The Famous Blue Angels Of The U.S. Navy

The Blue Angels is a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy. Formed in 1946, the unit is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931. The team, composed of five Navy and one Marine Corps demonstration pilot, fly Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets.

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The Blue Angels typically perform aerial displays in at least 60 shows annually at 30 locations throughout the United States and two shows at one location in Canada. The "Blues" still employ many of the same practices and techniques used in the inaugural 1946 season. An estimated 11 million spectators view the squadron during air shows from March through November each year. Members of the Blue Angels team also visit more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and community functions at air show cities. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 505 million spectators.

Squadron pilots must be qualified for combat and landings on aircraft carriers, with a minimum of 1,250 hours of flight experience. The flight leader must have at least 3,000 hours of flight time and have commanded a tactical jet squadron. To be a pilot in one of those six performing jets, members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps must undergo an extensive application and training process to join one of the most elite flying teams in the world.