Sailing with Angels

F1nut

I went sailing today (Sunday), just a perfect day for it. So, the Blue Angels were in town for the Star Spangled Banner celebrations. They use an airport, which is directly across the creek from the marina. As we motored out into the main river they took off and flew DIRECTLY over the boat, maybe 200 feet above the mast. Let me tell you, those planes are incredibility LOUD!!! A few minutes later we could see them off in the distance doing their air show, which lasted about 45 minutes, but oddly enough we didn't see them return to the airport and thought they may have gone directly back to their main base. Anyway, by this time we were well out in the bay having a great sail, then the wind died, so we turned around and motored back. Just as we were passing the end of the runway 2 of them took off right above us, which caught us completely by surprise. Again effing LOUD!!! Figuring they must have landed earlier from the other direction, refueled and were now returning to their main base we stopped and waited for the other 4. Sure enough a minute later 2 more took off right above us and a minute after that the last 2. It was a damn good day

headrott

I have seen the Blue Angels fly about 7 times during air shows Jesse, and they are the best of the best (pilots). And yes, the F-18 super hornet's are F-ing LOUD! The jets can make your ear drums rattle until they feel like they will pop (much worse than any set of SDA's or even concerts I have been to). It gives you a real sense of pride for this country when you hear them scream across the sky like that doesn't it!?!? They are a damn fine plane (but I still give the best of the best (plane) to the F-15 (IMO)). I wish I could have experienced seeing them with you guys. Sounds like a lot of fun sailing and viewing the Blue Angels.

teekay0007

Glad you enjoyed "the Blues", Jesse. They do indeed put on an awesome show and hearing about them sure brings back some incredible memories for me. I hope you were in a position where you had a good view of them through all of their formations and maneuvers.

Several years ago, I saw them about a dozen times over a three year span. My brother-in-law was flying with them then and he would provide VIP ( ) tickets for us in whatever cities we could make it to the shows in during their season. He had seasons flying in the Opposing Solo (pilot #6) and the Lead Solo (pilot #5) positions.

"VIP" meant different things in different host cities. In the best of them, we'd get to drive, with a police escort, with the pilots from the hotel that the Blues stayed at breezing through very heavy traffic. We'd get driven by one of their support personnel from the hangar to front-row center seating while the pilots held their pre-show briefings. Afterwards, we often got to get our picture taken with the pilots in front of the team leader's jet.

You mentioned LOUD....part of the VIP treatment was that they pretty strongly suggested that we wear the ear plugs that they provided!

Anyhoo....hope you enjoyed them even half as much as I always did. Never did I see them without getting goose bumps several times - the same goose bumps I get every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner!

F1nut

Oh yeah, no doubt about the pride factor. We were joking about those sand maggots not hearing our fighter jets coming at them and by the time they do, it's too late.

That's cool you've seen them that many times. I've seen them a few times before, once while I was on Alcatraz, and a few more times locally. One of those times I was on a local Air Force base for business and they were practicing for an air show that weekend. So, I'm standing in a parking lot watching and one flies tree top level over me, I felt my organs vibrate!

F1nut

I forgot......I was on the phone with MillerLiteScott when they flew over us the first time. I said, "Did you hear that?" He's like, "Hell yeah!"

headrott

Haha! I love the sound of F-15's, F-16's, F-18's, (and soon to be F-22!!!) fly over! It is "the sound of freedom" (as I have heard it said).

I am going to the Hillsboro airshow this coming Saturday and the F-22 is going to fly for the first time ever in Oregon. With it's vector controlled manuvering, it'll be a show I will not soon forget; I cannot wait! Unfortuantely, the Blue Angel's won't be there this year. Due to Obama's "sequestering" last year, the Blue Angels were set to perform at last years air show, but were cancelled due to "lack of funds". Huh! What crap!
I am glad you were able to see them though Jesse!

Mikey081057

I used to live and play golf near Lakehurst Naval Air Station and there were a few occasions where they would do airshows there and fly over us while we were playing golf... WOW is right...low altitude precision maneuvers that just make your heart race ...all subsonic...and LOUD. One time a B1B flew right over our heads at like 300 feet and just shook the ground.

Imagine sitting in a desert somewhere and never seeing or hearing them at all. We certainly need to give them a few more airshows!

zane77

I've seen them probably 12 + times at Point Magu NAS when I lived in the LA area. If you ever get a chance it is something not to be missed! Saw the SR-71 do a show there once before it was retired. Also a pair of F-4’s fire live Sidewinder missiles at a couple of parachute flares that they dropped out over the ocean. These shows sure make your chest swell. Like I said if you can, it is something not to be missed. The static displays that they have are very interesting too.

Msabot1

They are an elite unit....saw them numerous times at Oceana N.A.S. in Va.Beach...let me give you a heads up though...in the U.S. Navy...they are aviators....better than pilots.....

voltz

That is awesome Jesse! Especially a unexpected fly by

At work just outside the garage door is McConnell airforce base runway so we get a lot of takes off. was a lot of B-52's & other taking off and landing during the war. During the morning when we were walking into work they be coming in to refuel.

when they are doing a airshow ..they do a lot of practice runs over top of us I miss the ole F4 Phantom's. now I'm dating myself..

Mikey081057

Nothing louder than an F4...

brgman

Man,you rich guys have the life!

Stew

Sounds like an awesome day! We've seen the Thunderbirds several times and the Blue Angels once. Impressive to say the least.

I had a similar experience fishing with my Dad when I was a teenager. We were in a bassboat in a lake in northern Florida. We got buzzed by a pair of F-16's. Really loud and rocked the boat! They were flying off in the distance before we even processed what happened. I'm sure the pilots were laughing their arses off!

scottyboy76

its already been adressed here but i have been in these n.ga. mtns. and the fighter jets from a nearby base have been upon me before i heard a thing, can only imagine a bad guy up to no good the split second before its all over saying WTF.

Also, can you imagine having the capability to master a beast of a machine like tha for 45 minutes that close to disaster, a different breed.

F1nut

H e l l is censored too!?! H e l l, that is ridiculous.

ken brydson

F1nut wrote: »

H e l l is censored too!?! H e l l, that is ridiculous.

7 words you can't say on TV (or CP)---

****, ****, ****, ****, ****sucker, mother****** and ****. And **** shouldn't even be on the list, sounds like a snack. NEW NABISCO ****, bet you can't eat just one...

George Carlin