I had the recent opportunity to photograph a day in the life of members of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels. If you have ever seen a Blue Angel’s flight demonstration, you know just how inspiring their performance is. Equally inspiring, is the coordinated performance of the team around the Squadron as they prepare for a practice session at NAS Pensacola.
If you want to see what a day in the life of a member of the team then you better plan on waking up early… it was pitch black when I arrived at 5:00 am to meet Public Affairs representative, MC3 Julia Casper at the gate of Training Squadron Six.
The Crew preparing to “turn” the jets. "Turning" the jet is when the crew run the engines to perform regular maintenance.
Crew powering down aircraft.
After the jets were powered down, the crew performed maintenance.
PR1 Rodolfo Noriega (left) from Life Support and AME1(AW) Mark Rummel replacing O2 tanks.
AS2 John Lamson, Crew Chief working on Jet.
LS2(AW/SW) William Kelly, Logistics, topping off the Jet
AM3(AW/SW) Harold Ramsahai, Paint Shop, changing the oil.
After maintenance was completed, we headed to the Squadron at Training Air Wing Six. The main doorway leads to a long hallway where several departments are located that maintain the aircraft and support the team. As you walk through the hallways you get a strong sense of camaraderie among the members of the team. Despite long hours there is a commitment level to perfection and a strong sense of purpose that is palpable.
Crew Chiefs filling out reports after working on the aircraft
Avionics working on the "HUD" or Head Up Display. The purpose of a heads up display is to provide critical data to the pilot which lessens the need for the pilot to look down at the instrument panel.
The supply room was pristine and organized with each part compartment labeled accordingly. The entire supply room is packed up and shipped on trucks out to El Centro, California where the Blue Angels practice for the next show season. “You can’t fly without supply".
In numerical order....these clip boards contain maintenance information provided by the crew for the pilots to review on the specific aircraft they fly.
AM1(AW) Matthew Bellin, Crew Coordinator and AO1(AW/SW) Travis LeGendre, Crew Coordinator, "Frontman", coordinates the crew and makes the call for boarding time on Fat Albert.
Admin, the Pilot offices, Fat Albert Crew, Events Coordinator, Ready Room and Public Affairs are some of the offices located on the second floor. The hallways are filled with Blue Angel memorabilia…it’s a walking museum of their history.
The Ready Room is where the pilots meet and brief prior to and after each flight. The colorful history of the team is on display all throughout.
The original patch design is framed on the wall.
This large trophy was awarded to the Blue Angels the year of their inception at the Southeastern Air show and Exposition, June 15, 1946 for the finest Exhibition of precision flying.
LT Amy Tomlinson, Events Coordinator for the team and YN2(AW/SW) Andreanna Oliver Events Coordination. An impressive amount of time and energy is spent organizing the details of each show. With a season of approximately 70 air shows at 35 different locations, planning starts well in advance. During the “Winter visit,” the Events Coordinator along with the Narrator, fly in Jet 7 to visit each show location. Some weeks visiting 7 show sites in 5 days to work on pre-show planning and air show coordination long before air show season even begins.
At the end of the long hallway is the Public Affairs department... in the photo on the left MC3 Julia Casper, Public Affairs preparing information packets and brochures for the fans as well as coordinating details prior to getting ready to leave town for an air show early the next day. Photo on the right, MCC(SW) Kurt Anderson , Public Affairs Chief (on left), MC1(AW/SW) Joseph Reynoso, Division Supervisor/Public Affairs (middle) and MCSN A.J. Johnson, Public Affairs (on right).
The following day I met up with the team early in the morning as they were boarding Fat Albert Airlines. The crew will need to load Fat Albert with all the gear and supplies for two weeks on the road. They will not be returning to the Squadron to replenish supplies between air shows.
LS2(AW/SW) Stacy Myers (left) and AM2(AW) Cody Weeks loading Fat Albert
Teamwork...
The C-130 pilots arrived...the Flight Engineer, Navigator and Flight Mechanic will be the last to board Fat Albert Airlines.
LT Ted Thompson, USN Maintenance Officer (top), a final wave from pilots Capt Benjamin Blanton and Capt Edward Jorge.
Not all crew members fly out for each show, some are left behind to support the team while on the road and coordinate details for upcoming air shows back at the Squadron. On the right, SSgt Tommy Zurek watches Fat Albert take off.
After Fat Albert takes off, it's time for the Pilots and Crew Chiefs to "walk" to the jets.
CDR Greg McWherter, USN "Boss" Flight Leader and Commanding Officer. Each Crew Chief is assigned to a specific pilot and is responsible for pre and post flight inspections, setup of the pilot's gear in the cockpit and the appearance of the aircraft.
AO1AW/SW) Vincent Dunhill-Cooper, Crew Chiefs Supervisor watches as the jets head to the runway.
There are several people to thank for allowing me to tag along during a couple of very busy long hot days in Pensacola.
Public Affairs, MC3 Julia Casper, MCC (SW) Kurt Anderson and MCSN A.J. Johnson, thank you all for helping to organize my visit, meeting me bright and early in the morning and escorting me around the Squadron to photograph the aircraft and team.
Special thanks to the crew of Fat Albert, pilots Capt Jorge and Capt Blanton and the air crew GySgt Ben Chapman, SSgt Jarred McIntosh, GySgt Adam Church, GySgt Joe Alley and SSgt Tommy Zurek. Thanks for your patience and my time on board Fat Albert Airlines. Hanging out with the “Bert Boys” was truly and honor and opportunity of a lifetime!
Thanks to all the members of the U.S.Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels. The teamwork and professionalism of the organization was just as prolific behind the scenes as it is during an air show.
Your ordinary day was extraordinary!
To see more images from my visit please click on the link below: The Slideshow
To view the entire aviation collection of books, prints and posters please visit: The Store
© Cara Renee Photography All rights reserved. Please see Copyright information or contact me at cara@cararenee.com
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