The Blue Angels, the world's oldest Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, begin each season the second Saturday of March at their winter home in El
Centro, California.
From there they tour North America, amazing nearly 15 million people before returning to their home base in
Penascola, Florida in November.
The Blue Angels maintenance and support crew travel aboard a Marine Corps C-130 Hercules
affectionately called "Fat Albert".
Each season Fat Albert flies more than 100,000 miles carrying 45 crew members and specialized equipment needed to complete an airshow.
Fat Albert also opens each show by displaying the tactical flight characteristics of the C-130.
The other planes flown are F/A-18 Hornets, a twin-engine multi-mission strike fighter designed to operate from aircraft carriers and land bases.
The Blue Angels team consists of 130 Marines and Sailors hand-picked from the fleet. They must meet certain requirements and be recommended by their current commanding officer to be considered for the team. This group will spend two or three years performing.
The Blues got their start at the end of World War II when the
Chief of Naval
Operations, Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in Naval Aviation.
They performed their first flight demonstration less than a year later in June 1946 at their home base in Jacksonville, Florida.
The F6F Hellcat was flown for two months before the team transitioned to the F8F
Bearcat. In 1947 the team introduced the now-famous "Diamond Formation".
By the end of the 1940's the Blue Angels were flying their first jet aircraft, the F9F-2 Panther, but
deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Princeton in response to needs in the Korean Conflict in 1950.
From then until 1986, the Blue Angels flew 5 other types of aircraft. On November 8, 1986,
the Blue Angels had completed their 40
th anniversary year when they unveiled
their present aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet.
Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 455 million fans.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The Patriots Jet Team in L-39s
AV-8 Harrier
My kowledge of aircraft stops when rotors are invloved.
Had all kinds of tanks and troop transports there too.
And the squadron's own jeep.
From there they tour North America, amazing nearly 15 million people before returning to their home base in Penascola, Florida in November. 
The Blue Angels maintenance and support crew travel aboard a Marine Corps C-130 Hercules affectionately called "Fat Albert". 
Each season Fat Albert flies more than 100,000 miles carrying 45 crew members and specialized equipment needed to complete an airshow. 
The other planes flown are F/A-18 Hornets, a twin-engine multi-mission strike fighter designed to operate from aircraft carriers and land bases.
The Blue Angels team consists of 130 Marines and Sailors hand-picked from the fleet. They must meet certain requirements and be recommended by their current commanding officer to be considered for the team. This group will spend two or three years performing. 
The Blues got their start at the end of World War II when the Chief of Naval Operations, Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in Naval Aviation.
They performed their first flight demonstration less than a year later in June 1946 at their home base in Jacksonville, Florida. 
The F6F Hellcat was flown for two months before the team transitioned to the F8F Bearcat. In 1947 the team introduced the now-famous "Diamond Formation".
By the end of the 1940's the Blue Angels were flying their first jet aircraft, the F9F-2 Panther, but deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Princeton in response to needs in the Korean Conflict in 1950.
From then until 1986, the Blue Angels flew 5 other types of aircraft. On November 8, 1986, the Blue Angels had completed their 40th anniversary year when they unveiled their present aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet. 
Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 455 million fans. 
That is him getting in the back seat. He rode with Major Nate "Corky" Miller, a squadron mate of ours from a few years ago, in the lead solo plane #7.
He's in the one higher off the ground.
Upside down in #7.
The one closest to the camera is the one he's in. This was a high speed pass.
The kids loved watching Dad fly with the Blues!
It is a class of air-cushion vehicle, otherwise known as a hovercraft, used by the US Navy.
They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air/Ground Task Force both from ship to shore and across the beach.
Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.
LCACs are capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds.
The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine Ground Element to reach the shore.
And just in case you didn't notice, that is the propeller that gives the LCAC it's power. It's labeled just to make sure.
Coming out of the pits into the straight-away where you go really fast!
Then it's around lots of corners.
Please don't try to waste the tires though.
Zooming by the cameras! 
I could pick out all the Mustangs and Cameros, but that was about it.
Now let's slow it down a bit 
so we don't end up out of control
and crashing into things!
Do you see Pam and I?
Lots of bright colors!
If I saw this coming at me in my rear-view mirror I'd speed up!
Love the duct tape art! 
Lots of hard work and dedication (and money!) go into keeping these cars in top racing shape.
This car reminded me of a friend in high school who drove an old Camaro.
To add even more fun to the day,
I went for a ride in this car!! And what a ride that was!
