Tag: us navy blue angels

Categories
Movies

Blue Angels

For many years I’ve had the Blue Angels at the top of my rankings of my favorite flight demonstration teams. I’ve seen them many times during Fleet Week in San Francisco – having taken photos of them from various venues including on a Hornblower yacht, from Alcatraz Island, along Crissy Field in the San Francisco Peninsula, and out on a good friend’s sailboat. Seeing their airshow is always a treat!

I’ve been looking forward to seeing the new Blue Angels movie produced by J.J. Abhams and Glen Powell and shot for the IMAX screen. It’s only in IMAX theaters for one week (beginning yesterday) before it debuts on Amazon Prime on May 23.

Yesterday I went to an afternoon matinee showing of the IMAX film and really enjoyed myself. The movie was shot over the course of a year beginning with the Blue Angels three month winter training sessions that begin in January in El Centro, California. It tells some great stories of the individual pilots – focusing especially on the “Boss” Blue Angel #1 and his role leading the team through its training and flight demonstrations. Very enjoyable – especially on the big IMAX screen!

Last week I also came across an interview on YouTube of retired Captain Greg Woldridge who led the Blue Angels three times during his Navy career. It’s a great conversation to watch!

Categories
Photography

Remembering the US Navy’s Blue Angels

Echelon Departing - Blue Angels - 2009

On this Memorial Day, I was looking back through some old photos I had taken a few years ago.

I came across this particular image (from a 2009 airshow in Salinas, California) – and it struck me. In the context of our country’s current affairs – the gridlock and sequester resulting from our representatives in Washington, DC – seeing this Blue Angels echelon parade departing seemed unfortunately poignant.

Since the sequester took effect, the Blue Angels – and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds – have been grounded. As a country, we can no longer afford having them fly.

Over the years, I’ve come to really appreciate the Blue Angels – their precision, how they represent themselves, their pride and excellence – and how they carry on their mission handed off from those who came before. To me, they epitomize many of the ideals worth aspiring to.

On this Memorial Day evening, let’s appreciate that excellence – and try to get them flying again. Their spirit is our spirit.