My run-in with the Blue Angles

[CT]

Reading Rocketeer's recent posts reminds me of old college days. During my last years at San Diego State in 1981, I was also finalizing training for my pilots license and vividly remember the day I had an encounter with the great blues.
I was on my second solo cross country trip with three legs to Yuma AZ and Twentynine Palms and back to Gillespie field in San Diego. Enroute to Yuma I was flying at 5000' and was just South of the NAS El Centro field. NAS El Centro is where the Blue Angles practiced during the winter months because of the favorable weather. When I was abeam the tower at 5000' I noticed several jets lined up on the run way with another set behind, closer look revealed their deep blue color, and I realized they were the Blue Angels preparing for take off. After hootin and hollerin at my good fortunes I sat there mesmarized during their take off and departure. We were both flying Eastbound when I noticed they had made a right crosswind leg, I sat there in awe. Confirming my altitude was out of the airport boundary and thinking I was well out of traffic, the Blues in formation turned right downwind departure which brought us head to head. After hootin and hollerin, and thinking I had plenty of altitide for them to cross under me, I saw them pull up which looked to me a direct head to head collision course. Being a lowly pilot in training with 30 hours under my belt in a Cessna 150 I did the sane thing, I cut power and dived cycling my landing light the whole way so they would see me. To my amazement they pretty much went vertical and crossed my path well ahead. I could only guess what those hot shots were thinking in their A-4 Skyhalks.
The rest of the trip was uneventful and I review my log book from time to time to that day where I wrote" Encountered Blue Angles ". I will always cherish those memories of my flying days but due to marriage and kids had to retire flying the big birds and now flying RC's that is just as fulfilling and a lot less expensive (so far) .

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

That was an interesting story. I can only imagine your adrenaline rush as you saw those jets heading your way.<smiley image="smiley_oh_no.gif"/>

[Rocketeer]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Greetings CT,

"Dear Bucket list, Some day I want to go head to head at 5,000 ft. with the Blue Angels", Oh yeah, I've done that!! Check.......

That's an awesome one of a kind story and I'm sure a really rare experience.
Mostly, I'm glad you survived to tell it!!

I've always wanted to, but never followed through obtaining a full scale pilot's liscense.
They tell me I'm too old now. So, like you I continue to live the dream through my RC adventures.
I'm OK with that and it is a heck of a lot cheaper.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in OKla.

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

I have lived and worked near a huge military base most of my life and had the privilege of getting into some of the great planes of the past to include the B 17, B 24, B 29, B 25 bombers and numerous old and current military transports like the massive C-17 Globe Master and many civilian commercial planes of bygone days. I have viewed the Navy Blue Angles and the Air Force Thunder Birds blaze the skies and many of the great jets like the MiG 17, F-86, F-102 F-100s and the B -2 plus numerous other great jets take to the skies. I love getting up the cockpits of the WW2 fighters like the P 51, P 47 F4U Corsairs etc. Even got to view a Japanese torpedo plane. One of the most rare was a Wright B Flyer that the army used in 1911. To watch it fly was like going back in time. For a history and aviation buff it almost would bring a tear of pure joy seeing these marvels of aviation fly past you.

[Rocketeer]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Greetings Baron,

Sweet birds all....


Clear Skies.


Bill L.
in Okla.

[CT]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Staying off topic, I recall a story my Dad told me. He was a Physician and a flight surgeon during WW11 in the Pacific. While training at Coronado Air Station near San Diego before being deployed, he talked a local pilot into a ride in the jumpseat of a P-38. They flew WOT off the deck in Death Valley below seal level. He said it was the most exciting ride of his life. No wonder they call them the greatest generation at a time during aviations golden age.
CT

[Rocketeer]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Greetings Ct,

Indeed, I can't imagine having the tenacity and courage of some of those golden age aviation heros.
I once had an opportunity to attend a fundraiser banquet where sitting two tables from me was 'The Father of the Right Stuff", Chuck Yeager.

Just sitting at the table, his drawn profile gave you the impression he was doing Mach 1.

Ahhh, these guys were really something, "We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants!!"

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

I actually like the WW1 era aviation best of all. It was those great pioneers of flight that launched the world into a new phase of warfare and travel. As kid I could not get enough of reading about and viewing pictures of those brave pilots and the canvas falcons they piloted. That is big reason I wish Freewing, FMS or others would produce large scale WW 1 era EPO foam planes. There is only one larger EPO WW1 plane available and that is the 50" wingspan Dynam Albatross, which I of course have, but have not put it together as I will soon try my hand at air brushing it a different paint scheme. I believe that if they made 1400 mm Spads SE 5s' Fokker D 7, Albatross, D-7s,Camel's etc. they would sell because they are really different and enjoyable to fly or just watch fly.

[Rocketeer]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Greetings Baron,

Right you are.

I remember the level of 'Pucker Factor' I experienced years ago (and still do) when I would maiden a "sticks" plane of tissue paper covered balsa wood.
Then I think of those crazy/brave WWI guys that flew full scale planes of not much more than tissue paper covered wood and it just boggles my mind.

I agree and I think I would also like to try my hand (thumbs) at a large, 1400 - 1700mm WWI bird.
I have certainly dabbled with them on my flight sim and I will admit their flight characteristics are quite unique. Talk about torque roll and nose overs........ Sheesh!!

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

The average life span of most WW1 pilots was about two weeks. Until the very end of the war only German pilots had and used parachutes. Many pilots or gunners jumped to their deaths rather then be burned alive in those flying coffins. Those that survived that time span and gained experience became the "aces" of legend. Imagine flying behind a castor oil lubed and fuming engine with the radiator over your head and the gas tank under your butt. Talk about having courage, those flyers had it in spades. The same can certainly be said of those early submarine sailors that labored and fought under extremely harsh and dangerous conditions. To think that most of those men were just teens or very young men that had their whole life ahead of them and millions would die horrible deaths. Contrast that with most of today's youth, except those in our military, that go ballistic when their parents limit their PC or cell phone usage.

[CT]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

One of my all time favorite movies for war/aviation is Flyboys (2006) w/ James Franco. If you have not seen this, you need to rent it this weekend, a truly excellent docudrama about WW1 pilots. Excellent flying sequences, graphics, and story line.

My fav ww1 plane is the Tigermoth, just very classic lines to the narrow fuse and large wings.
CT

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

The "Blue Max", a very good movie with a great story line, filmed in 1968 was a much more realistic WW 1 aviation film that used real planes and not CGI planes making absurd movements. If you have not seen it, you need to view it. I saw Fly Boys. It was fun to view. I always enjoy any movie that features WW1 planes but the combat scenes were too "Hollywood" for me even though they were good graphics. Believe it or not, not all German planes in WW1 were red colored tri-planes. In fact there was only one all red tripe and that was the great Richtofen, the Red Baron. Even though Richtofen flew a red Tripe, he made most of his 80 kills flying Albatross fighters. Those DR 1 tripes with twin Spandau Mgs were better fighter planes than the Nieuport 17's with a single Mg. They would have flamed those rookie Fly Boys. German pilots in both the First and Second War had the greatest number of victories by far over any other nation's pilots.

[Rocketeer]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Greetings Guys,

Both 'flyboys' and the 'Blue Max' are awesome films.
I land in the middle, while I like things to be depicted with accuracy and don't mind a little 'hollywood' thrown into the mix. A little bit of then with a little bit of now. I even liked the "Aviator" (though I may be the only one).

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in OKla.

[Baron]

Re: My run-in with the Blue Angles

Though not a WW 1 aviation film because the story takes place shorty after the Great War, you have got to like The Great Waldo Pepper. Some great WW 1 aviation dueling between German ace Ernst Kessler,
(modeled after the real great German Ace, Ernst Udet,) and the stunt flyer Waldo Pepper. Waldo, not being in the first war, just has to test his prowess against a real fighter ace- Kessler. Great scenes of aerial photography. I was cheering for Kessler, the old guy, against the hot shot " wanna be." A good film to see if you like vintage aircraft.