I had the privilege of working on the A-4 (A-4F, TA-4J, & A-4M) engines and fuel systems for 9 years out of my 27 year career in Marine Corps aviation. These Blue Angels are the A-4F "Superfox" model with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 engine. One of my tours of duty was on the active duty staff supervising Marine Air Reservists in Jacksonville, FL (NAS Jax & NAS Cecil Field) who were flying this version in the mid 70's/early 80's. We actually received a tasking to transfer one of our aircraft to the Angels as a replacement (there were no Navy units still flying this version at the time and the only ones the Marine Corps flew were in the 4th MAW (Reserve Wing)). Marine Corps Fleet units were then flying the A-4M. For use by the Blue Angels, the aircraft's upper avionics bay was removed from the top of the fuselage as well as the "hotdog", the smaller avionics bay normally mounted at the top of the rudder structure.
@@howardbartlett3026 Sir, with all due respect. The aircraft featured in this video are absolutely NOT T-38 Talons. If you cannot tell the difference, I'm not so sure you should have been allowed anywhere near an airframe. I don't know of many training aircraft that are single seaters. And the Air force never used the A-4.
This brings back memories! I saw this exact team fly back in 1980! The Skyhawk's created a unique screetch that you would hear as the solos were inbound to show center! They were awesome little jets!
Sadly, the Skyhawk shown at 6:30-7:00 was destroyed in a mid-air collision on July 13, 1985. The pilot Lt. Andy Caputi ejected safely and survived, but the opposing pilot Lt. Cdr. Mike Gershon was killed. ☹️
I had the privilege of working on the A-4 (A-4F, TA-4J, & A-4M) engines and fuel systems for 9 years out of my 27 year career in Marine Corps aviation. These Blue Angels are the A-4F "Superfox" model with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 engine. One of my tours of duty was on the active duty staff supervising Marine Air Reservists in Jacksonville, FL (NAS Jax & NAS Cecil Field) who were flying this version in the mid 70's/early 80's. We actually received a tasking to transfer one of our aircraft to the Angels as a replacement (there were no Navy units still flying this version at the time and the only ones the Marine Corps flew were in the 4th MAW (Reserve Wing)). Marine Corps Fleet units were then flying the A-4M. For use by the Blue Angels, the aircraft's upper avionics bay was removed from the top of the fuselage as well as the "hotdog", the smaller avionics bay normally mounted at the top of the rudder structure.
I've seen this growing up in 80's and the hornet's....
Still favorite one so far 👍🙌🙌👍
A-4's and "Flying Gators" Forever! VMA-142 Avionics 1981-1984.
These are Blue Angels I grew up with at the Reading Airport in the '70s and the '80s back in the day we had the best air shows around
I grew up with the F-4 Blue Angles at NAS Alameda as my dad was at Mare Islands on Subs. I will never forget that sound, the speed and the smell!
Amazing then, amazing now….Love the A4!
They Skyhawk is hands down the prettiest of all the aircraft the Angels ever flew..
Love the Scooter! The Skyhawk seemed to be the perfect aircraft for the Blue Angels!
I had the honor of working on the A-4 D in 1964 at Lemoore N.A. S. Great plane. VA -113
amazing plane the a4, still watch them fly today ,they look good in blue and yellow
@@potatoboidvidi that`s nice dude, my father was in the navy ,in my country we still use them as the main plane in our air force ,they never get old
@@howardbartlett3026 Sir, with all due respect. The aircraft featured in this video are absolutely NOT T-38 Talons. If you cannot tell the difference, I'm not so sure you should have been allowed anywhere near an airframe. I don't know of many training aircraft that are single seaters. And the Air force never used the A-4.
Thank you so much for this precious footage.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!! 素晴らしい！共有してくれてありがとう！
This brings back memories! I saw this exact team fly back in 1980! The Skyhawk's created a unique screetch that you would hear as the solos were inbound to show center! They were awesome little jets!
Nice! we operated Skyhawks with our RNZAF and we had a display team called the Kiwi Reds.. thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿✈️
I saw them in SUFFOLK Va, 1980 , 81 ? 🤷 I was four
After watching this video all I can say is thank you Kenny Loggins.
Dreams by Van Halen should be playing. It’s the unofficial theme song of the Blue Angels.
A rolling calypso pass. This is precision flying on anothef level. They would never in 2022.
Sadly, the Skyhawk shown at 6:30-7:00 was destroyed in a mid-air collision on July 13, 1985. The pilot Lt. Andy Caputi ejected safely and survived, but the opposing pilot Lt. Cdr. Mike Gershon was killed. ☹️
Amazing
the skyhawk is just amazing all-around
The best
Like many the A4 is one sexy plane
Is this from a VHS of some sort?
It's a laser video disc.
Where are the humps on top of air craft el toro 1979 n 80
Just think 6 years later they would be flying F-18’s
Tiep tuc chien đau danh nga
Crazy MFs'
😂