Blue Angels, who's gone?

[AMDDDA]

Well, I just checked the blue angels schedule and it looks like I'll be in San Antonio on Nov 1-2, but I have a few questions:


1. How long do the shows normally last?
2. Is Fat albert always there?
3. If so, is there a chance we'll see it use the JATO system?
4. Do they play the Top Gun Theme at every show?  ;D

[flyboy 28]

1. 45 minutes to an hour.
2. No.
3. Possibly.
4. No.

[DaveSims]

1. 45 minutes to an hour.
2. No.
3. Possibly.
4. No.

I never realized Fat Albert wasn't at every show with them.  I've seen them at a few different shows and always lucked out.  Although the last show I went to of theirs, Albert didn't use the JATO the second day.

[flyboy 28]

They stopped making JATO tubes a long time ago. I heard they're just trying to conserve them.

[AMDDDA]

Well, San Antonio's AFB is an hour and a half away, and they'll be there for 2 days, so I hope one of the days he uses 'em.

[tcco94]

When I was little I saw the Blue Angels out in San Fransico (I live in the bay area) and I dint even know about Fat Albert..
As a matter of fact it wasnt even at the airport..

It was fleet week where you can go on a Navy ship then wait on the pear or anywhere and watch them preform there stunts. Dont think it will be boring..They are awesome!
And if you get a chance try and see the Thunderbirds in Salinas if you can..Im not sure if they even still go but it was like a big Air Force convention there and they had NASA people signing autographs, sitting in heli's, army trucks, then the Thunderbirds and the FIRE truck..
I wish I could go to one agian becuase of how much more I know about airplanes..

It will be a blast!  :D

[BigTruck]

Well, as far as the JATO goes, I have yet to see a show that Fat Albert performed without using JATO, so chances are if he is there you will see it.  Last Oct people were telling me they stopped using the JATO for performances and low and behold they lit them up.  However for practices and certain low crowd shows they dont use them (the first day was military only crowd and they just did a high angle take off, no JATO, but the second day was open to public and they let er rip)

I thought Fat Albert was at every show?  I know its the support bird and the ground crew flies in on it, so I cant imagine him not being there, but maybe he lands at different fields and doesnt perform for certain shows?

Top Gun theme?  I dont remember hearing it during the show, but I do remember them starting off with Motley Crue's "Kickstart My Heart"  got the blood pumping while they screamed down the runway and formed right up in the diamond.

Either way, it's a hell of a performance man, and cant wait to see them again, they are AWESOME!!!!  

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Fat Albert is a regular part of the Blue Angels team and plays a major part in the airshow portion.  Fat Albert represents the Marine Corps portion of the squadron.  I have seen well over 60 Blue Angels performances and have never seen a single show (and practice) that did not include Fat Albert.  The only reason they would not have Fat Albert is due to mechanical problems.  Even if one of the jet needs a spare part, they will wait until after the show to go pick it up.

Here in Seattle, for example, the Blues do an off site show where they takeoff from one place and perform in another (over Lake Washington) and they still include Fat Albert.

As far as JATO, as others said, it's used sparingly these days.  Now they seem to reserve it for night shows.