Blue Impulse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Impulse (ブルーインパルス Burū Inparusu?), or 11 Squadron, is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Originally formed in 1960 as a team of six F-86 Sabres, the team switched to the Mitsubishi T-2 in 1980 and then the Kawasaki T-4 in 1995. They are based at Matsushima Air Base.
[edit] History
- 1960: Team founded.
- 1964: 1964 Summer Olympics (Tokyo) opening.
- 1982: 14 November: Accident in Hamamatsu Air Base. One T-2 (#4) crashed.
- 1991: 4 July: Accident in the Pacific Ocean. Two T-2s (#2 and #4) crashed.
- 1998: 1998 Winter Olympics (Nagano) opening.
- 2000: 4 July: Accident in the Oshika Peninsula. Two T-4s performing a dual solo (#5 and #6) crashed.
- 2002: 4 June: 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan versus Belgium (Saitama Stadium) opening.
[edit] References in Pop Culture
The mercenary air team "Red Impulse" and its leader from the anime series Science Ninja Team Gatchaman take their name from the Blue Impulse.
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