Which of them is better?

Hello 72cuda

It's going to be a while yet I'm afraid.
I've got so many other unfinished projects going on but I'm doing a lot of planning and scheming on it!

Thanks for "takin' care of business" over there and I pray you're able to come back home to family and friends soon.

Merlin

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda [I even seen the BONE fly between goal posts at the AFA stadium scaring the skiddles out of everyone, now that is an airshow and then come roaring by you at trans-sonic that'll sound like a 100 car coal train, now that's impressive

A couple Prowlers tried that at the new stadium in Seattle last year. Seems a Congressman was none too pleased.

For me it's just got to be the Red Arrows.

But then I'm just a little biased!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Running in from your left, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team........

When I was a student in Pensacola, I had an opportunity to see one of their periodic "head to head" semi-private shows. I think they do it annually or every other year and alternate between doing it at Nellis and Pensacola. Anyway, like most have said they both put on good shows. For my $.02, I found the T-birds' show to be a little more graceful and the Blues' show was a little more agressive. And yes, having been trained in a "joint" environment, having served with USAF officers, and worked with USAF assets in both operational and exercise settings, it DOES to a certain degree reflect the different types of flying each service does. That's not a value statement at all - just the way it is. Both branches are good at what they do. It's just that flying around an Air Force Base and flying around the boat are rather distinct experiences!!! :)

Over the years, I've also had the chance to work with RAF officers and, with what exposure to the RAF that's given me plus the fact I'm a fan of "The Few" anyway, I'm very eager to see the Red Arrows someday. I also went through flight school with some Italians and their pride in their service has me interested in seeing "Frecce Tricolore" (sp?) as well.

And finally, I'll agree that for the sheer impressiveness of seeing a whole LOT of airplanes moving around as one, it's tough to beat the Snowbirds. They have a formation of what, NINE planes? something crazy like that :) Wacky Canucks ;)

Both are great teams but I'm a little partial to the Snowbirds.

Hey Merlin;
sorry for the delay kinda got some projects to be done over here in Iraq but that sounds fantastic so when are you going to show the now Show Birds?
I'd love to see'm

Also agree that Blues put on a better show. A few years ago at the Latrobe (PA) airshow, one of the BA solo planes did a snap roll right on takeoff and then did his crosswind right over the spectator area at the end of the runway - the jet was so close I swear you could feel the heat from the engines, and you could definitely see every little detail on the top of the fuselage as he passed over us. Unfortunately, the airport authority closed this section off during the last (and probably last ever) airshow at Latrobe. (they're too worried about security now, and never have planned a really good show).
But you can have your chance to compare at the Dayton Airshow this coming weekend (7/19-20), when they will have Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and Snowbirds.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda hey merlin are you up for another dare?

Oh yes, the possibilities are almost limitless.
I really like the ideas of a Blues F-8 and FJ.

How about a row of Thunderbird..............SR-71s!
Hey, it is a fantasy, right?

or how about an A-10 in T-Bird scheme?, or even an F-104, or F-86 that'll be an intresting thing to see also how about a F4U in Angels colors or an A-1 or FJ's in gloss angel blue
hey merlin are you up for another dare?

I would love to see that trade a plane. To go into the land of never were. During our gas crunch days of T-38s and A-4s we never got to see Tomcats and Eagles in their services colors. Prior to this the Navy opted to stay with the F-11 before converting to the F-4. An F-8 Blue would would be awesome also.

kick butt; I've got to see them when your done, Tally HO

BLUE ANGELS, naturally.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda I dare you to do it matter of fact I double dars you

You're on!

that'll blow some minds at the next show
I dare you to do it matter of fact I double dars you

That just inspired me to a possible fantasy subject.

How about an F16 in Blue Angels colors sitting next to a T-Bird F/A-18?

everyone has seen the Brews & the Chickens do their thing but I feel that a real airshow is done by just the single demo, F-14's, F-15's, F-16's, F/A-18's & B-1B's, and hands down it's the BONE that'll drop you jaw below sea level, I've seen her twice do the same circuit as the fighters but being a 400 ton bomber at low level she'll rock your world and she even does something the fighters cant is follow the terrain at 150 ft without flinching, I even seen the BONE fly between goal posts at the AFA stadium scaring the skiddles out of everyone, now that is an airshow and then come roaring by you at trans-sonic that'll sound like a 100 car coal train, now that's impressive

QUOTE: Originally posted by merlin V1650 QUOTE: Originally posted by Colt45Team The Blue's show performance is far superior to the Bird's. There is just something about an F-16 in full afterburner that makes an F-18 seem a bit swabish! Although I'm not quite sure what the definition of "swabish" is, this statement seems to contradict itself.........or did i miss something?

Gotta go with the Blues.

The Arrows paid a very rare visit to Ireland yesterday and stopped in here on the way to the annual airshow celebrating Alcock and Brown's first Trans Atlantic flight.
After 9 years in the RAF it was good to see the short display they put on in my home town before they went to the main display near Galway.
They also took off in 3 groups of 3 simultaneously - a rare sight in this part of the
world.

I saw both teams when I was three, 1958. I'm a military brat who went in the military. My dad was Air Force so was I. How ever the Blues win "hands down". I've seen teams from all over the world. The 63 Blue Diamonds were great, they put those F-86s right down on the deck. My dad will tell you that the 53 and 54 T-birds were the best AF teams ever. They flew great routines in the Hun. My personal favorite Blues are the F-11 years. The best was the 25th Tokyo Raid Annivesary performance , Eglin AFB/Fort Walton Beach, over Santa Rosa Island. One of the Blues solo aircraft broke the sound barrier right over the dunes, It was great. However I think Bob Hoover stole the show that day. Love that Mustang.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Colt45Team The Blue's show performance is far superior to the Bird's. There is just something about an F-16 in full afterburner that makes an F-18 seem a bit swabish!

Although I'm not quite sure what the definition of "swabish" is, this statement seems to contradict itself.........or did i miss something?

The Blue's show performance is far superior to the Bird's. There is just something about an F-16 in full afterburner that makes an F-18 seem a bit swabish!

Actually I think it goes more like http://blueangels.org

Anyone who walks into my house knows I'm a Blues Nut.
Blue Angels everywhere (and so many more to build)
I remember them back to the F-11 Tiger days, but the most awesome performances were from the Phantom era (oh my gawd, the noise) One of my most prized possessions is an 8x10 photo personally signed to me by the 1970 team kneeling in front of one of their f4j's. Harley Hall was "the boss" at the time. Sadly, he was the last Naval aviator shot down on the last day of the Vietnam war. His fate is still unknown.
I do like the T-Birds too but for me it's the Blues hands down.!
For a great site check out blueangels.org

as to be different but the F/A-18 is a lead sled compaired to the A-4, that's when the B/A's put on the best show, the 16's are far better a/c but the T-birds are more conseritive after their 1981 accident but I still love the 9G turn the #5 does but I still haven't seen the B/A's do that but the best is the Snow Birds but for the US teams I feel the T-Birds can pull it over the B/A's cause if the a/c I haven't liked the 18's, after seen them (F/A-18)at the Paris airshow in '85, and the 16 is barely pushing it's envolope during the display, can't wait to see the Rapor in the Red, White & Blue sceme

I BELIEVE!!!

HEY,
Well, i have to vote with almost everybody else and go for the blues. My dad is in the navy and every two years at the naval air station in Brunswick Maine they show up. We go see it sometimes but we usually stay home because we live on the base. They fly right by our house every once in a while and usually they are upside down and i swear, once one of them waved to me( although noone believes that i could have seen it ). GO BLUES!

Randy

Both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds fly very capable, attractive aircraft. All are extremely fine aerobatic pilots and put on breathtakingly precise shows. BRAVO!

However, the Blue Angels are carrier qualified. The Thunderbirds are not. I've spoken to several ex Air Force pilots and they all don't understand how the Navy pilots do it. One actually said that if he had to make a carrier landing and survived, he would have to change his underwear.

My vote goes to the Blue Angels. GO NAVY!

Pete

P. S. I still like "The French Connection" best of all.

QUOTE: Originally posted by blackwolfscd Hmmm.... So far, we Blues fans are in the vast majority. Anyone here ever seen them while flying F-4's?

Sad to say I don't have any photos, but that is what they were flying when I saw them as a kid at the Bishop Air Show in Flint MI. One year we couldn't go because my parents were going out to dinner I think. They dropped me off at my grandparents house and I was bummed out. My grandma wanted to know what was wrong so I told her. She said that the airshow always bothered her because the planes fly so low over their house and you can see them from the backyard. We ate in the backyard and I swear the Angles were so close you could almost touch them!