BlueAngles 2003 Awsome!

[StrykerFL]

Did anyone here ever see the Blues when they flying the F-4. That was by far my favorite of all of the jets they flew. There is a movie called "Threshold" that documents some of that flying. Worth checking out for sure.

 

[EagleRJ]

How about the Turbo Raven. Anyone see it fly before it was damaged in an accident (the pilot was OK)?

It was a 1500 pound unlimited aerobatic monoplane with PT-6 power. Totally insane capabilities!

 

[2000flyer]

I don't know what it is about that act, the jet powered Waco, or the fact that he has a wing walker too.

One of his walkers is his son, the other is his wife. It's great to listen to that old radial wind up then the sudden rush of a jet engine. I'll say it again, GREAT SHOW!

I never had the pleasure of seeing the Blue's in their F4's, but I did see the T-Birds in the F4. You're correct, what a fantasitic AC!

2000Flyer

 

[Boeingman]

I never had the pleasure of seeing the Blue's in their F4's, but I did see the T-Birds in the F4. You're correct, what a fantasitic AC!

2000Flyer

Nothing like the smoke and noise of those J79's.

 

[Eagleflip]

If you ever have a chance to see Jim LeRoy in his highly modified Bulldog Pitts, you'll be amazed.

This fellow (from California, but he does shows nation-wide) does the same astounding aerobatics you'll see Wagstaff or Tucker do, but he has a few "twists" to his act.

As a pilot, the one I appreciated the most was a low altitude--maybe 30 feet--run in followed by a group of quick aileron rolls ending in different attitudes. He'd do a double roll, then end on inverted. Quick, another 3/4 roll to 45 degrees left, immediately followed by a 2 and a 1/2 to 45 inverted right. And he just kept dong these combinations. Bam, bam bam! All rolls at about 360 degrees per second, all stopping RIGHT ON the bank angle, and never varying from his run in altitude by two inches. Gawd, I was impressed.

I couldn't do that even if I was enroute to the innevitable accident.

Second, every pass that wound up at low altitude would end up in a 45 degree inverted position. Then he'd PUSH his way into the vertical with a 4 to 5 negative G move. Every time he'd do that the pilots standing around me would groan in sympathetic pain. My eyes were darn near bleeding at that point, and I was only watching.

He's good. Dang good...

 

[Boeingman]

How about Bob Hoover? Helluva an airshow by him. I think he's retired now.

 

[flywithastick]

hah!! leave it to the folks posting here to critique the Blues!! IMO, they do have the edge on the Thunderbirds - but both are most impressive.

Anyone critiquing the Blues "sloppy" work ever flown close, 4 ship formation? I have. ~3', 45-deg offset (15-18' tip to canopy). it's work and *no* room for screw ups. After having a taste of that kind of flying, I never criticize any reputable acro formation act.

Saw Wayne Handley and the Raven at Reno, 1999. Impressive. reverse on the vertical dive was amazing and kind of odd looking. Shame it was lost.

Saw Hoover flew the shrike at the show also. One of his last. first was in '78 at hensley NAS in his P-51. Nice guy, good pilot.