TaiidanTomcat Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Yeah, but they'll have to remove all the vertical maneuvers from their routine. And the show will last twice as long. They'll need slower music to set their routine to as well. Patsy Cline's good. I'm fine with that so long as securing that song doesn't cut into the complimentary lotion and kleenex budget that will be needed by the audience once the mighty red white and blue A-10s take to The sky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 No. No. Older. And in fewer numbers. As long as the F-16 is in service, it'll be the aircraft for the Thunderbirds. After that? F-35? T-X? RQ-9? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Clearly the thunderbirds would be best served by the Tomcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alvis 3.1 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 That's always an option, although due to budgetary reasons, they'd have to go with: Blue Angels flying left to right, Thunderbirds flying right to left. One big happy squadron! :)/> Alvis 3.1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Thunder Angels, or Blue Birds? <_< Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trigger Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 I'm fine with that so long as securing that song doesn't cut into the complimentary lotion and kleenex budget that will be needed by the audience once the mighty red white and blue A-10s take to The sky. ERMAHGERD!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zerosystem Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 brrt formation pass Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 One big happy squadron! :)/>/>/> Alvis 3.1 One big happy squadron operating a single aircraft due to budgetary pressures. Maybe issue a couple more as spares in the event that they still haven't sorted out all the JSF's issues. The Bluebirds. Coming to an airshow near you in 15 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
parche Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Personally like thunder angels... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlienFrogModeller Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I think this is more of a matter of necessity, than show-casing the newest jet in the fleet. The Legacy Hornets are falling apart. And if the Blue's maintenance cant keep parts from falling off... -Jeff I really must bite my lip....so...hard...don't...say it.... If they can't WE can! And have been doing so for long and still can make it an effective weapons platform used in theatre today ANNNNDDD use it for an airshow bird. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I really must bite my lip....so...hard...don't...say it.... If they can't WE can! And have been doing so for long and still can make it an effective weapons platform used in theatre today ANNNNDDD use it for an airshow bird. Interesting point. I wonder what the annual flight hours are for a USN F/A-18 legacy hornet assigned to a fleet squadron vrs a Canadian jet? From the bits I've seen out there, it sounds like the USN hours are significantly higher. Might it also have something to do with the toll that sustained carrier ops takes on an airframe? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Might it also have something to do with the toll that sustained carrier ops takes on an airframe? I don't do Navy Speak very well, but from what I have heard, the number of take off and landing cycles on a carrier is a much more limiting factor wearing out a particular airframe than total flight hours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I don't do Navy Speak very well, but from what I have heard, the number of take off and landing cycles on a carrier is a much more limiting factor wearing out a particular airframe than total flight hours. Correct Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alvis 3.1 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Thunder Angels, or Blue Birds? <_</> Depends on which side is facing the audience when making knife edge passes! Alvis 3.1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlienFrogModeller Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Interesting point. I wonder what the annual flight hours are for a USN F/A-18 legacy hornet assigned to a fleet squadron vrs a Canadian jet? From the bits I've seen out there, it sounds like the USN hours are significantly higher. Might it also have something to do with the toll that sustained carrier ops takes on an airframe? Canadian a/c are lead the world in terms of airframe hours for legacy a/c Hornets. That was established in the early nineties IIRC. The cycle of hours of Cdn a/c vs USN a/c cannot be generally measured against each other. As each country tracks hours a little differently ( hours are not just calculated as per the flying hours, it's much more complicated than that). Since Canada knows the airframe is req'd to last many many years, we do not have the luxury to replace them at the same rate as our US friends do; therefore the maint on Cdn Hornets are meticulous. As I was talking to a Maint Crew Chief of a USN Sqn, he envied our ability to keep the jets in such great shape. He mistakenly thought they were lot 9 or 10 jets (he had lot 13 - and looked beat up due to a heavy cruise - again the maint on a carrier is much more diff) and was shocked to hear they were in fact lot 4,5,6. We discussed certain aspects of maint between the two countries and it was very different (circumstances and roles). So even at the maint level it is handled differently between the two countries. So measuring them in terms of how they fly them and how others fly them (including maint) would be fruitless and just plain silly to come to a definitive conclusive end. For those who think they know vs for those who actually work on them and see the long term maint and eng perspective would be an eye opener for most; it would take hours to explain. Land based user of the legacy Hornet would be a better comparison than comparing Carrier based vs land based. Apples and oranges. I don't confess to be the expert on the Hornet but, my experiences tells me, you cannot compare in general terms. So in my opinion, the reason to replace the Legacy Blue Angels is based on a number of reason we will never be privy. No matter what is said in the media, the real reasons may , I said may, never be revealed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 (edited) Canadian a/c are lead the world in terms of airframe hours for legacy a/c Hornets. That was established in the early nineties IIRC. The cycle of hours of Cdn a/c vs USN a/c cannot be generally measured against each other. As each country tracks hours a little differently ( hours are not just calculated as per the flying hours, it's much more complicated than that). Since Canada knows the airframe is req'd to last many many years, we do not have the luxury to replace them at the same rate as our US friends do; therefore the maint on Cdn Hornets are meticulous. As I was talking to a Maint Crew Chief of a USN Sqn, he envied our ability to keep the jets in such great shape. He mistakenly thought they were lot 9 or 10 jets (he had lot 13 - and looked beat up due to a heavy cruise - again the maint on a carrier is much more diff) and was shocked to hear they were in fact lot 4,5,6. We discussed certain aspects of maint between the two countries and it was very different (circumstances and roles). So even at the maint level it is handled differently between the two countries. So measuring them in terms of how they fly them and how others fly them (including maint) would be fruitless and just plain silly to come to a definitive conclusive end. For those who think they know vs for those who actually work on them and see the long term maint and eng perspective would be an eye opener for most; it would take hours to explain. Land based user of the legacy Hornet would be a better comparison than comparing Carrier based vs land based. Apples and oranges. I don't confess to be the expert on the Hornet but, my experiences tells me, you cannot compare in general terms. So in my opinion, the reason to replace the Legacy Blue Angels is based on a number of reason we will never be privy. No matter what is said in the media, the real reasons may , I said may, never be revealed. The real reason is, the USN is phasing out the "legacy" Hornet. Plain and simple. Off hand, I can't even name a "legacy" Hornet squadron without firing up the "Google-izer". I think we're down to USN Reserve squadrons??? I dunno, been away from TAC-AIR for a long a$$ time. Edited February 26, 2016 by 82Whitey51 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 VFA-15*, -34, -37, -83, -106 & -131 ... *To be dis-established in 2017 ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 Resurrecting this old thread because I saw this article today, which if true (and it sounds pretty legit), confirms the conversion by September 2017: http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a22098/blue-angels-super-hornets-fa-18/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Camus272 Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Seems odd to switch during the season, I would expect them to learn a new routine over the winter, and debut the new aircraft in 2018. Those planes already look huge, its going to be awkward seeing the diamond together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 Another article on the switch to Super Bugs. http://www.newsairshow.com/headlines/2016/7/26/boeing-awarded-contract-for-blue-angels-transition-to-super-hornet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 Interesting point. I wonder what the annual flight hours are for a USN F/A-18 legacy hornet assigned to a fleet squadron vrs a Canadian jet? From the bits I've seen out there, it sounds like the USN hours are significantly higher. Might it also have something to do with the toll that sustained carrier ops takes on an airframe? As Alien pointed out our Hornet's (Canada) are lead the fleet aircraft, pushing 4,500-5,000 plus hours. The Hornet was only originally intended for 2,500. When I was on TD in San Diego I saw two Marine Hornets being prepped for the Blue Angels. They had 2,200-2,500 hours. One notable thing I have seen on BA Hornets, is they often fly with delaminated or damage gear doors. Something we don't allow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 As Alien pointed out our Hornet's (Canada) are lead the fleet aircraft, pushing 4,500-5,000 plus hours. The Hornet was only originally intended for 2,500. When I was on TD in San Diego I saw two Marine Hornets being prepped for the Blue Angels. They had 2,200-2,500 hours. One notable thing I have seen on BA Hornets, is they often fly with delaminated or damage gear doors. Something we don't allow. Again though, Canadian jets have zero cats and traps, which is a very significant factor in determining airframe life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vvac201 Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I'm guessing the navy should be retiring some P-3's soon... just saying! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I'm guessing the navy should be retiring some P-3's soon... just saying! :rolleyes:/> ...you suggest a BA P-3? :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 ...you suggest a BA P-3? :D Actually make for an interesting "what if" . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Actually make for an interesting "what if" :thumbsup:/>. While we're at it, how about a C-5 in Thunderbird colors? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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