Watch: The US Navy Blue Angels ‘Dreams’ Video – In Case You Missed it 30 Years Ago!

FighterSweep Staff 4 Comments Military Aviation, Navy, Photos, Video

Awesome display of precision flight by the Blue Angels put to great music by Van Halen.

But wait! There’s more! Watch the original video from 30 years ago below. Then tell us which plane do you think makes for a better flight demonstration aircraft. The F-18 or the A-4 Skyhawk with the delta wing? And which version of the video do you like best?

From this writers viewpoint and as someone who flew both, the A-4 is a far superior flight demonstration aircraft…and kind of think the video from 30+ years ago is the best!

Featured image of The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels Diamond performs the Double Farvel by US Navy. (who knows why they call this maneuver the ‘Farvel’?)

Jeff Schlueter

Speaking as a total civilian and from the spectator’s viewpoint, it did seem like the older maneuvers in the A4 were tighter, more snappy, and perhaps the team took a few more risks back then that aren’t in the show today. I saw quite a few maneuvers in the old version that I didn’t recognize from the modern show. Is that due to the difference in aircraft capabilities, 30 years of learning and adding safety measures? I would enjoy insights from someone on the inside on those thoughts.
- AD
  
  Speaking as another civilian, I have to agree that the 1986 video is more enjoyable to watch. But, I don’t see where the older performance was tighter. From what I saw in the videos (and at modern shows), the formations are just as tight today and the routine just as technically difficult. The A-4 is reputed to have a phenomenal roll rate and you can see that in the older video; they are rolling the thing every chance they get. That makes it exciting to watch and that’s where you get that “snap”. Aside from that, the difficulty of the maneuvers appears the same. In the case of the two plane pass, with one upside-down, the A-4 clip seems to show a considerably lower altitude than the F/A-18 performances I have seen and that is probably a nod to safety. On the other hand, the Hornet’s greater thrust allows the pilot to perform that awesome take-off climb, pulling up just feet above the runway. Combining the power and the slow speed control of the Hornet, I would expect it to be the “safer” aircraft of the two.
  
  I would love to read an article by the author of this one about his experiences and impressions of flying the A-4. Those kinds of pieces are what I enjoy most about websites like this one.
Ernest T. Bass

I like the “fart cart” much better. Van Halen mates perfectly with Blue Angels!
Mixelflick

I much prefer the A-4. So tired of the “all Hornet” Navy. We have Hornets for fleet defense, offensive/defensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, recon, tanking, etc., etc. And now Boeing is trying to sell us on the “Super Duper” Hornet. Look! It’s stealthy! Wrong…

How much longer before we see the Hawkeye Hornet, complete with radar dish? How about a COD Hornet?? What’s truly amazing is that Boeing has not only sold the Navy on this LOSER of the LWF competition, but Canada and plenty of other US allies.

The day this turkey flies off into the sunset, I’ll be the happiest guy on earth. For God’s sake bring back the F-14, a REAL fleet defense fighter/air-to ground monster.