Talk:Blue Angels

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Blue Angels article.
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[edit] Grammar

Part of the article reads as follows:

This reorganization permitted the establishment of a commanding officer vice a flight leader, added support officers, and further redefined the squadron's mission emphasizing the support of recruiting efforts.

What the heck does 'vice a flight leader' mean? If i even knew what it was supposed to mean, I would make an edit myself, but i'm lost. --Measure 21:36, August 4, 2005 (UTC)

I'm not an expert on the Blue Angels per se, but I do know that in the U.S. Navy, the command structure generally consists of a Commanding Officer who in the Blue Angels is also known as the Squadron Leader or "Boss." I think the editor was attempting to say that the team has a Commanding Officer "INSTEAD OF" (vice or versus) a flight leader. Pihanki 22:27, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Critics

Does anyone know of any criticisms like that they are a waste of tax payer money or something? Mbisanz 00:24, September 3, 2005 (UTC)

I don't know exactly how these things are funded, but I would guess that the budget for the Angels and other demo teams comes out of the recruiting budget. It is up to the Military to decide the best way to spend their money, and if they think it helps to have these demo teams, then they probably also have facts and figures to back it up. --Measure 19:49, 11 October 2005 (UTC)
If you think about the fact that the team is more than just the pilots (they have a sizeable support crew) and that they travel a lot, I'm sure there's plenty of criticism in the cost and maintenance of the whole thing.
I'm sure there's also those in favor of them, that say that they inspire awe and other things like that. They do do some pretty cool stuff. I don't think it's a waste of money myself. There's other things in the government that are bigger wastes of money. *Cough* Bush Administration *Cough* TotalTommyTerror 17:31, 22 November 2005 (UTC)
I just had the oppportunity to bring this question up to a few members of the Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds at the Jacksonville NAS Air Show this afternoon (Oct 29, 2006). Both teams are familiar with some criticism in recent years, but I am told that the support outweighs the naysayers by a very large margin. Since the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds F-16 and F-18 aircraft are near combat ready, their air show schedule is not that much different from the routine flights taken at bases all over the country, and indeed the world everyday as far as the finances are concerned. They remain prepared to enter combat if the need should ever arise. Also, I found out that the bills are paid from the recruiting budget and a sepatate fund

dedicated solely to the flight demo teams which is used when the recruiting budget runs dry.

[edit] Wiki Commons images

I created commons:Blue Angels to collect the existing commons images into one place and added a link to the article while sorting commons images. Might want to use some of those in this article; also, it would be good to move the images currently used here into wiki commons. Pimlottc 20:32, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Blue Angel Blue

Would anyone know which plane was the first to be painted "Blue Angel Blue" and have documentation to prove it? Just building models of one of each BA plane for my grandson and desiring accuracy. Thanks, Jack Ablon

[edit] Blue Angels Planes almost combat worthy?

I seem to remember seeing on a documentary, probably on the Discovery Channel, that the Blue Angels aircraft are flight frames near the end of their useful lives, with most of the combat avionics and systems stripped out for both weight and simplicity reasons. They are the next to last usage of a plane (The last being 'put on a stick' or some similar term with just the empty airframe used for a display piece). I could however be misremembering. Is there a source for the 'Combat ready in 72 hours' information? 207.59.200.164 17:55, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

According to the FAQ section of the Blue Angels website, the F-18's that they fly are capable of being combat ready and sent back to fleet in around 72 hours. http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm

Not to mention the fact that they haven't got hard points.AMStecker 00:13, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] whats the next transition

they are currently in F-18 jets are the rumors about the F-35 true

Well, since the F-35 isn't entering service until 5-6 years from now, I'd say they're going to stay with the hornets for a while. JesseZinVT 18:40, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Vought F7U Cutlass?

I noticed that the F7U Cutlass is missing from the list of aircraft used by the Blues. I'm aware that the Cutlass was only used as a solo demonstrator, never in formation flight, and that the Blues only used it briefly. Of course, I'm also aware of the overwhelmingly negative reputation of the "Gutless Cutlass" aka "Ensign Killer". However, it seems to me that it still warrants inclusion to make the article historically complete. Carguychris 15:13, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] History and Timeline edits needed, or delete them

The last Blue Angel crash that killed a pilot took place in 1999, when a pilot and crewmate were killed while practicing for air shows with the five other Blue Angels jets at a base in Georgia. If such events are to be part of the timeline, it should be complete as possible, with missing news dates of Apr 11, 1960, Feb 2, 1967, Jan 15, 1968, Jul 27, 1973, Jan 24, 1990, Oct 28, 1999. --Wnrussell 03:15, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

  • I've added the july 26 1973 incident (not July 27 as stated above) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kriscott (talk • contribs) 09:23, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

IMHO there should be a "Historical" time-line, and a separate time=line documenting crashes and accidents. SP 05:20, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Discussion on April 21st 2007 Crash

Why was change at:03:07, 22 April 2007 64.20.133.43 (Talk) (22,838 bytes) (→April 21, 2007 crash) immediately tagged vandalism and reverted? SP

If you look at the very next dif, youll see that the same editor reverted back to your edit. He most likely made a mistake the first time. - BillCJ 03:37, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Alright, I see it now, thanks! Someone else made a change from "claims the life of solo-pilot Number 6" to "claims the life of a pilot". I'm going to revert this edit, as the former is correct and contains more detail. SP

This certainly isn't the first fatal accident the Blues have had, and I'm wondering about the prominence in the article that this one is getting. If any more is added, it probably should be split off into its own article. However, it would probably be appropriate to have summary list of all the major accidents in its own section. Akradecki 04:31, 22 April 2007 (UTC)
I think it comes down to the fact that this happened today, the last crash (1999) was pre-wikipedia. As per my note above, I think there should be a summery list remembering all of the brave pilots who gave their lives to the Blue Angels. I would be less qualified to document those events though. SP 6:00 April 22, 2007 (UTC)
While it is true that other crashes came before WP, the point is that this is a general, overview encyclopedia article. See the article on the Thunderbirds, for example, and see how the summary is handled. Just because an accident it momentarily big news in the media doesn't mean that it gets the same level of detailed coverage in an encyclopedia article. Akradecki 05:27, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

"turned on his side to cut back" The point is multi-faceted. 1) The Plane turned more sharply than was expected or than any of the other planes did on that turn; the move looked somewhat unnatural compared to the grace and fluidity of the previous 45 min spectacle. 2) The plane banked FULLY on it's side putting the wings perpendicular to the ground, and the cockpit sideways towards the row of trees.

These facts may prove significant to both the cause of the accident AND the reason the pilot didn't eject. As stated here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:No_original_research#Primary.2C_secondary.2C_and_tertiary_sources primary and first-hand accounts may be appropriate in the case of a current-event, however the account should only make descriptive claims ( plane turned on it's side ), but should not attempt to analyze the data (hence the agreement that my follow-up paragraph was out of line). SP

This section has been split off to its own article, 2007 Blue Angels South Carolina crash. Please edit there. This talk section will also be copied over to there. Akradecki 15:03, 22 April 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Founding Year

Just out of interest anyone got any definitive evidence on when the angels were founded because the article cites 1946 but CNN is saying it was 1951. 81.77.8.82 21:11, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

  • CNN is partially right and wrong. The Blue Angels was originally formed in 1946, disbanded in 1950 due to the Korean war and reformed in 1951. Read the History section of this article for details. -Fnlayson 21:53, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Accidents section

Going by the format alrady in use by the article U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, I've added an accidents section (though I'm not sure that it really should stay in its current location, or be moved down one section...anyone?) and pulled the relevent events out of the timeline, as was suggested earlier in the Talk page. It would probably be a good idea if anyone knows actual dates for the other incidents, and some refs as well. Akradecki 00:05, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

  • I suggest putting the Accidents section just before the Miscellaneous section. This is how several commerical aircraft articles are layed out. -Fnlayson 02:19, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
    • Done. Also moved the creed to the misc section. Akradecki 02:42, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
      • Looks good. Thanks. -Fnlayson 04:11, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
  • Removed: "The aircraft clipped a pine tree and debris hit homes and vehicles near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.[1] It seems unintentionally misleading as the crash is still under investigation and the tree and lines were probably clipped on the way down after whatever caused the accident.
    • Respectfully, please sign yout posts and get a screen name.
    • Re-added above statement. While the incident is under investigation, this is the statement from a military source and the AP about the incident BEFORE the crash. While it isn't conclusive, it can be updated as more information becomes available. — BQZip01 — talk 20:42, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:BlueAngelsCrest.gif

Image:BlueAngelsCrest.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 03:27, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] F/A-18E Super Hornet

Sometime in the 90s the Blue Angels transitioned to the Charlie version of the F/A-18 Hornet. The Demonstrators section is outdated. In either 2004 or 2005 they transitioned to the F/A-18E Super Hornet. --ProdigySportsman 21:08, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

  • They may use a couple Super Hornets, but most are Hornets. See Blue Angels FAQ. -Fnlayson 21:18, 2 June 2007 (UTC)
  • Their FAQ page only lists A & B models. The Hornet that crashed in the April accident was an A model. :( If you have another source, please post it. -Fnlayson 21:38, 2 June 2007 (UTC)
  • The blues do not use the F/A-18E. Note the differnce in intakes; the angular one is the defining feature for the echo form.

F/A-18A-C: http://johncarmichaels.typepad.com/carmichaels_position/images/blue_angel.JPG F/A-18E: http://www.sci.fi/~fta/vfa9l.jpg AMStecker 00:34, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Control stick placement

"The Blue Angels don't wear G-suits, because the air bladders inside them would repeatedly deflate and inflate. That would interfere with the control stick between a pilot's legs. Instead, Blue Angel pilots tense their stomach muscles and legs to prevent blood from rushing from their heads and rendering them unconscious."

I realize that this statement is substantiated, but I could have sworn that the Hornet had a sidemounted control stick like the F-16, since they are both FBW. Can anyone verify that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lecale (talk • contribs) 22:24, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

  • F/A-18s have a center stick, like most fighters. See this cockpit image (so-so image). Fly by wire does not require a certain configuration. -Fnlayson (talk) 22:40, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Add this site to external links

Hi. As I see, there are many Blue Angels external links, but not to Aerobatic Teams web site aerobaticteams.net. There have a Blue Angels page with full history and many photos from Blue's past. Can the editor of this page vote for this site, because the site was suspended for not understend for me causes. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Aerobaticteams (talk • contribs) 07:42, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

This website is not appropriate for linking; it offers little more information than is already in the article, is considered to be linkspam because it has an online store, and is poorly written. Please see WP:EL for more information on what is acceptable for linking. The same thing applies to other aerobatic team websites, so please do not re-add this link to these pages either. Thanks. BC (talk) 15:57, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

- You kill me! From this online store I made 0.48 cent for a year, so what a commercial site isn't. Many fans mail to me asking where they find quality movies and books, and I find and offer this stuff. NOT start make money. I don't know what you mean about POOR writen. Not everyone born in English language. Next time I use Shakespeare's style. So, I think that we must support each outher and don't fight who write more. Also you history end in 1986, maybe Blue's stop existing since then. An do not any photos about Angels past. Here a link in you link section that gives so much info about Blue Angels: http://www.funonthenet.in/articles/airshow-san-francisco.html, and I'm not agree that this page is more appropriate then mine. Also official Blue Angels page do not gives more info than you. Sorry if I'm boring, but smell censure. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.1.47.21 (talk) 17:03, 25 March 2008 (UTC)