Blue Angels air show certified. Second show starts Saturday at Travis Air Force Base
The Blue Angels are officially air show certified. They are set for their first performance of the 2024 season on March 9 at the NAF El Centro Festival of Flight in El Centro, California, where the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squad practices in the off-season.
Rear Adm. Richard Brophy deemed the team “air show ready” on Feb. 29 to kick off the 78th season. The Blue Angels will perform at 34 events over the next nine months before wrapping up the season on Nov. 1-2 at their home base onboard NAS Pensacola.
Every year, the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) observes the readiness of the Blue Angels in the final days of winter training, according to CNATRA. This certification was Brophy’s second opportunity to kick off the season.
Blue Angels movie: 'Real pilots. Real risks': IMAX releases official trailer for new Blue Angels documentary
Blue Angels superfans love following their team around the U.S. as they perform throughout the season — even if it’s just checking in to see where they are flying today.
You can track where the Blue Angels are and when they’re practicing below.
Where are the Blue Angels today?
The Blue Angels are heading to their second air show of the 2024 season March 16-17 at the Travis Air Force Base Wings Over Solano air show in Solano County, California. The show is free and open to the public.
Gates will open up at 9 a.m. and performances will begin at 11:30 a.m., starting with the opening ceremony and then a demonstration from the Red Bull Parachute Team and Kirby Chambliss.
Full details about the Travis Air Force Base Wings Over Solano air show here.
What to expect at a Blue Angels air show?
If you’re never been to a Blue Angels air show, you’re in for a treat. Plan for an all-day event, from waiting in line as you await the opening gates at 8:30 a.m. to when the show wraps up about eight hours later.
Once the gates open, depending on which show you’re attending, you’ll likely be able to meander through vendors, claim spots to watch the show, enjoy performances from civilian and other military teams and learn about some aeronautical history.
Each show has a fairly strict schedule it follows, which can be found online. The Travis Air Force Base air show schedule can be found here. Taking a peek, you’ll see that there’s something to keep your attention every 30 minutes to an hour, starting with a parachute demonstrations and ending with a demonstration from Fat Albert just before the Blue Angels take to the skies.
Get to know Fat Albert: Blue Angels' C-130J named 'Fat Albert' is a super fan favorite. Here's what to know
How long is a Blue Angels air show?
A Blue Angels air show is typically an all-day event spanning about eight hours. Civilian acts and other military performers take to the skies throughout the day leading up to the final event: the Blue Angels. Fat Albert will lead the Blues with a short 10-15-minute demonstration, and the Blues will perform for about an hour afterward.
What planes do the Blue Angels fly?
In 2021, the Blue Angels started flying in a new airplane for the first time in more than 30 years — the Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F. The new jets are 25% larger, fly 40% further, remain on station 80% longer and can carry more weapons than their predecessors. The team previously flew F/A-18 Hornets, which they transitioned to from the A-4F Skyhawk II in 1986.
Blue Angels call signs: Blue Angels call signs span from 'Scribe' to 'Cheese'. Here's how they earned them
How fast do the Blue Angels fly?
The new Super Hornets can reach top speeds just under Mach 2 (about 1,400 miles per hour), almost twice the speed of sound. The jets can climb at a maximum rate of 30,000 feet per minute.
Blue Angels pilot salary
Blue Angels pilot salaries are no different from what their pay would typically be, based on rank and time in service.
Where are the Blue Angels based?
The Blue Angels are based onboard NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida.
Blue Angels vs Thunderbirds — What’s the difference?
The Blue Angels is a U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron that showcases the teamwork and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The team was formed in 1946 and is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world. It performs around 34 annual shows across 30 locations in the United States and two shows in Canada.
The Thunderbirds is a U.S. Air Force flight demonstration squadron that performs about 75 annual demonstrations. They are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Thunderbirds fly the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The white jets are easy to spot in the air thanks to the dark blue thunderbird painted on the underside of each jet. The Thunderbirds were created in 1953, making them the third oldest formal aerobatic team in the world.
According to the Blue Angels’ official website, current Department of Defense policy states that the use of military aviation demonstration teams is for recruiting purposes, so the teams don’t fly within 150 miles of each other without special permission.
Blue Angel pilots 2024
Here’s a look at the Blue Angel pilots for the 2024 air show season.
#1 Cmdr. Alexander Armatas — "Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering."
#2 Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty — "Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty, is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School, graduating in 2005. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA, where he lettered in Football and earned a Bachelor's Degree in History in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)."
#3 Lt. Wesley Perkins — "Lt. James Wesley Perkins is a native from Pordenone, Italy, grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Hutto High School in 2009. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a degree in Ocean Engineering in 2014. Perkins commissioned as an Ensign through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps."
#4 Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee — "Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, ice hockey and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, Amanda enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) and reported to her first command, VFA-136 "Knighthawks." She was selected to commission as a Pilot through the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program in 2009. The following year, Lee attended the Naval Science Institute (NSI) for officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, and simultaneously began her studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry."
#5 Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel — "Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel is a native of Madison, Wisconsin and graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Control in 2012. Immediately after graduation, he reported to Newport, Rhode Island where he received his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy after completion of Officer Candidate School."
#6 Cdr. Thomas Zimmerman — "Cdr. Thomas Zimmerman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Paul's School in 2004 lettering in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He lettered in lacrosse at both schools and graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering; earning his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009."
#7 Lt. Connor O'Donnell (Narrator) — "Lieutenant Connor O’Donnell is a native of Freeport, Maine and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 2011. Following high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Research."
#8 Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught — "Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught is a native of Englewood, Colorado. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2004, where he lettered in Lacrosse. After high school he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. Upon graduation, Brian worked in professional sports marketing and promotions, eventually attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2011."
Blue Angels schedule 2024
March 9: Naval Air Facility El Centro, California
March 16-17: Travis Air Force Base, California
March 23-24: Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana
April 6-7: Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
April 13-14: Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, Texas
April 20-21: Cocoa Beach, Florida
April 27-28: Vidalia, Georgia
May 4-5: Vero Beach, Florida
May 11-12: Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina
May 22/24: U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
May 25-26: Jones Beach, New York
June 1-2: Terre Haute, Indiana
June 8-9: Chesterfield, Missouri
June 15-16: La Crosse, Wisconsin
June 22-23: Dayton, Ohio
June 29-30: Traverse City, Michigan
July 6-7: Johnson City, New York
July 13: Pensacola Beach, Florida
July 27-28: Fargo, North Dakota
Aug. 3-4: Seattle, Washington
Aug. 10-11: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Aug. 17-18: Chicago, Illinois
Aug. 24-25: Wichita, Kansas City
Aug. 31: Cleveland, Ohio
Sept. 1-2: Cleveland, Ohio
Sept. 14-15: Owensboro, Kentucky
Sept. 21-22: Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Sept. 28-29: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California
Oct. 12-13: San Francisco, California
Oct. 19-20: Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida
Oct. 26-27: Houston, Texas
Nov. 1-2: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Blue Angels practice schedule 2024
March 26, 27*
April 2, 3*, 9, 10*, 16, 17*, 23, 24*, 30
May 1*, 7, 8, 14, 15*, 28, 29*
June 4, 5*, 11, 12, 18, 25, 26
July 16, 17*, 23
August 21*, 27
September 4*, 10, 11*, 17, 24
October 16*, 22, 23*
Dates with an asterisk indicate an autograph day inside the National Naval Aviation Museum following the Blue Angels practice.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Where are the Blue Angels flying today? Everything you need to know