The Blue Angels and Fat Albert Flight, Seattle, USA August 2011
Having seen all the other major aerobatic teams in the world, I was keen to see the Blue Angels. My chance came this year when we traveled to the USA and Seattle in particular. We timed our trip to coincided with the Blues being in Seattle. I had e-mailing the Blues for about 6 months prior to our visit to set up interviews with the Blues. Having a small viewership compared to the big networks in the USA, I was seconded to the Blues support aircraft pilot - which suited me perfectly because I intended doing an article for African Pilot about Fat Albert. What I didn't know was that I had also inadvertently arranged myself a flight in Fat Albert. Not only a flight - a flight in the aircraft doing a display on Saturday - pretty awesome if not mind blowing! The flight was a lifetime experience, one which I will never forget.
The Blue Angels are a very good team indeed with some of the tightest formation flying I have ever seen. In Seattle, the display is over Lake Washington and not over the airport they operate from. They fly from Boeing Field in Seattle and then display over Lake Washington. However, the airport is almost gridlocked with fans watching them take off and land. Then thousands more line the banks of Lake Washington to watch - nothing like this anywhere else that I have been to.
Watching this team was a pleasure. The crews were very friendly, Capt. Edward Jorge, the C130 chief pilot was such a nice fellow and made me feel right at home in his aircraft. His briefing was really good and made us feel safe - and promised we'd enjoy our flight. He did however, tell us that whatever we took onto the aircraft, we take back with us so anything that came up must be cleaned up so sick bags were past around. I am glad to report, none of the 9 media made idiots of themselves!
I am now a huge fan of the Blues - GO GUYS (and gals) GO!
My thanks go to Canon for the loan of their great 70-300mm lens - small in size, big in quality!