Thunderbirds and Blue Angels through the years. Not pictured are the Angels’ F6F and F8F props.Photo: Dan Hamilton (Fair Use)
Unusually for one of my posts, those aren’treal planes. They’re 1/72 scale models, and they’re by the insanely talented Dan Hamilton. Go check out his posts on his Thunderbird and Blue Angels history collections.
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Blue Angels F8F-1 Bearcats, flown from 1946 - 1950Photo: US Navy
Blue Angels pilots astride their CougarsPhoto: Unknown
U.S. Navy Grumman F11F-1 Tiger fighters from the “Blue Angels” aerobatics team, flying over the Niagara Falls, New York (USA). The “Blue Angels” originally flew the F11F “short nose” version.Photo: US Navy (Fair Use)
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The Angels transitioned to the F-4J in 1968Photo: US Navy
A-4F Skyhawks were part of the act from 1974-1986Photo: US Navy (Fair Use)
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The Blue Angels have flown F/A-18A, C and two-seat D models since 1986, and will be transitioning to F/A-18E Super Hornets in 2021Photo: Brocken Inaglory (Other)
The Blue Angels at Oceana NASPhoto: Justin Gibb
One of the signature routines of a Blue Angel’s show was their transport, a C-130 nicknamed “Fat Albert”, executing a JATO. The Navy expended the last JATO bottle at an airshow in 2009, and the practice was discontinued.
The previous “Fat Albert”, a C-130T, was retired last year after 25 years. A replacement C-130J was acquired from the RAF and modified and repainted.
The Thunderbirds flew the Republic F-84G Thunderjet from 1953-1955Photo: USAF
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The team switched to the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak in 1955Photo: USAF
The NAA F-100 Super Sabre was flown from 1956 to 1968Photo: USAF
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The Thunderbirds flew the F-4 Phantom from 1968-1973Photo: USAF
In 1974, at the height of the oil crisis, the team switched to the T-38 Talon trainerPhoto: USAF
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In 1982, the General Dynamics F-16A/B was selected as the Thunderbirds new mount.Photo: USAF
In 1992, the Thunderbirds upgraded to the F-16C/DPhoto: Justin Gibb
