US Navy Blue Angel Pilot Demos Huge Brass Ones at Fleet Week

thebobman · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

The Sun is There

Holy Toledo, Batman! This guy is like 25' off the ocean! Damned lucky he didn't tag sombody's mast or something.
*EDIT: FOUND THE SOURCE IMAGES BELOW*

thebobman · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

Found the source photos, they're higher resolution:

Check out this detail from the shot above, the F-18 is actually just below the sound barrier and you can already see the trans-sonic shock waves starting to form underneath the plane:

How low was the plane actually flying? REALLY FUCKING LOW:

**sNyx** · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

was this a staged event or something? where/why was he showing off?

Dead Mike · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

thats awesome

thebobman · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

US Navy Blue Angel Pilot

Demos Huge Brass Ones at Fleet Week

mapleleaf4ever · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

That's how it's done!

I've had a CF-188 pass over me at 250' at Mach 0.89 before.

I think after the sound caught up with it, my spleen was liquified instantly.

stephen_c · #7 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

^
i am surprised that's allowed. don't u have to keep a certain distance from spectators? and flyin under a bridge? i guess if ur us military, u can do anythin

thebobman · #8 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen_c

^
i am surprised that's allowed. don't u have to keep a certain distance from spectators? and flyin under a bridge? i guess if ur us military, u can do anythin

The coast guard and SF Police were keeping boats out of the a predefined corridor the plane flew through. That guy was still crazy low, you can see the a vapor cloud forming under the wings. I'm guessing water isn't something you want to get into a jet engine in any sorta large quantity.

project.one · #9 (**permalink**) Dec 14, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by My!es

was this a staged event or something? where/why was he showing off?

It's staged. The strip he flew down was cleaned of boat traffic and marked off by Coast Guard boats.
It's a demonstration of low level flying. It's pretty wicked to see up close and in person.

mapleleaf4ever · #10 (**permalink**) Dec 15, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen_c

^
i am surprised that's allowed. don't u have to keep a certain distance from spectators? and flyin under a bridge? i guess if ur us military, u can do anythin

Well we were in Class D Airspace.

So they can do whatever they want to do in that area.

It was a special show for the 75th Anniversary of the CF.

thebobman · #11 (**permalink**) Dec 15, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapleleaf4ever

Well we were in Class D Airspace.

So they can do whatever they want to do in that area.

It was a special show for the 75th Anniversary of the CF.

What do you mean "We"?

galaxie · #12 (**permalink**) Dec 16, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by project.one

It's staged. The strip he flew down was cleaned of boat traffic and marked off by Coast Guard boats.
It's a demonstration of low level flying. It's pretty wicked to see up close and in person.

QFT!
My mom dated both a blue angel and a snowbird when she was in her 20s. She has some fucking aweeeeeesome flying stories!