Blue Angel to Perform Flight Demonstration in Biofuel Aircraft

Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, is slated to perform their flight demonstration with every aircraft powered by a biofuel blend at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River Air Expo Sept. 2-4.

Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus said the Navy and Marine Corps’ use of alternative energy sources addresses critical vulnerabilities and ultimately serves to improve our war fighting capability, while also increasing our energy efficiency and helping lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.

“Changing the kinds of fuels we use and the way we use them is critical to assuring the Navy and Marine Corps remain the most formidable expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known,” said Mabus. “

One objective in successfully testing alternative energy sources is to ensure there is no difference in performance between the biofuel blend and standard petroleum-based JP-5. McWherter, who flew a legacy F/A-18 test flight Aug. 17, said there were no noticeable differences from the cockpit.

The Blue Angels Labor Day weekend performance will be yet another visible demonstration of the Department of the Navy’s commitment to reducing fossil fuel use without compromising capability. All six F/A-18 legacy Hornets will be powered by a 50/50 blend of conventional JP-5 jet fuel and a camelina-based biofuel.

The Labor Day performance is the ultimate demonstration to date of the Department of the Navy’s commitment to reducing dependence on foreign oil, as well as safeguarding our environment through the incorporation cleaner, more sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Source: U.S. Navy

Maine Air Show returns

The Great State of Maine Air Show is coming back later this month after a two-year absence, but it’s a bit different than when it last took flight three years ago.

The show still will feature the Navy’s Blue Angels flying team (coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Navy aviation), vintage aircraft, stunt flying and other crowd-pleasers. But this time, it also comes with a price tag.

Before Brunswick Naval Air Station closed, the military picked up the tab for the show and admission was free. It drew an estimated 150,000 visitors in 2008.

Now, an arm of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority — the agency set up to market the former airbase and attract new businesses to it — is running the show, and it needs the revenue from ticket sales to help cover the estimated cost of up to $900,000.

Marty McMahon, the director of the air show said it no longer gets “hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer financing.”

Advance tickets will cost $15 for adults and $10 for most others, including children, seniors and active-duty military, retirees and dependents. Those who wait to buy tickets at the gate Aug. 27 or 28 will have to pay $5 more.

McMahon said the show needs to sell about 32,000 tickets to cover the cost, which would seem a relatively easy task, based on past attendance. But so far, advance sales total only about 2,000, he said.

McMahon said he expects that number will pick up once it gets closer to the date and people can check weather forecasts to make sure they’re not going to get rained on or be forced to try to spot planes as they zip through clouds.

He also said the tickets bought in advance are for one day of the weekend event, but can be used either Saturday or Sunday, so people can pick the better of the two days, weatherwise, to attend.

McMahon said that a number of local groups, such as the Boy Scouts and high school sports booster clubs, will sell concessions at the show as fundraisers. Any money raised in excess of the cost of the show will be given out as grants to local nonprofit organizations, he said.

The show also will feature a business aviation expo in one of the former station’s huge hangars, featuring displays set up by companies involved in the aviation industry.

Maine has several companies that supply large aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing or Airbus, he said, and also has companies such as Kestrel, a small plane manufacturer that’s setting up shop in Brunswick because of the facilities offered at the former base.

“A lot of people don’t know that Maine has a robust aerospace industry,” McMahon said.

It’s also an opportunity for the authority to show off the former base, which was ordered closed by the military restructuring committee six year ago and has been renamed Brunswick Landing. At one point, BNAS was home to 4,000 naval officers and enlisted personnel and had six patrol squadrons.

Now that it’s civilian property and a private operation, the authority has to cover show costs, from performance fees for the flying teams to fuel for the jets to hotel rooms for the pilots.

McMahon said the show is adding a Friday night edition to the traditional Saturday and Sunday event. He said there will be planes with fireworks on the wings and a fireworks display at the end of the evening and many of the pilots will be introduced at the evening event as well. Tickets for that event are $10 ($5 for those who qualify for discounts on the weekend tickets).

 

-kjonline.com

Thunderbirds fly the Blue Angels

 

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds hosted three members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels team at the Thunderbird Hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Feb 23 as part of the two demonstration units’ traditional exchange program.

Blue Angel No. 2, Lt. Cmdr. Jim Tomaszeski, right wing, and Blue Angel No. 4, Lt. Rob Kurrle, slot, had the chance to fly in the back seat of a Thunderbird F-16D model with Thunderbird No. 3, Maj. John Gallemore, right wing. Blue Angel No. 5, Lt. Ben Walborn, lead solo, flew with Thunderbird No. 5 Maj. Aaron Jelinek, lead solo.

The exchange program allows for both demonstration units with similar missions to have the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other, said Major Jelinek.

“I can’t tell you how many times on the road we get asked if we’re better than the Blue Angels. To me, this (exchange program) is more camaraderie between the two teams, rather than a chance to compete with one another other,” said Major Jelinek.

“Bringing their jet here to Nellis and flying with us is awesome because we learn from them. We can see firsthand the good things they’re doing with their operation and implement them into our own Thunderbirds mission. And hopefully they can do the same, so both teams become better.”

“It’s always exciting to fly someone in the back seat and showcase what you’re doing during the various maneuvers,” said Major Jelinek. “The opportunity to fly the Blue Angels makes things a little more special, being that they’re out accomplishing the same mission on a daily basis.”

Both demonstration units are currently scheduled to begin their 2011 show seasons next month. The Thunderbirds will travel to perform at 39 show sites in the U.S. and Europe and the Blue Angels will travel to 37 show sites in the U.S.

- air-attack

‘Angels Over the Bay’ to celebrate Keesler AFB’s 70 years

With a month to go, the lineup of performers and aircraft is growing for the Angels Over the Bay Air Show at Keesler Air Force Base.

The event poster released Wednesday captures the essence of the March 19-20 show, which will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Keesler with modern jets and vintage planes flying overhead and displayed on the ground.

Headlining the show is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the precision flying team that last performed at Keesler in 1978. Also returning are the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, perennial crowd-pleasers.

“We’re still working on more,” said 1st Lt. Joost Verduyn, Keesler public affairs officer for the air show.

Among the planes taking to the air over Keesler will be the Disabled American Veterans’ B-25J Mitchell bomber, the Blue Angels’ “Fat Albert,” the Air Force F-16 Viper East demonstration team, the Coast Guard MH-65C Dauphin helicopter that rescued people after Hurricane Katrina, other war planes and aerobatic performers.

The 70-year history of Keesler will be told with the planes that have flown from the base, including the modern Hurricane Hunters and the Flying Jennies. Some of the aircraft will be open for spectators to board.

A UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, a predator drone and a Global Hawk are some of the other aircraft attendees will see up close.

Keesler uses the air show as an open house for the community. Admission is free and shuttles will bring visitors onto the base from locations that will be announced closer to the event.

- SunHerald

Ready to fly this July

Rejoice aviation enthusiasts! Bid boredom goodbye this month of July because we present to you a list on where to be this month.

• July 7-11 – Arlington Fly-In at Arlington Municipal Airport in Oregon

The show features a full-scale reproduction of a 1933 Stinson Model O, B-25 Grumpy and a lot more. Visit their official website for more details on the event.

• July 17-18 – Duluth Air Show 2010 at Duluth International Airport in Minnesota

The air show will feature USAF’s Thunderbirds and one of the largest static displays in the Midwest. For more information, check out their official website.

• July 17-18 – Vectren Dayton Air Show at Dayton International Airport in Ohio

Starting at 11am, the Dayton Air show will feature unique static aircraft and a rare appearance of the U.S. Blue Angels. See the official website for more details.

• July 26-Aug 1 – EAA airventure at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

This year’s performers will include a Red Bull Helicopter, Harrier, Jet Sailplane, and much more. For further details, visit their official website.

If you’re planning to leave the country, then you might want to check these:

• July 7-8 – Aviation Outlook in Beijing, China
• July 3-18 – 31^st FAI World Gliding Championship in Prievidza, Slovakia
• July 24-Aug 8 – 31^st FAI World Gliding Championship in Szeged, Hungary

You can check out their official website for more details.

• July 24-July 25 – Sunderland International Airshow at Seaburn and Roker Seafront in Europe

No admission fee, the air show will include a B-52 Bomber, the Typhoon Eurofighter, and a whole lot more. Further details can be seen in their official website.

• July 24-July 25 – Alberta International Airshow in Alberta, Canada