The US Navy Blue Angels didn't always fly those nifty F/A-18 Hornets that they fly today. Heck, the first time I saw them, they were flying A-4F Skyhawks. Before that, they flew the awesome F-4J Phantom II.
The Blue Angels have been flying jets since 1949, when they began using the old Grumman F9F Panthers.
But before the Panthers--before the day of the jet--from 1946 to 1949, the Blue Angels flew the F8F-1 Bearcat.
And in this video, best watched blown up to full-screen size, the Horsemen Aerobatic Team join the modern-day Blue Angels with a flight comprised of original Bearcats, and special guest Al Taddeo, one of the first Blue Angel pilots.
Enjoy this video as the present meets the past.
And it's a damn good one! WELL worth the time to watch it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting that. It was awesome. I'd bet Mr. Taddeo could still make that 'Cat do a trick or two.
ReplyDeleteWay awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I know that the technology of war moves at a blinding pace. The only thing in my opinion that is constant is the dedication, valor, and skill of the people that command the tools on our behalf.
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege of working with Chuck Knight, one of the Bearcat Blue Angels while I was at Northrop Corp on the development team for YF-23. After the Blues he went to Pax River and was a test pilot for many years and a primary on the A-5 Vigilante.
ReplyDeleteA true gentleman and a deep repository of aviation history. Chuck passed away about two years ago in the DFW area.