Blue Angels
Blue Angels, Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, Lakeland, Florida - © David H. Enzel, 2025
The Blue Angels, formally named the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, are a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy. Formed in 1946, the unit is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, following the Patrouille de France which formed in 1931. The name was picked by the original team when they were planning a show in New York in 1946. One of them came across the name of the city's famous Blue Angel nightclub in the New Yorker Magazine.
The team has six Navy and one Marine Corps demonstration pilots. They fly the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. Each aircraft is painted in the Blue Angels’ iconic colors: vivid blue and gold. The sleek paint job, high-gloss finish, and striking design aren’t just for aesthetics—they’re also a point of pride and a hallmark of the professionalism the team embodies.
The Blue Angels typically perform aerial displays in at least 60 shows annually at 32 locations throughout the United States and two shows at one location in Canada. The "Blues" still employ many of the same practices and techniques used in the inaugural 1946 season.
One of the most famous formations of the Blue Angels is the “Diamond” (shown above), where four jets fly in tight, symmetrical formation with mere inches separating their wings. An estimated 11 million spectators view the squadron during air shows from March through November each year. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 505 million spectators.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to the country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.
The Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds do not fly together. Department of Defense policy explains that the use of military aviation demonstration teams is for recruiting purposes; therefore the teams usually do not fly within 150 miles of each other without special permission.
The Blue Angels are a treasured part of American culture. Their air shows are among the most attended aviation events in the country, often drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators.
I saw the Blue Angels perform at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida on April 5, 2025. These photos are from that event. Watching the Blue Angels is an awe inspiring experience and a reminder of the skill and courage of those who serve.
