US Navy Blue Angels at Hillsboro OR...

[Woodlouse2002]

The problem I find with looking at pictures of the BA's is that most photo's don't give you the right impression to the distances between each aircraft. From most photo's the aircraft seem to be touching eachother. But then you get the same formation from a different angle and you notice that the aircraft are quite far apart. Take aircrafts 1 and 3 in the first pic for example and the picture of the BA Delta. You can see that there is a good four metres between each aircraft. Now not wanting to start anything but i've seen one of the Red Arrows do a roll while at less that 40 feet down a creek. In my opinion nothing beats the Red Arrows.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Well, as with any formation team, including the Red Arrows, (which I'd LOVE to see btw) not every formation is flown with the same seperations... especially if they're in a "unique" configuration such as landing gear and tailhook extended like in my first picture.  Considering the tailhook is a good 5 feet long, and also all the the extra drag from the weels... they've gotta be a bit farther appart.  The formation rolls and loops and the "Diamond 360" are flown in the tighter 18 inch wingtip to canopy formation.  

Check this picture out from the backseat in the left wingmans spot (#2) and see how close he is at the top of the dirty loop:


And from the Slot (#4)


And here is a shot from the slot position as the formation sets up for another maneuver.  And it should be noted, this is in a more "relaxed" formation as they are just setting up... once they get in front of the crowd they'll move it in closer.

[Boss_BlueAngels]

Well, as with any formation team, including the Red Arrows, (which I'd LOVE to see btw) not every formation is flown with the same seperations... especially if they're in a "unique" configuration such as landing gear and tailhook extended like in my first picture.  Considering the tailhook is a good 5 feet long, and also all the the extra drag from the weels... they've gotta be a bit farther appart.  The formation rolls and loops and the "Diamond 360" are flown in the tighter 18 inch wingtip to canopy formation.  

Check this picture out from the backseat in the left wingmans spot (#2) and see how close he is at the top of the dirty loop:
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/pho ... 4A-001.jpg

And from the Slot (#4)
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/pho ... 4A-001.jpg

And here is a shot from the slot position as the formation sets up for another maneuver.  And it should be noted, this is in a more "relaxed" formation as they are just setting up... once they get in front of the crowd they'll move it in closer.

http://www.news.navy.mil/management/pho ... 4A-002.jpg


I got those pics from here: http://www.news.navy.mil/view_galleries.asp

[edzmen]

So are Blue Angles better than say Red Arrows or Patrouille de France, there must be some form of competition going on?

I think its well known that the Red Arrows set the benchmark for world aerobatic teams.

But as far as teams flying trainers are concerned, i think the Italians aren't half bad either. I saw them at Biggin Hill the other year and they were far better than the French at that particular display.