge closures, traffic, etc. You want to ditch the car, walk on, stake out your spot, settle in.

Trying to drive off the Yard afterwards can take a l-o-o-o-n-g time.

As I recall, there will be portapotties, or you can go into Alumni Hall or the Parade Field Gazebo.

Watch out for drivers around Annapolis, US 50 and the Beltway near Joint Base Andrews, as people are distracted looking overhead. The Blues park at Andrews for the USNA show.
 
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I omitted to mention the Yard closes to incoming vehicular traffic except in very specific categories at some point both practice day and show day, even if you can usually drive in.

Found it! Yard closed 11-4 for incoming vehicles. MD 450 Bridge (Naval Academy Bridge) over the Severn closes at 10:45. FAA air show reg.

All in the Comm Week sked:
http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/Schedule/
 
Bonus shows - 15-16 October over the Inner Harbor/Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, part of Charm City's first-ever Fleet Week. For travel planning purposes - build a trip around it to do all the Visit Ship stuff or avoid due to traffic.
 
Saw the BAs this past April in Texas. Boys were blown away. Highly recommended. Below is the remaining 2016 schedule link.

http://www.pnj.com/story/news/military/2014/12/09/blue-angels-show-schedule/20172501/

My Navy League Cadet got to sit on the flight line at this air show to watch the BA and it was life changing for her. After she got to meet them and get autographs. She went from "I like Sea Cadets" to "MOM I'M GOING TO BE A BLUE ANGEL!!"
I lurk here because we have many many years until she is there but we are loving our SC time ☺️
 
Seascadetmum, let me just say it's possible. Why? My best friend from USNA was a Blue Angel. Heck I remember sitting at Hospital Point as Plebes watching the Blues together and us thinking it was cool. I always wanted to be a Marine and Aviation was actually his second pick out of USNA. But he thrived as a pilot and decided to apply when he became eligible. The process for selection is very different than most. I was lucky enough to be there when he 'got the call.' To this day I have never seen him so speechless. Over a several year period I got to attend 20+ shows and see the inner workings of it all. You nailed it why they don't wear G suits. They spend a great deal of time staying in shape and focusing on leg and core exercises to take the Gs. The last death they had on the team was due to a pilot blacking out. They did a great documentary about 10 years ago about the Blues. I think it was on discovery and called Year in the Life of the Blue Angels. That is a very accurate representation of how they are selected, train and perform. The amount they travel is insane. I don't think most people understand the out reach they do at each location with youth. There is much more to it than flying. The trust they have in one another has to been 100%. They are flying close, and only get closer as the season progresses. It's their way of constantly pushing to get better to eliminate complacency. At USNA they fly twice, the first is the practice and then the show. The practice is slightly different as they start with 2 jets each to get familiar with the 'box' (mid line, their parameters, and points for the show) and then they will fly a show. The actual show day is just the show. They always put on a great show, hope everyone at USNA enjoys it this weekend. As a grad it is still my favorite show!
 
It's 1334 on Tuesday of USNA Comm Week, and I am set up on our outdoor deck with laptop, working on a job application, on a perfect spring day in Annapolis. The first pre-practice Blue Angels show pass just blew by overhead. High ceiling today. I will get to see the opposing solos go overhead on inbound and outbound paths, and glimpse the high work.

I so need a dose of sound-of-freedom breastbone vibration. It never gets old. Never. Even DH who breathed avgas fumes his whole career gets the big grin. He took some neighbors to the practice show today, Blue Angels novices.

It's very quiet right now, as all BWI and through air traffic has been shifted to other flight paths.

I have the need. The need. For speed (vicarious).

I hope all those who watch it today and tomorrow enjoy themselves.
 
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