Some of the military banter in this comment section is gold. If you can’t laugh at yourself or other military members then you shouldn’t be in the military 😂🫡 all veterans understand this. 🫡
I was Navy, other members of my family and military family were in different branches. We give each other crap out of respect. If you can’t joke with the people you love and who have your six, who can joke with? Sure, our missions may be different, but we’re all in it for the same reason…win and protect.
The F16 and F/A 18 are very different aircraft due to their mission design . The F16 was designed to be a single seat jet that can sortie from short runways . The F/A 18 was designed to be launched from steam catapults on aircraft carriers . The Hornet is heavier than the Falcon , can carry a heavier payload , has a a hook in the nose for launching off carrier decks and a tailhook for carrier arrest .
Navy is way cooler than the Chair Force... Anyways, Jet fuel is surprisingly not that flammable. It's VERY similar to Diesel fuel. It has additives that remove any type of water vaper/moisture so it doesn't freeze at altitude. Other than that Diesel fuel, Kerosine, and Jet fuel are almost identical. All 3 can be used interchangeably within motors. The diesels on the ships actually use Jet fuel for their emergency diesel generators. This also is storage for the planes backup fuel for if they were ever running low and needed to hit the reserves...
The Blue Angels are US Navy, the Thunderbirds are US Air Force, my people. Maybe you need to visit Las Vegas for Red Flag. "We live in fame, or go down in flames. Nothing can stop the US Air Force!"
@@h.albertmayorga5522 Last I checked you land on a carrier and not in a carrier. also, it takes 25 foot+ waves to make a carrier actually experience rough waters.
This was a once in a lifetime event during the COVID pandemic where the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds teamed up for hundreds of unplanned flights over major cities. These air shows were not being spectated like their normal shows so it was much more relaxed and “fun” for the crew. Typically it’s very regimented to the second.
they make their own hand signals with the pilot that they work with, its funny. imagine getting ready to take off to do an airshow and all your boys are just there doing inside jokes with you and trolling
Something to note about the F-16 when you see them bobbing around or side to side the F-16 was designed to be naturally aerodynamically unstable allowing for superior maneuverability and reduction of drag on the aircraft, this comes with the aircraft being marginally unstable in level flight. There's also the effect of being so close to the jet wash from the other aircraft. You'll also notice that the F/A-18s flown by the Blue Angels are much more stable in their formation due to the design of the aircraft.
@3:20 It's a show, and everyone plays their part, similar to the pilots. They're throwing up their unit hand signal. Every unit has one and all crew chiefs throw them during an aircraft launch regardless of what aircraft they're launching. If you check out literally any other unit they do their own hand signs as well, just not as goofy.
I'm Indonesian and I'm not in the military but a months ago i also happen to be seated next to an airfoce member and i ask the same thing on why they do such thing before take-off, He told me the moves they do before letting the jet taxi to runway, basically a signaling and told the pilot while on checklist before takes off, also is a courage and farewell, basically a motivation not just towards the pilots but also man on the ground, also is letting the tense feeling before training mission or even a real mission. is a routine thing everytime fighter jet or sometimes other military aircraft, although you don't have to do it everytime but most airforce member who involves like to do it just to toy around and keeping the morals up, and i guess because they are an airforce squadron that main focus is on attraction and airshow, they do it more than usually is, not just the US. That do it, most other nations like Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Australia and Japan to name a few also doing it. Basically he said is Tradition, it looks silly but they just want to have fun once and a while😅
There is an airman lying in the back of the KC-10 tanker that is talking on the radio with the Thunderbird pilot. That is who was filming the F-16 thru the window. The Airman in the tanker is 'flying' the boom to link up with the jet. The Airman talks the pilot into the correct position, then there is a wide slot on top of the plane that the boom slides into and links and locks to fill the tank. Both sets of ground crews do goofy stuff. It is part of the show. They just didn't show the Blue Angel stuff. Those weird salutes the Staff Sgts did though... I'm with you on that one. They were a bit much. The USAF Thunderbirds were founded in 1953. Long before the TV show.
The reason for the different refueling methods is that USAF tankers have to refuel not just small, agile fighters but also multi-engine bombers and cargo planes for long-range missions. It would be much harder--maybe impossible--for a B-52 pilot to maneuver precisely enough to make the connection with the basket using the navy method, let alone to hold the airplane steady long enough to fill its much bigger tanks.
this was 2020, during the height of the 1st outbreak of Covid. this was a salute to the medical workers who were treating people. they flew over all the major hospitals in the city. The 2 different methods of refueling you see are, "Probe and Drogue", which is used by the navy and most other world air forces, and Flying Boom style which is used by the US Airforce. The flying boom is actually supposed to be easier on the pilots because they just fly into position and the boom operator on the tanker maneuvers the boom into the receptacle. the Boom can move up and down and left and right, as well and telescoping in and out. in the Probe and Drogue style the pilot has to carefully steer their plane's probe into the basket on the end of the hose. the boom method can also pump much more fuel more quickly.
This is the first of several missions over the next few months. The idea was to choreograph a pattern touching key hospitals and first responder sites in major cities in the US. This is the first time that the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds have “performed” as a single group. They met and planned the flights at the Blue Angels base in Pensacola, Florida (Thunderbirds home is Las Vegas, Nevada) and flew ALL joint flights from Pensacola FL and returned each evening. As a result of their flights they are now spending some time training together during winter in El Centro, California in addition to their respective show prep. I saw them during their flyover of Indianapolis. Absolutely incredible to be standing with many others in the middle of our trucking company lot watching these dressed up fighters making multiple circuits over a city.
Former Navy Corpsman here, I grew up in Seattle and saw the Blue Angels many, many times especially at SeaFair. I moved to Vegas on 2016 and live right next to Nellis AFB. The Thunderbirds are based here. Those F-16s are hella loud!
Navy Aviation corpsman here. Trained at Pensacola. Saw the Blue angels all the time around the base. Even had the Blue Angels Flight Surgeon give a physiology lecture to our class.
I have done many airshows and the whole thing is one big show. From the pilots walking out to the flying is all part of the how. The way the maintainers show off their skills to the pilots skills , all great to see.
It isn't cheesy and no, we don't need to stop it. Those guys are signalling the pilot (and other ground crew) with the hand signals. No way to misinterpret a hand signal. A radio transmission can get garbled, or equipment can fail. Arms damn near always work.
I remeber this day... Walking home from work one afternoon and heard a roaring sound getting loder and louder. I heard they were going to be around but I wasn't expecting them to fly over Newark, NJ. As grim as the situation was around the world from the pandemic, it certainly put a smile on my face. ❤️ The Blue Angels and the Navy have always had a special place in my heart for some reason. I was in the USAF Auxiliary for 5 years. Nothing like the military, but a branch of nonetheless. We worked at the air shows at McGuire/ Dix/Lakehurst Joint AF Base. McGuire is AF, Dix is Army, and Lakehurst is Navy. That's the first time I saw the AF demonstration team, Thunderbirds. Anyway, the fly bys were supposed to liven up the spirits of Americans everywhere in a time where smiles were hard to come by. Thank you for this. ❤️ 😊❤️🤘🤘 Edit: In regards to the refueling, keep in mind that the KC-10 also has controls to maneuver the boom. It's wasn't just up to the F/16 pilot to bullseye the entire event, much like the B-2 Spirit that also has the fueling port behind the pilot. As the saying goes..... It takes 2 to tango. 😂
"C.W. Lemoine" & "The Ready Room" are YT channels by former USAF pilots. They did a podcast with one of the Thunderbirds pilots "mace" talking about the air shows in 2020. Mace even breaks down the Thunderbirds 2020 also mid air collision with a civilian helicopter in So Cal.
These are some of the most elite pilots in their respective branches. The Blue Angels are Navy, just look at the paint jobs. Love the comment about payload and size of his nuts. The trailing plan is a symbolic fight for those lost in service.
You have to do some research on just the thunderbirds. All thatbsaluting stuff u didn't like is all part of the routine. Their ground person is just as much part of the show as the pilot. Blue Angels is all about the pilot.
They do a "winter training" together in El Centro, California every year. I've seen the Blue Angels in airshows the last two years. I'll be seeing the Thunderbirds in June. They both are always impressive.
If you ever get a chance to see either teams perform, ground crews are a big part of the show, if you pay attention every move they do is basically drill with multi million dollar fighter jets.
Hi, Marine here, being super into aviation and working in the Marine Air Wing, I've seen both teams perform and I've gotta say, the only cheesy routine is the Thunderbird routine. The Blue Angels are usually pretty rigid and more of a drill rehearsal. The Blue Angels are also just a much better Demonstration team, not to discredit the Thunderbirds because they are Fantastic but Blue Angels are just top tier. Glad you enjoyed it, maybe one day you can watch in person!
Part of the ridiculousness from the Air Force ground crew was that was a media flight. That was for a delta (two seater) that the Thunderbirds use to take guests up. The video with Gerard Butler is pretty decent. Usually it is local media or a “hometown hero” taken up. Air Force dude here and love the banter. It’s ok for Navy’s subcontractors to be all about the boat people. The Merge did a great interview of the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels ops officers. It’s a really great interview about the culture, challenges, and leadership. I highly recommend it. Plus, Paco is from the fighter world, so it comes from someone who is in the community. The interview is an hour and a quarter, but is well worth the watch or listen.
The name Thunderbird comes originally from Native American mythology. It has been used by/for many other things, including the classic Ford Thunderbird car (my brother had a 1964 convertible version when I was young). And yes, the Air Force flight demonstration team has used the name for many decades, going back to when they used T-38s vs the current F-16s.
I remember while serving at homestead Air Force base in 1969 the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels flew at the air show there. When the Blue Angels flew they saluted the Thunderbirds, then the Thunderbirds flew and they inturn saluted the Blue Angels. Both put on great air shows.
Blue Angels come to my city almost every year, but it’s pretty rare we see the Air Force and Navy fly together for an air show. Together, they are incredible!! Also, as far as I’m aware, the Air Force and Navy aero teams do train together periodically. It wouldn’t be crazy to think they don’t ever carry out missions together. This also goes for some allied nations. I believe the Snow Birds from Canada have been at some of our air shows but I could be wrong. Snow birds and blue angels are suppose to be at the Reno AZ air show this year.
Listen to that slight difference in pitch on the thunderbirds cockpit camera. That's him constantly tweaking the throttle. You can see the Angels doing it too with their left hand but can't hear it as well. Then you still gotta control the thing in three dimensions.
The Navy uses the basket drogue system you see because they are operating from carriers which don't have large tanker aircraft. They attach this basket system to other planes on the carrier in what they call "buddy stores" (fuel tanks attached to the other planes that they carry aloft - at least from what I have read) to refuel other planes to increase their time in the air. Since they do this normally and all their planes are built with the extended fueling probe that's why the tanker was outfitted with the basket drogue. They call hooking up to it "fencing with the basket". Since the Air Force operates from land they have the larger boom operated tankers they use such as the KC-135 where, as someone else pointed out, the Airman who is doing the refueling both communicates with the pilot and "flies" the boom to hook up to the aircraft to refuel. The basket system the Navy uses is also used by all branches to fuel helicopters in flight since they have extended fueling probes that push forward out of the range of their rotors so they can refuel in mid-air without the rotors tearing up the fuel line. Just FYI since you seemed interested and were asking about it - this is from lots of military based reading material, movies, and being a former military (Air Force) "brat".
It was done for support and encouragment during the Covid-19 Pandemic. They do not usually fly together. Sometimes they will perform with The British Red Arrows and the French Patrouille De France on special occasions
I live essentially in the middle of Long Island in NY and during the summer, the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over my house when theyre practicing for air shows at the beach. Those guys flying over my house even at cruising speed at 5000 feet still rumbles the entire house
i have seen both these guys perform as my dad was in military and i went to every airshow every year as i was growing up.. both Teams are incredible and very good at what they all do.
Generally the Demonstration teams ; The USAF ThunderBirds and the USN ; Blue Angels do seperate demonstration performances. The demonstrations are to show what can be done by the planes and the pilots.
The Blue Angel lagging behind Is #7. A two-seater that they fly VIP in. look at, Annie' Vip Flight with the Blue Angels. If I remember right , she is a news anchor.
Late to this one, but essentially the basket drogue method used by the Navy is functionally more difficult for aerial refueling because it's flexible, and that flexibility induces a risk of oscillation in the hose that can damage both aircraft. Not to mention the basket doing damage to the canopy or probe. The boom method used by the Air Force has the boom operator effectively flying the boom into position and guiding the pilot in. It's generally more stable and therefor much easier.
The US Air Force have the best pilots in the world. The US Navy have the best naval aviators in the world. Went to the MacDill Airfest last Saturday, over 100,000 visitors.
“If there’s a bunch of waffling about the cockpit im skipping it” rewinds and spends 5 min on the guys waving good bye, sorry bro got me laughing so hard
@15:30 It will not ignite even if it goes directly into the engine intake, and the exhaust will not cause it to catch as it passes around the aircraft. And to answer the question about the fuel on the canopy, they're still flying more than 200MPH when refueling, and most canopy's of fighters are hydrophobic so they repel water and other fluids, and that's IF the fuel comes into contact at that speed.
I use to watch the blue angels perform at the Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick Maine when I was a kid. Sadly they shut down the Brunswick NAS and it's now called the Brunswick Executive Airport... They still have air shows there from time to time, even though it's no longer a military base. Only instead of the blue angels performing, they have the thunderbirds perform, on a former Navy base, which seems like sacrilege to me 😂
As a former member of the USAF (Crew Chief on C-5A) I totally agree with you about the stupid antics the T-Birds ground crew go thru. You only saw a brief portion of it. The Blue Angels ground crew has their own choreographed routine, but it's not ridiculous looking as the T-Birds. One other thing. The "camera" you saw in the pilots visor is actually a reflection of the jet directly in front of him.
There is a US Airman and a Royal Marine taking a piss in the restroom. The Airman gets done and starts to walk out of the restroom, the Royal Marine turns and says "Didn't they teach you to wash your hands when your done?" The Airman turns around and says "No, they taught us not to piss on our hands!!" .... LOL!!
Love both teams they both put on an amazing show but I'll stick with my first choice being the freeche Tricolori the Italian jet demo team they're insane
Most flight crews do have some sort of cheesy thing they do in the navy as well as the airforce my dad was a usaf pilot for 25 years and I saw many a "routine" on base some are less cheesy than others
The F-16 is a much smaller, lighter aircraft. About 19,000 pounds dry, while the F-18's are about 32,000 pounds dry. That extra 13,000 pounds makes the F-18's much more stable in close formation. They also have different controls. The F-16 uses a force sensing side stick, while the F-18 uses a traditional center mounted deflection stick. Fine control is much easier with the traditional stick in the F-18. They actually had to redesign and add some deflection to the F-16 stick because it turns out the brain has a much harder time processing small changes in pressure then it does small movements.
The fist gesture is more than likely signifying the Spike Squad from Luke Air Base in Arizona where the mascot if you will is bulldog with fist doubled up to fight. Every airshow I been to with the Thunderbirds in some the pilots would be taxiing out and do the Spike sign by put both fist up. Nothing wrong there.
Ok, not sure if you've done your homework since you posted this The Thunderbirds are located at Nellis Air Force Base, where I was born sometime ago. They fly over my house on a pretty regular basis and their powerful engines are as loud as heck. First, Nellis Air Force Base is as the home of the fighter pilot and is the Air Force focus for advanced combat training. We have a huge range out in the desert where they can drop all types of ordinances. They supply 25% of the new fighter pilots annually. Second, the person that you thought was taking a nap. That is the position that they are supposed to be in during that part of preparation for takeoff. I do not know exactly why, but I've seen them doing it for the last 50 years. Third, the snazzy hand gestures the guys were making are actually code that they use to prepare the pilots for taxing to take off. They were probably being a little bit macho silly but they can't go too far off of script because there is a ground show that takes place when the ground crew and pilots are readying the planes for takeoff. It's an old pomp and circumstances thing.
My dad's eyesight has always been bad, so he could not be a pilot. He was a ground crew member. The pilots brought him gifts all the time. If dads team did not pack a parachute properly or did not fix a jet properly, the results could be catastrophic for the pilots. One time, a pilot made an error during a landing, and my dad witnessed it and parked the jet with those orange baton things. The USAF opened an investigation because the plane was damaged. Needless to say, after the investigation concluded, the pilot gifted my father a motorcycle he wanted really bad. My dad never asked for it, but he took protecting the pilots VERY seriously.
The Thunderbirds are using a type of aerial refueling called "Flying Boom". Currently, Air Force fixed-wing aircraft refuel with the “flying boom.” The boom is a rigid, telescoping tube that an operator on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the aircraft being refueled. The Air Force’s decision to field boom-equipped tankers was based on the refueling needs of long-range bombers, which required large amounts of fuel. The Air Force’s fighter community resisted eliminating the hose-and-drogue, but was overruled by the Strategic Air Command, which operated the tanker fleet, and during the Cold War, placed a higher value on refueling bombers. The flying boom has a operator that "fly's" the boom. They have control of the boom and can fly it to the attachment point. The receiving pilot has to get close enough for the boom operator to be able to fly the boom to them and make contact. The boom operator is the one watching the end of the boom more so than the receiving pilot. Though it can do damage if it comes in contact with an aircraft, the operator can quickly move the boom if needed. The Blue Angels use what is called "Probe-and-Drogue" refueling method. The probe and drogue method uses a trailing hose with a basket on the end. Pilots will guide a probe on their aircraft into the basket to connect with the hose. The hoses are retracted when not in use. Though the crew has less control of the drogue, which can still cause damage, there is less danger to the aircraft than from a boom, and it could allow the aircraft to stay further away from the tanker. This method is not capable of the high transfer rates of a boom, it is much more flexible. A refueling aircraft may only be fitted with one boom, and this requires extra design work and integration with the fuselage. The drogue system, on the other hand, is more simple, and does not need a dedicated operator. This means that it can be more easily fitted to the refueling aircraft, even other fighter planes, and larger aircraft can have multiple drogues. Another point is that smaller aircraft such as fighters are not capable of receiving fuel at the full rate the boom provides, so they have less benefit from the system. Although a boom can have a drogue adapter attached, this still commits the tanker to one aircraft at a time and one type of system per flight. This however can be mitigated by use of a refueling pod under wing that has a probe and drogue Also, aircraft such as helicopters cannot use a boom system.
Every air fighter squadron (Navy and Airforce alike) have their own wave and salute, look into it if you'd like. I believe there is a whole video on the origins of it.
I think the square of tiny flags on the side of the Thunderbirds represents all of the countries the Thunderbirds have visited or performed in. (but I'm not totally sure)
Ironic you make this video today. The MacDill AFB Airfest is today and tomorrow. The main event is the Thunderbird, but they also have SOCOM Para-Commandos (formally the US Army Golden Knights), A-10 Demo, and the F/A 18 Super Hornet Demo teams. They will also have static displays of the A-10, F16, F35, KC46, KC10, C130-J, C5, and C17. Normally the C5 and C17 displays will allow you to walk through the planes. Best of all.... it's FREE!
I went Saturday. 100K people. I remembered sanscreen this time! Sad to hear that this is the last year of the A-10 Demo team. The brass has been trying to cancel that aircraft for years.
Have a pop quiz for ya. Why do Navy jets have such a short range and have to worry about running out of fuel? But the Air Force has much longer range and fuel isn't as much of a concern? Mid air fueling. The Air Force has been doing it since WWII, the Navy just recently figured out how to use Heavies in the air. 😂
Banter between the US Air Force and US Navy ; I'm better then you ( USAF ) - No your not I'm better ( USN ). Competition always brings out the best in all.
Just a civilian here, but the chase plane might be an armed escort for them. The demostation teams planes are not armed, and though unlikely, a successful terrorist attack would be a major propaganda win.
I was a crew chief on the KC-10A Extender (what was refueling the F16s & F18s) stationed at March AFB, CA back in the 90s. Bummed me out to hear that they are retiring them. My baby was tail number 870117.
Some of the military banter in this comment section is gold. If you can’t laugh at yourself or other military members then you shouldn’t be in the military 😂🫡 all veterans understand this. 🫡
I was Navy, other members of my family and military family were in different branches. We give each other crap out of respect. If you can’t joke with the people you love and who have your six, who can joke with? Sure, our missions may be different, but we’re all in it for the same reason…win and protect.
The F16 and F/A 18 are very different aircraft due to their mission design . The F16 was designed to be a single seat jet that can sortie from short runways . The F/A 18 was designed to be launched from steam catapults on aircraft carriers . The Hornet is heavier than the Falcon , can carry a heavier payload , has a a hook in the nose for launching off carrier decks and a tailhook for carrier arrest .
Navy is way cooler than the Chair Force... Anyways, Jet fuel is surprisingly not that flammable. It's VERY similar to Diesel fuel. It has additives that remove any type of water vaper/moisture so it doesn't freeze at altitude. Other than that Diesel fuel, Kerosine, and Jet fuel are almost identical. All 3 can be used interchangeably within motors. The diesels on the ships actually use Jet fuel for their emergency diesel generators. This also is storage for the planes backup fuel for if they were ever running low and needed to hit the reserves...
Your talking and yacking was intolerable, sorry
The Blue Angels are US Navy, the Thunderbirds are US Air Force, my people. Maybe you need to visit Las Vegas for Red Flag. "We live in fame, or go down in flames. Nothing can stop the US Air Force!"
Try landing in a carrier in a rainy night in choppy waters and then we’ll talk Air Force😂
@@h.albertmayorga5522 Last I checked you land on a carrier and not in a carrier. also, it takes 25 foot+ waves to make a carrier actually experience rough waters.
You forgot the Silver Eagles with their helicopters.
@@h.albertmayorga5522 Navy trains out over Nellis AFB in sirocco winds. That good enough?
@@manzichristian7423 haven’t gotten to see them yet, sadly. Must be outstanding. I grew up watching Airwolf. Where do they practice?
This was a once in a lifetime event during the COVID pandemic where the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds teamed up for hundreds of unplanned flights over major cities. These air shows were not being spectated like their normal shows so it was much more relaxed and “fun” for the crew. Typically it’s very regimented to the second.
I believe they’re doing it again this year
All ruined by people sending up their drones close to their flight paths and the pilots not able to see them until they're too close.
they make their own hand signals with the pilot that they work with, its funny. imagine getting ready to take off to do an airshow and all your boys are just there doing inside jokes with you and trolling
The ground crew and the pilots bonding is very important. The team is everything.
Something to note about the F-16 when you see them bobbing around or side to side the F-16 was designed to be naturally aerodynamically unstable allowing for superior maneuverability and reduction of drag on the aircraft, this comes with the aircraft being marginally unstable in level flight. There's also the effect of being so close to the jet wash from the other aircraft. You'll also notice that the F/A-18s flown by the Blue Angels are much more stable in their formation due to the design of the aircraft.
Appreciate the info
@3:20 It's a show, and everyone plays their part, similar to the pilots. They're throwing up their unit hand signal. Every unit has one and all crew chiefs throw them during an aircraft launch regardless of what aircraft they're launching. If you check out literally any other unit they do their own hand signs as well, just not as goofy.
The Thunderbirds TV show started in 1964. The Air Force Air demonstration team started in 1953.
In addition, the Blue Angles were first formed during WWII.
@@stuartgillespie9235 Correction, April 1946 . Thunderbirds , May 1953 , and named after North American indigenous mythology. . .
I'm Indonesian and I'm not in the military but a months ago i also happen to be seated next to an airfoce member and i ask the same thing on why they do such thing before take-off, He told me the moves they do before letting the jet taxi to runway, basically a signaling and told the pilot while on checklist before takes off, also is a courage and farewell, basically a motivation not just towards the pilots but also man on the ground, also is letting the tense feeling before training mission or even a real mission. is a routine thing everytime fighter jet or sometimes other military aircraft, although you don't have to do it everytime but most airforce member who involves like to do it just to toy around and keeping the morals up, and i guess because they are an airforce squadron that main focus is on attraction and airshow, they do it more than usually is, not just the US. That do it, most other nations like Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Australia and Japan to name a few also doing it. Basically he said is Tradition, it looks silly but they just want to have fun once and a while😅
There is an airman lying in the back of the KC-10 tanker that is talking on the radio with the Thunderbird pilot. That is who was filming the F-16 thru the window. The Airman in the tanker is 'flying' the boom to link up with the jet. The Airman talks the pilot into the correct position, then there is a wide slot on top of the plane that the boom slides into and links and locks to fill the tank.
Both sets of ground crews do goofy stuff. It is part of the show. They just didn't show the Blue Angel stuff. Those weird salutes the Staff Sgts did though... I'm with you on that one. They were a bit much.
The USAF Thunderbirds were founded in 1953. Long before the TV show.
The reason for the different refueling methods is that USAF tankers have to refuel not just small, agile fighters but also multi-engine bombers and cargo planes for long-range missions. It would be much harder--maybe impossible--for a B-52 pilot to maneuver precisely enough to make the connection with the basket using the navy method, let alone to hold the airplane steady long enough to fill its much bigger tanks.
The rate of fuel transfer is the major difference. One isn't better than the other, just different due to different requirements like you mentioned.
It's a routine, every move they do is a well rehearsed routine, every salute, every step they take, each plane crew does the same routine.
this was 2020, during the height of the 1st outbreak of Covid. this was a salute to the medical workers who were treating people. they flew over all the major hospitals in the city. The 2 different methods of refueling you see are, "Probe and Drogue", which is used by the navy and most other world air forces, and Flying Boom style which is used by the US Airforce. The flying boom is actually supposed to be easier on the pilots because they just fly into position and the boom operator on the tanker maneuvers the boom into the receptacle. the Boom can move up and down and left and right, as well and telescoping in and out. in the Probe and Drogue style the pilot has to carefully steer their plane's probe into the basket on the end of the hose. the boom method can also pump much more fuel more quickly.
This is the first of several missions over the next few months. The idea was to choreograph a pattern touching key hospitals and first responder sites in major cities in the US. This is the first time that the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds have “performed” as a single group. They met and planned the flights at the Blue Angels base in Pensacola, Florida (Thunderbirds home is Las Vegas, Nevada) and flew ALL joint flights from Pensacola FL and returned each evening. As a result of their flights they are now spending some time training together during winter in El Centro, California in addition to their respective show prep. I saw them during their flyover of Indianapolis. Absolutely incredible to be standing with many others in the middle of our trucking company lot watching these dressed up fighters making multiple circuits over a city.
I've never seen the Thunderbirds. The blue angels come every year. Super cool to see.
Former Navy Corpsman here, I grew up in Seattle and saw the Blue Angels many, many times especially at SeaFair. I moved to Vegas on 2016 and live right next to Nellis AFB. The Thunderbirds are based here. Those F-16s are hella loud!
Navy Aviation corpsman here. Trained at Pensacola. Saw the Blue angels all the time around the base. Even had the Blue Angels Flight Surgeon give a physiology lecture to our class.
I have done many airshows and the whole thing is one big show. From the pilots walking out to the flying is all part of the how. The way the maintainers show off their skills to the pilots skills , all great to see.
It isn't cheesy and no, we don't need to stop it.
Those guys are signalling the pilot (and other ground crew) with the hand signals. No way to misinterpret a hand signal. A radio transmission can get garbled, or equipment can fail.
Arms damn near always work.
"I don't understand! Wha- are they doin?"
They are TALKING TO THE PILOT
I think that flex represents the "thunder" while saying yeah big muscle bro😂
The Navy has aviators, the Air Force has pilots.
I remeber this day...
Walking home from work one afternoon and heard a roaring sound getting loder and louder. I heard they were going to be around but I wasn't expecting them to fly over Newark, NJ.
As grim as the situation was around the world from the pandemic, it certainly put a smile on my face. ❤️
The Blue Angels and the Navy have always had a special place in my heart for some reason.
I was in the USAF Auxiliary for 5 years.
Nothing like the military, but a branch of nonetheless.
We worked at the air shows at McGuire/ Dix/Lakehurst Joint AF Base. McGuire is AF, Dix is Army, and Lakehurst is Navy.
That's the first time I saw the AF demonstration team, Thunderbirds.
Anyway, the fly bys were supposed to liven up the spirits of Americans everywhere in a time where smiles were hard to come by.
Thank you for this. ❤️
😊❤️🤘🤘
Edit:
In regards to the refueling, keep in mind that the KC-10 also has controls to maneuver the boom.
It's wasn't just up to the F/16 pilot to bullseye the entire event, much like the B-2 Spirit that also has the fueling port behind the pilot.
As the saying goes.....
It takes 2 to tango. 😂
They always pay respect to the ground crew and I guess this is just their way of doing it.
"C.W. Lemoine" & "The Ready Room" are YT channels by former USAF pilots. They did a podcast with one of the Thunderbirds pilots "mace" talking about the air shows in 2020. Mace even breaks down the Thunderbirds 2020 also mid air collision with a civilian helicopter in So Cal.
These are some of the most elite pilots in their respective branches. The Blue Angels are Navy, just look at the paint jobs. Love the comment about payload and size of his nuts. The trailing plan is a symbolic fight for those lost in service.
You have to do some research on just the thunderbirds. All thatbsaluting stuff u didn't like is all part of the routine. Their ground person is just as much part of the show as the pilot. Blue Angels is all about the pilot.
They do a "winter training" together in El Centro, California every year. I've seen the Blue Angels in airshows the last two years. I'll be seeing the Thunderbirds in June. They both are always impressive.
If you ever get a chance to see either teams perform, ground crews are a big part of the show, if you pay attention every move they do is basically drill with multi million dollar fighter jets.
The Navy has it's own "cheesy" routine they just didn't show it.
hahahahaha
Right!
Hi, Marine here, being super into aviation and working in the Marine Air Wing, I've seen both teams perform and I've gotta say, the only cheesy routine is the Thunderbird routine. The Blue Angels are usually pretty rigid and more of a drill rehearsal. The Blue Angels are also just a much better Demonstration team, not to discredit the Thunderbirds because they are Fantastic but Blue Angels are just top tier. Glad you enjoyed it, maybe one day you can watch in person!
Part of the ridiculousness from the Air Force ground crew was that was a media flight. That was for a delta (two seater) that the Thunderbirds use to take guests up. The video with Gerard Butler is pretty decent. Usually it is local media or a “hometown hero” taken up. Air Force dude here and love the banter. It’s ok for Navy’s subcontractors to be all about the boat people. The Merge did a great interview of the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels ops officers. It’s a really great interview about the culture, challenges, and leadership. I highly recommend it. Plus, Paco is from the fighter world, so it comes from someone who is in the community. The interview is an hour and a quarter, but is well worth the watch or listen.
The name Thunderbird comes originally from Native American mythology. It has been used by/for many other things, including the classic Ford Thunderbird car (my brother had a 1964 convertible version when I was young). And yes, the Air Force flight demonstration team has used the name for many decades, going back to when they used T-38s vs the current F-16s.
Maybe the gentleman doing the show needs to do the history on both air demonstration teams.
I remember while serving at homestead Air Force base in 1969 the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels flew at the air show there. When the Blue Angels flew they saluted the Thunderbirds, then the Thunderbirds flew and they inturn saluted the Blue Angels. Both put on great air shows.
Blue Angels come to my city almost every year, but it’s pretty rare we see the Air Force and Navy fly together for an air show. Together, they are incredible!!
Also, as far as I’m aware, the Air Force and Navy aero teams do train together periodically. It wouldn’t be crazy to think they don’t ever carry out missions together. This also goes for some allied nations. I believe the Snow Birds from Canada have been at some of our air shows but I could be wrong.
Snow birds and blue angels are suppose to be at the Reno AZ air show this year.
Each pilot and crew have special signs. It's NOT cheesy. It's their one send off.
If you haven't been in avaition, you will not understand.
The flags are all the nations the Thunderbirds perform in.
We're American! We are different. 😊❤
Listen to that slight difference in pitch on the thunderbirds cockpit camera. That's him constantly tweaking the throttle. You can see the Angels doing it too with their left hand but can't hear it as well. Then you still gotta control the thing in three dimensions.
Without the crew those jets wouldnt get off the ground....the cheesy gestures are like secret handshakes
The Navy uses the basket drogue system you see because they are operating from carriers which don't have large tanker aircraft. They attach this basket system to other planes on the carrier in what they call "buddy stores" (fuel tanks attached to the other planes that they carry aloft - at least from what I have read) to refuel other planes to increase their time in the air. Since they do this normally and all their planes are built with the extended fueling probe that's why the tanker was outfitted with the basket drogue. They call hooking up to it "fencing with the basket". Since the Air Force operates from land they have the larger boom operated tankers they use such as the KC-135 where, as someone else pointed out, the Airman who is doing the refueling both communicates with the pilot and "flies" the boom to hook up to the aircraft to refuel. The basket system the Navy uses is also used by all branches to fuel helicopters in flight since they have extended fueling probes that push forward out of the range of their rotors so they can refuel in mid-air without the rotors tearing up the fuel line. Just FYI since you seemed interested and were asking about it - this is from lots of military based reading material, movies, and being a former military (Air Force) "brat".
I used to watch the Blue Angels practicing out of the Naval Air Station, Brunswick Maine.
Wow, you better hope the air force guys don't spot you out and about... haha
Not cheesy, it communicating with the pilot...
It was done for support and encouragment during the Covid-19 Pandemic. They do not usually fly together. Sometimes they will perform with The British Red Arrows and the French Patrouille De France on special occasions
I live essentially in the middle of Long Island in NY and during the summer, the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly over my house when theyre practicing for air shows at the beach. Those guys flying over my house even at cruising speed at 5000 feet still rumbles the entire house
lol, that's Thundercats not thunderbirds. Those were ribbons on the side of the jet not flags.
No there was a kids show when I was young in the UK called Thunderbirds! It was done with puppets 😂 Google it, it’s wild haha
We had a show here as well. @@OriginalHuman
i have seen both these guys perform as my dad was in military and i went to every airshow every year as i was growing up.. both Teams are incredible and very good at what they all do.
Generally the Demonstration teams ; The USAF ThunderBirds and the USN ; Blue Angels do seperate demonstration performances. The demonstrations are to show what can be done by the planes and the pilots.
GO NAVY
Beat Army
OORAH!
The Blue Angel lagging behind Is #7. A two-seater that they fly VIP in. look at, Annie' Vip Flight with the Blue Angels. If I remember right , she is a news anchor.
They flock to all air shows. You wouldn't believe how much of a recruitment tool air shows are.
Late to this one, but essentially the basket drogue method used by the Navy is functionally more difficult for aerial refueling because it's flexible, and that flexibility induces a risk of oscillation in the hose that can damage both aircraft. Not to mention the basket doing damage to the canopy or probe. The boom method used by the Air Force has the boom operator effectively flying the boom into position and guiding the pilot in. It's generally more stable and therefor much easier.
The US Air Force have the best pilots in the world. The US Navy have the best naval aviators in the world.
Went to the MacDill Airfest last Saturday, over 100,000 visitors.
There was an air show over lake erie in Buffalo NY and I woke up to sound of jets in the morning for 2 days best alarm clock ever
“If there’s a bunch of waffling about the cockpit im skipping it” rewinds and spends 5 min on the guys waving good bye, sorry bro got me laughing so hard
@15:30 It will not ignite even if it goes directly into the engine intake, and the exhaust will not cause it to catch as it passes around the aircraft. And to answer the question about the fuel on the canopy, they're still flying more than 200MPH when refueling, and most canopy's of fighters are hydrophobic so they repel water and other fluids, and that's IF the fuel comes into contact at that speed.
I use to watch the blue angels perform at the Brunswick Naval Air Station in Brunswick Maine when I was a kid. Sadly they shut down the Brunswick NAS and it's now called the Brunswick Executive Airport... They still have air shows there from time to time, even though it's no longer a military base. Only instead of the blue angels performing, they have the thunderbirds perform, on a former Navy base, which seems like sacrilege to me 😂
As a former member of the USAF (Crew Chief on C-5A) I totally agree with you about the stupid antics the T-Birds ground crew go thru. You only saw a brief portion of it. The Blue Angels ground crew has their own choreographed routine, but it's not ridiculous looking as the T-Birds. One other thing. The "camera" you saw in the pilots visor is actually a reflection of the jet directly in front of him.
Thunder birds are good but I'm navy through and through so blue angels all the way WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
There is a US Airman and a Royal Marine taking a piss in the restroom. The Airman gets done and starts to walk out of the restroom, the Royal Marine turns and says "Didn't they teach you to wash your hands when your done?" The Airman turns around and says "No, they taught us not to piss on our hands!!" .... LOL!!
They were communicating via hand signals.
Blue Angels all the way, Thunderbirds got some catching up to do.
Love both teams they both put on an amazing show but I'll stick with my first choice being the freeche Tricolori the Italian jet demo team they're insane
Most flight crews do have some sort of cheesy thing they do in the navy as well as the airforce my dad was a usaf pilot for 25 years and I saw many a "routine" on base some are less cheesy than others
The ground crews in my NAVY P-3 squadron would just give a salute. no fancy moves.
At 3:22 the ground crew, who can't talk to the pilot because of noise is signaling that all the safety flags are off the plane and it is "ARMED".
Hand signals are hand signals. They may look different, but they're just communicating with the pilot.
The F-16 is a much smaller, lighter aircraft. About 19,000 pounds dry, while the F-18's are about 32,000 pounds dry. That extra 13,000 pounds makes the F-18's much more stable in close formation. They also have different controls. The F-16 uses a force sensing side stick, while the F-18 uses a traditional center mounted deflection stick. Fine control is much easier with the traditional stick in the F-18. They actually had to redesign and add some deflection to the F-16 stick because it turns out the brain has a much harder time processing small changes in pressure then it does small movements.
That refueling jet is a KC-10 and it is basically a flying gas tank.
The cheesiness are hand signals. You can't talk next to a running jet engine. Signals to disconnect ground power and remove wheel chocks etc
The fist gesture is more than likely signifying the Spike Squad from Luke Air Base in Arizona where the mascot if you will is bulldog with fist doubled up to fight. Every airshow I been to with the Thunderbirds in some the pilots would be taxiing out and do the Spike sign by put both fist up. Nothing wrong there.
This was done during COVID to up moral in major cities and support medical folks. I saw them in the DC area.
Elite aviators!
Ok, not sure if you've done your homework since you posted this
The Thunderbirds are located at Nellis Air Force Base, where I was born sometime ago. They fly over my house on a pretty regular basis and their powerful engines are as loud as heck.
First, Nellis Air Force Base is as the home of the fighter pilot and is the Air Force focus for advanced combat training. We have a huge range out in the desert where they can drop all types of ordinances. They supply 25% of the new fighter pilots annually.
Second, the person that you thought was taking a nap. That is the position that they are supposed to be in during that part of preparation for takeoff. I do not know exactly why, but I've seen them doing it for the last 50 years.
Third, the snazzy hand gestures the guys were making are actually code that they use to prepare the pilots for taxing to take off. They were probably being a little bit macho silly but they can't go too far off of script because there is a ground show that takes place when the ground crew and pilots are readying the planes for takeoff. It's an old pomp and circumstances thing.
My dad's eyesight has always been bad, so he could not be a pilot. He was a ground crew member. The pilots brought him gifts all the time. If dads team did not pack a parachute properly or did not fix a jet properly, the results could be catastrophic for the pilots.
One time, a pilot made an error during a landing, and my dad witnessed it and parked the jet with those orange baton things. The USAF opened an investigation because the plane was damaged. Needless to say, after the investigation concluded, the pilot gifted my father a motorcycle he wanted really bad. My dad never asked for it, but he took protecting the pilots VERY seriously.
You're making reference to Jerry Anderson's "Thunderbirds". I remember watching them, as a child, here in the Detroit, Michigan, USA.
The US Army has the Golden Knights parachute demonstration team.
The occasion was that the day ended in the word “day”😊
Citizenship revoked.
J/K
I believe the record is 49 planes in V formation before a Kansas City Chiefs' game at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Thunderbirds are using a type of aerial refueling called "Flying Boom". Currently, Air Force fixed-wing aircraft refuel with the “flying boom.” The boom is a rigid, telescoping tube that an operator on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the aircraft being refueled.
The Air Force’s decision to field boom-equipped tankers was based on the refueling needs of long-range bombers, which required large amounts of fuel. The Air Force’s fighter community resisted eliminating the hose-and-drogue, but was overruled by the Strategic Air Command, which operated the tanker fleet, and during the Cold War, placed a higher value on refueling bombers.
The flying boom has a operator that "fly's" the boom. They have control of the boom and can fly it to the attachment point. The receiving pilot has to get close enough for the boom operator to be able to fly the boom to them and make contact. The boom operator is the one watching the end of the boom more so than the receiving pilot. Though it can do damage if it comes in contact with an aircraft, the operator can quickly move the boom if needed.
The Blue Angels use what is called "Probe-and-Drogue" refueling method. The probe and drogue method uses a trailing hose with a basket on the end. Pilots will guide a probe on their aircraft into the basket to connect with the hose. The hoses are retracted when not in use. Though the crew has less control of the drogue, which can still cause damage, there is less danger to the aircraft than from a boom, and it could allow the aircraft to stay further away from the tanker.
This method is not capable of the high transfer rates of a boom, it is much more flexible. A refueling aircraft may only be fitted with one boom, and this requires extra design work and integration with the fuselage. The drogue system, on the other hand, is more simple, and does not need a dedicated operator. This means that it can be more easily fitted to the refueling aircraft, even other fighter planes, and larger aircraft can have multiple drogues.
Another point is that smaller aircraft such as fighters are not capable of receiving fuel at the full rate the boom provides, so they have less benefit from the system. Although a boom can have a drogue adapter attached, this still commits the tanker to one aircraft at a time and one type of system per flight. This however can be mitigated by use of a refueling pod under wing that has a probe and drogue Also, aircraft such as helicopters cannot use a boom system.
The flags on the AIRFORCE thunderbird, represents the counties/Nation's they have flown in:
Just FYI @OriginalHuman all those flags on the thunderbirds are representing where the plane has gone to (not necessarily where the pilot has)
Every air fighter squadron (Navy and Airforce alike) have their own wave and salute, look into it if you'd like. I believe there is a whole video on the origins of it.
czcams.com/video/3sMSgeVzpKM/video.htmlsi=2IjKcbpMxu1tc2Dn
‘You gotta shut that sh*t down!’ 😂😂
Comments are "wow, just wow". Moving on.
It's the US Air Force. Cheesey is their middle name. 😅
If you gotta fly, FLY NAVY
Yep, its not often they fly together.
I think the square of tiny flags on the side of the Thunderbirds represents all of the countries the Thunderbirds have visited or performed in. (but I'm not totally sure)
Don't know if it was stated, but this was done during the Covid pandemic and was done over several major cities.
You want to have your head explode - lookup a refueling of the SR-71A BlackBirds. You will probably go off your rockers.
Ironic you make this video today. The MacDill AFB Airfest is today and tomorrow. The main event is the Thunderbird, but they also have SOCOM Para-Commandos (formally the US Army Golden Knights), A-10 Demo, and the F/A 18 Super Hornet Demo teams. They will also have static displays of the A-10, F16, F35, KC46, KC10, C130-J, C5, and C17. Normally the C5 and C17 displays will allow you to walk through the planes. Best of all.... it's FREE!
I went Saturday. 100K people. I remembered sanscreen this time!
Sad to hear that this is the last year of the A-10 Demo team. The brass has been trying to cancel that aircraft for years.
Get outta my face dude.😂 I subscribed
The thunderbird show is from the 60s
Right off the bat, FU.
The USAF could of have chosen the Prototype of what would become the Navy F-18 but they chose the Prototype that is now the F-16 instead.
the guy keeps looking at the other guys because hes the one filming it with the camera on his shield
Have a pop quiz for ya. Why do Navy jets have such a short range and have to worry about running out of fuel? But the Air Force has much longer range and fuel isn't as much of a concern?
Mid air fueling. The Air Force has been doing it since WWII, the Navy just recently figured out how to use Heavies in the air. 😂
Banter between the US Air Force and US Navy ; I'm better then you ( USAF ) - No your not I'm better ( USN ). Competition always brings out the best in all.
Just a civilian here, but the chase plane might be an armed escort for them. The demostation teams planes are not armed, and though unlikely, a successful terrorist attack would be a major propaganda win.
I was a crew chief on the KC-10A Extender (what was refueling the F16s & F18s) stationed at March AFB, CA back in the 90s.
Bummed me out to hear that they are retiring them. My baby was tail number 870117.
They're just messing around
GO NAVY!
4:45 hype men stuff and showing excitement