Photography

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,277 posts) Sun Mar 1, 2026, 04:04 PM 14 hrs ago

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds.

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.

7 replies

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The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. (Original Post) Grumpy Old Guy 14 hrs ago OP

I am an USAF kid but I have to admit the Blue Angels have a better look. Irish_Dem 14 hrs ago #1

Great pix! SheltieLover 14 hrs ago #2

Been watching the Blues since the late 1950's JPK 13 hrs ago #3

Super photos. sinkingfeeling 13 hrs ago #4

Amazing shots, my dear Grumpy! CaliforniaPeggy 13 hrs ago #5

Remarkable photography Grumpy Old Guy. Impeccable flying. Thanks! George McGovern 12 hrs ago #6

I used to live near Miramar air station. They'd have these airshows. NNadir 11 hrs ago #7

Irish_Dem

(80,660 posts)

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

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 04:17 PM

14 hrs ago

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

SheltieLover

(79,383 posts)

2. Great pix!

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 04:18 PM

14 hrs ago

Ty fot sharing!

JPK

(957 posts)

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

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 04:50 PM

13 hrs ago

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

(57,650 posts)

4. Super photos.

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 04:56 PM

13 hrs ago

CaliforniaPeggy

(156,490 posts)

5. Amazing shots, my dear Grumpy!

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 05:37 PM

13 hrs ago

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

Thanks for the show!

George McGovern

(11,503 posts)

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

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 05:40 PM

12 hrs ago

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

NNadir

(37,767 posts)

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

Reply to Grumpy Old Guy (Original post)

Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:40 PM

11 hrs ago

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.

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