Thunder Birds, Blue Angels questions

[Shay]

Does anyone know if either of the two team use drop tanks when they transit from one show to another?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[bluethunder28]

When I was out at Nellis to watch the 'Birds fly in from Florida, I was talking to one of the pilots and he was saying that it was a long flight 5 hours and a aerial fuel stop.

[Mike]

When I was out at Nellis to watch the 'Birds fly in from Florida, I was talking to one of the pilots and he was saying that it was a long flight 5 hours and a aerial fuel stop.

They stop to refuel in the air!!!!

[Vulture]

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123025231

[chico]

When I was out at Nellis to watch the 'Birds fly in from Florida, I was talking to one of the pilots and he was saying that it was a long flight 5 hours and a aerial fuel stop.

They stop to refuel in the air!!!!

How else do you expect them to ask for directions?

[Manonthefence]

I've seen the Thunderbirds with under fuselage tanks on, but I've never seen the Blue Angels with tanks or pylons.

[Mike]

.......I've never seen the Blue Angels with tanks or pylons.

Agreed - I just trawled the net for shots of the Blues at Lakenheath on their way back from Leeuwarden this summer, and see that they even made the transatlantic crossing 'clean'.

[Trey Carroll]

On the military channel there was a special on the Blue Angels and #1 said something along the lines that there aren't pylons or hard points on the blue jets.

[Jack Cook]

there aren't pylons or hard points on the blue jets.

I haven't been interested enough to look. But, I guarantee you there are LAU-7s on their wing tips.

[Obergrafeter]

Menpilots would never stop and ask for directions, but now that they have girls flying I am sure they stop every thirty minutes.

[Shay]

there aren't pylons or hard points on the blue jets.

The Blue's jets are no different than those used in the fleet, just recycled. My understanding was that the pylons and hardpoints are removable as well.

I like the looks of the Falcons and Hornets with tanks on. Would be nice to see them do a show with them on. I wonder how the Blue's would paint theirs(besides blue and gold)?

I've seen the Thunderbirds with under fuselage tanks on

What did the T-birds tanks look like? Were they all white or did they have a design on them?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[King]

Menpilots would never stop and ask for directions, but now that they have girls flying I am sure they stop every thirty minutes.

LOL!

[Manonthefence]

Thunderbird Tanks

Standard centreline tank painted blue with some sort of design on. They may have had the team name and logo on them as well

[TimAPNY]

there aren't pylons or hard points on the blue jets.

The Blue's jets are no different than those used in the fleet, just recycled. My understanding was that the pylons and hardpoints are removable as well.

I like the looks of the Falcons and Hornets with tanks on. Would be nice to see them do a show with them on. I wonder how the Blue's would paint theirs(besides blue and gold)?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

The hornet can remove all but the Wing tip rails (LAU-7 if I remember correctly for the AIM-9s) and install blank panels in their place. The Pylons are relatively simple to remove and install onto the aircraft, just takes about 5 guys (4 to hold it and 1 to release or secure it). You’d be amazed at how quickly an Hornet can go from Slick to ready to hunt anything (the release and control checks are what takes the most time).

My understanding is that the Fuel system and / or Fuel Tanks on the Blues have been modified so they can fly inverted for longer periods of time. That is what I heard and I don’t know how much truth there is to that.

Tim

[Manonthefence]

Here is the only picture I have managed to find so far. Looks like I was slightly wrong about the markings.