The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

It always amazes me how the right wing thinks they're the only ones who are patriotic. On that note, please enjoy these photos of your Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. I shot these at the Naval Airfield near El Centro, California where the teams are preparing for this year's air shows.

[Irish_Dem]

1. I am an USAF kid but I have to admit the Blue Angels have a better look.

But then the USN always was more showy with sex appeal.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

9. The Blue Angels are definitely more popular.

The Thunderbirds are amazing, but there is just something special about watching the Blue Angels in action. We were fortunate to see both. A few years ago they flew together at the Huntington Beach Airshow.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Some years back I lived near an airport.

The Blue Angels were going to perform the next day there.
So the day before they were practicing as I sat out in my back yard.
It was low altitude flying due to cloud cover and they were really showing off
for those of us watching and waving at them as they flew quite low right over us.

One pilot headed right towards me and scared the crap out of me.
I could hear him go past me but didn't see him he was going so fast.
I just saw him behind me.

If I were the enemy I would have surrendered on the spot.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Of course my loyalty is to the T-Birds.

But the BA are showy.

Even as an AF kid the Navy uniforms were a delight compared to the AF uni's.

[SheltieLover]

2. Great pix!

Ty fot sharing!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. Thank you!

[JPK]

3. Been watching the Blues since the late 1950's

I'm a Navy Brat so we relocated a few times during dad's career. I started with the Grumman Tigers, missed the Phantoms but then caught up with the Skyhawks, Hornets and now Super Hornets. The Blues fly a super tight show, so close the wing tips are 36 inches away from the canopies. Amazing skill.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Super photos.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Amazing shots, my dear Grumpy!

The precision and extreme grace of these jets always thrills me.

Thanks for the show!

[George McGovern]

6. Remarkable photography Grumpy Old Guy. Impeccable flying. Thanks!

Formed in 1946, the unit is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, following the Patrouille de France, which formed in 1931. The team has six Navy and one Marine Corps pilots.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Angels

[Grumpy Old Guy]

11. Great info!

I didn't know any of that.

[NNadir]

7. I used to live near Miramar air station. They'd have these airshows.

I hated them. They'd come in low, the jets screaming, over my apartment building, practically wingtip to wingtip. A burst of turbulence would kill me, my wife, and destroy my home.

I really hated them. They were impossibly stupid to my thinking.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

8. I can certainly understand why you would feel that way.

I can't imagine living near one of these shows. I bet it drives the pets crazy as well. This is way out in the desert near the Naval Airfield at El Centro NAF, which is their winter home.

[HAB911]

14. Nice shots Grumpy!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

15. Thank you sir!