x1tekja (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Wow the cockpit view is amazing. What a rush it must be to have the skill and pilot a plane that close to another. Absolutely spectacular post.

steviep53 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Jackie61; I strongly doubt if either the Blue Angels would be able to launch all 10 aircraft as there are only 6 qualified show pilots and their 'show routine' is strictly enforced by the USN. Similar restrictions for the USAF Thunderbirds. Speaking from experience, the Canadian "Snowbirds" have flown all 11 aircraft in formation, but basically straight and level for a photo shoot as the co-ordinators/narrators are not show qualified.Red Arrows are a great team with some dynamic flying.

91biker (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

red arrows are awesome, had a great expereince of meeting them and i got to taxi a couple of them to the runway in RAF valley, i was there on work experience with air cadets and at the moment i'm joining the raf as a gunner got an interview today!!!!(shitting bricks)

Jackle61 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Brian54M; Blue Angels actually have 10 single seat, and two twin seat aircraft. You are correct though, they only use 6 for airshows, 1 for narrator/vip flights. I would imagine they might use all 12 for extremely high level ceremonies or just good photo ops.

Brian54M (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

They both have 7 planes 6 for the airshow and 1 for the narrator, vip, flights etc. I have seen both and have souvenir brochures that explain all this. The "Snowbirds" Canada use all 9 planes.

Rosenaharley (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

red arrows are the best

SonB288 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

No, they're the Hawk T1 models the RAF use for advanced training, though these are the T1A versions modified to carry the AIM-9 missile. I think the reasoning is that in a national emergency you can't have nine of the RAF's best pilots without armed aircraft!BAE did make a single-canopy light fighter/strike version, the Hawk 200, which was a pretty versatile aircraft. Also, the new Hawk 127 trainers the RAF is buying can carry AIM-9s, guided bombs and a cannon pod if necessary.

cazzyjane (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Don't stop me now by Queen.

chibyelol (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

what is the second song?

verbaluk1 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Cazzyjane is correct, only 6 are used in aerobatic maneouvers by both the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels.Also note that the Hawk is smaller than either the Falcon or the Hornet (used by the Thunderbirds and Blue Angles respectively) meaning that the Red Arrows fly even closer together to get the same effect.