Airshows

McDonnell Douglas gave Warner Bros. decade-old stock footage of the Blue Angels flying the iconic A-4F Skyhawk II and Warner Bros decided that Van Halen’s soaring track “Dreams” was a perfect match.

The cool clip in this post features the original, famed Van Halen music video for Dreams with the Blue Angels in the A-4 Skyhawks.

Warner Bros decided to produce the video in 1986 after one of their executives had seen Top Gun and thought the movie would have been even better with a rock soundtrack (he must have thought that “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins was a bit too twee). Using the movie as inspiration, Warner Bros produced a video featuring the US Navy’s Blue Angels and then released it to coincide with the Independence Day holiday.

McDonnell Douglas gave Warner Bros. decade-old stock footage of the Blue Angels flying the iconic A-4F Skyhawk II and Warner Bros decided that Van Halen’s soaring track “Dreams” was a perfect match. The band gave their approval. The Navy was also pleased to assist the effort because the video would help commemorate the Blue Angel’s 40th anniversary. Once all parties were in agreement, the quick-cut video of the Blue Angles executing their signature maneuvers was edited in three days.

The clip was originally intended to be aired exclusively on MTV during the July Liberty Weekend (which was a special celebration of the restoration and centenary of the Statue of Liberty), but the massive response it generated during the July Liberty Weekend took Warner Bros, Van Halen, and the Navy by surprise. MTV was deluged with phone calls from viewers who wanted to know more about the Blue Angels and where they could get copies of the video.

The US Navy was thrilled. According to an interesting piece that appeared on the U.S. Naval Institute’s Naval History Blog “On the heels of the two-hour recruiting commercial that was Top Gun, they now had an electrifying music video by one of the nation’s most popular rock bands being viewed by millions of teenage boys. Navy Recruiting Command was reaching its target audience, and it had cost them nothing. In fact, everyone involved reaped rewards. MTV had a buzzworthy video, Van Halen notched another hit single in “Dreams” (peaking at #22 on the charts) while being able to stand firm on not paying for the video, and Warner Bros. racked up more album sales due to their inexpensive promo. For these reasons, all parties agreed to extend the use of the video indefinitely.”

The same year that the video for “Dreams” was released, the Blue Angels replaced their A-4 Skyhawks with F/A-18 Hornets.

 2,960 A-4 Skyhawks were produced between 1954 and 1979. Built small to be cost-effective and so that more of them could be accommodated on a carrier, the lightweight, high-speed bombers were affectionately nicknamed “Heinemann’s Hot Rod” (after Douglas designer Ed Heinemann), the Bantam Bomber, Mighty Mite, and Scooter. Skyhawks provided the U.S. Navy and Marines and friendly nations with maneuverable, yet powerful, attack bombers that had great altitude and range capabilities, plus an unusual flexibility in armament capacity.

The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron flew the A-4F Skyhawk II from 1974 to 1986. 

Video credit: Michael Huggins

Photo by KllausBR via YouTube

Maj. Michelle Curran is the Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. 5 jet.

A massive bird stroke Thunderbirds Lead Solo Maj. Michelle Curran’s F-16C Fighting Falcon during a team practice flight demonstration in Colombia, South America, on Jul. 12, 2019.

Curran said on her Instagram account:

‘I was recently asked about scary moments in the jet. Here’s the story of one of them. Last year during our Friday practice in Colombia I had a fairly major bird strike. The second photo shows the large bird on my GoPro right before impact. I was behind the show line at around 2000’ and 450kts rejoining with #5 for the solo rejoin to the delta. There was no chance for me to see and avoid this bird. I saw a big flash of black go under my nose and heard and felt the impact. I immediately requested to terminate the practice and land. The jet handled normally and the engine didn’t falter. My crew chief SSgt. Dylan Stefani came up the ladder after I shut down with a bit of shock on his face and informed me I had “two giant holes” in my jet. We were all in disbelief that a bird could punch holes clean out of the aircraft. The metal pieces were actually later found inside the jet…

‘Here’s where the really impressive part started. Our USAF Thunderbird maintainers got to work! We initially assumed the jet repair would be lengthy and we’d have to leave it behind when we left 3 days later. However, they pulled out the stops and worked with the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC, Colombian Air Force) to get sheet metal and patch the holes. They also found feathers in the engine and had to do a full engine swap. Everyone burned the midnight oil and I flew two shows in a spare jet. The work and networking that happened with minimal resources was amazing. 3 days later we flew my jet back to the States with no issues. We might get all the attention, but the team behind us works miracles to make the shows happen.’

Maj. Michelle Curran is the Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. 5 jet. She majored in Criminal Justice at the University of St. Thomas and earned her commission in 2009 through Air Force ROTC. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, she served as an F-16 instructor pilot at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas. She has logged more than 1,300 flight hours as an Air Force pilot, with more than 160 combat hours over Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support. She is in her second season with the team and hails from Medford, WI.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

Kiwi A-4 Skyhawks were the only aerobatic team in the world to perform plugged-in barrel rolls.

Filmed in the early 80’ the cool video in this post features Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) A-4K Skyhawk fighter bombers performing a plugged-in barrel roll during an air show.

As Jason Boyle and Cribble Gribble told #AW#, the featured image in this post instead shows “75 Sqn A4-K and TA-4K taken in the early 80’s as our Skyhawks are still painted in their southeast Asia camouflage. It’s taken over the South Island of New Zealand during an air show or air show practice where they performed a plugged barrel roll.

“Noteworthy if you observe the tanker is carrying 2 empty practiced multiple bomb tracks (PMBR).IIRC, these were never carried empty from go i.e. the aeroplane had dropped some practice bombs earlier in the sortie.”

These aircraft were the only aerobatic team in the world to perform plugged-in barrel rolls.

In 1970, 10 A-4K single-seat aircraft and 4 TA-4K were delivered to the RNZAF, joining 75 Squadron. These were joined by 8 A-4G Skyhawk and 2 TA-4Gs from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1984, which allowed a second Skyhawk-equipped squadron, 2 Squadron, to form. 

In 1986, Project Kahu was launched to upgrade New Zealand’s Skyhawks with new avionics, including AN/APG-66NZ radar based on that used by the F-16, and weapons, as a lower-cost alternative to buying new replacements. All 10 ex-RAN and the 12 surviving original RNZAF aircraft were converted to the A-4K Kahu standard.

In 2001 the three Air Combat Force squadrons (Nos 2, 14, and 75) were disbanded and the Skyhawks were put into storage awaiting sale. They were maintained, with occasional servicing flights, and then moved to RNZAF Base Woodbourne, where they were preserved in protective latex. 

Draken International signed an agreement with the New Zealand government in 2012 to purchase eight A-4Ks and associated equipment for its adversary training services. Six were former RAN A-4G airframes which as carrier aircraft had logged significantly fewer flying hours. These were subsequently relocated to the U.S. at Draken’s Lakeland Linder International Airport facility in Lakeland, Florida. The other A-4K aircraft were given to museums in New Zealand and Australia.

Photo by Royal New Zealand Air Force

In 2018 ‘Sitka 43’ C-17 Globemaster III wreckage found a new purpose at the Air Force Safety Center (AFSEC) Crash Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Taken on Jul. 28, 2010, at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson (JBER), the sad video in this post shows C-17 Globemaster III – tail number 00-0173 and call sign Sitka 43 belonging to the 3rd Wing and operated jointly with the 176th Wing – crashing while practicing for the Arctic Thunder Air Show.

Officials at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces released the results of their investigation into the fatal crash on Dec. 10 of the same year.

Gen. Gary North, then Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident which resulted in the deaths of the four crewmembers aboard, the destruction of the $184 million aircraft, and damage to part of the Alaska Railroad.

The accident investigation board found clear and convincing evidence the cause of the mishap was a pilot error. The investigation revealed the pilot placed the aircraft outside established flight parameters and capabilities. During the mishap sortie, the pilot aggressively flew the aircraft in a manner inconsistent with established flight procedures, resulting in a stall. The pilot failed to take the required stall recovery actions.

Furthermore, the board concluded the co-pilot and safety observer failed to recognize or address the developing dangerous situation. As a result, the C-17 stalled at an attitude and altitude from which recovery to controlled flight was impossible.

As told by Airman 1st Class Crystal A. Jenkins, JBER Public Affairs, in the article Sitka 43 continues to serve eight years after the fatal crash, in 2017 a team of Airmen from various units assembled with the sole mission of removing the wreckage that had been stored at JBER since 2010.

After multiple shipments and combined efforts of many units including the 773d and 673d logistics readiness squadrons, at the end of September 2018 found the ‘Sitka 43’ wreckage found a new purpose at the Air Force Safety Center Crash Lab at Kirtland Air ForcenBase, New Mexico.

AFSEC’s mission is to safeguard Airmen, protect resources, and preserve combat capability. The goal is to develop skilled investigators who will be able to identify factors, analyze findings and develop recommendations that will prevent future Air Force mishaps.

“The lab is a 29-acre site used as a hands-on training facility,” said Gwendolyn Dooley, Chief, AFSEC Training and Force Development. “The wreckage will be laid out to duplicate the original mishap in both scale and investigative clues. Additionally, course material will be revised to incorporate a mishap investigation lab utilizing the C-17 wreckage.”

This addition expands the curriculum at AFSEC by providing students with a modernized hands-on lab for heavy aircraft during the Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course.

“The C-17 is the first heavy cargo aircraft to be placed at the crash lab,” said Lt. Col. Rich Couture, Deputy DivisionnChief, AFSEC Training, and Force Development. “This will enhance student learning by enabling them to see and actually touch the debris while applying investigative techniques during their lab.”

During the classroom-based portion of the mishap investigation course students are provided data from the original mishap, then proceed to the crash lab to apply what they’ve learned.” 

We believe this blended learning approach will enhance the student’s ability to investigate mishaps while also enhancing the Air Force’s ability to fly, fight and win — in air, space and cyberspace, Couture said. 

Although the wreckage will benefit future Airmen at AFSEC, the team assembled at JBER has also been impacted. 

“When I was first told that I was going to be a part of the C-17 wreckage disposal team, I saw it as another project,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. April Godbolt, wreckage disposal team member and Section Chief for the Customer Support 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron.n“I felt this way until I set foot in the actual yard. Immediately my entire demeanor shifted. I felt such a somber feeling, realizing the great loss of life that had occurred here.

“It was from that moment I knew this was more than just disposing of a destroyed aircraft, but rather my responsibility to remove it for the sake of the Airmen and for the families who had suffered the loss of their loved ones. I have counted it an honor and a privilege to be a part of something that has and will continue to have an impact on the lives and hearts of so many.”

Four Airmen ( Majors Michael Freyholtz and Aaron Malone, pilots assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard’s 249th Airlift Squadron; Captain Jeffrey Hill, a pilot assigned to Elmendorf’s active-duty Air Force’s 517th Airlift Squadron; and Senior Master Sergeant Thomas E. Cicardo, a loadmaster of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 249th Airlift Squadron) were lost on Jul. 28, 2010, and their memories live on through the individuals stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Photo by Senior Airman Cynthia Spalding/JBER PAO / U.S. Air Force

The excellent video in this post features A-10C 80-0275 with the new A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team Heritage paint scheme performing at the Great Pacific Airshow 2019.

Taken on Oct. 5, 2019, at Huntington Beach, California, the excellent video in this post features A-10C 80-0275 with the new A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team Heritage paint scheme performing at the Great Pacific Airshow 2019.

Every fall The Great Pacific Airshow (TGPA) attracts people from all corners of the globe to the pristine beaches of Huntington Beach, California to experience the best airshow the United States has to offer. The Great Pacific Airshow provides viewers with an avenue to celebrate patriotism, adventure, and technology through the dozens of airborne performers and their incredible acrobatic feats. Produced by Huntington Beach-based creative + production agency Code Four, The Great Pacific Airshow is a family-friendly, inspiring event that thrills people of all ages.

Since its launch in 2016 TGPA hasnexploded in popularity. In 2018 we had unprecedented attendance of more than 2 million people (!) making Huntington Beach the destination for the country’s best airshow experience.

As the video description says, the unmistakable engine noise can only mean an A-10 Warthog is about to enter the area with a demonstration of agility and tight minimum radius turn during Saturday’snschedule of the Great Pacific Airshow.

Airmen of the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron gave A-10 Thunderbolt II 80-0275, assigned to the A-10 Demonstration Team at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, a custom paint job resembling a World War II-era P-51 Mustang.

The A-10 / P-51 paint scheme features green paint overlapping the standard low-visibility gray pattern on the upper surfaces of the fuselage, engines, wings, and horizontal stabilizers, while invasion stripes have been applied on the lower surfaces of the engines and wings.

The engines and wings also sport the same insignia used by the U.S. Army Air Forces until 1947, a few months before the official formation of the U.S. Air Force, instead of the current low-visibility markings.

The repainted A-10C took flight on Sep. 23.

A-10 Thunderbolt II (80-0275/DM) received a custom paint job resembling a P-51 Mustang from the World War II era.

The cool video in this post features 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Airmen, 355th Fighter Wing at Davis Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), AZ, giving A-10 Thunderbolt II (80-0275/DM) a custom paint job resembling a P-51 Mustang from the World War II era.

Assigned to the A-10 Demo Team, the aircraft will be flown in demonstrations during the 2020 air show season.

The Air Combat Command (ACC) A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, stationed out of Davis-Monthan AFB, brings the aircraft to air shows around the country to showcase the unique combat capabilities of the A-10 “Warthog.” They perform precision aerial maneuvers while highlighting the mission and professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force (USAF). Additionally, the team brings attention to the Air Force’s proud history by flying formations with historical aircraft in the Air Force Heritage Flight.

The A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team performed demos for the first time in seven years for the 2018 air show season. The A-10 is one of three single-ship aerial demonstration teams (the other two being the F-22 and F-16 Demo Teams) in ACC.

The team consists of one pilot, one superintendent, a noncommissioned officer-in-charge, three crew chiefs, an avionics systems specialist, an aerospace propulsion systems specialist, an electrical and environmental systems specialist, and a public affairs specialist.

The A-10 Demo Team originally consisted of two east and west counterparts before both were deactivated in 2011. The A-10nflew in heritage flight formations in 2012 and 2017 before reactivating as a single-ship demonstration for 2018.

The A-10 Demo Team will highlight the aircraft’s unique capabilities such as rapid roll rates, low and high-speed maneuverability, and short takeoffs and landings, which all make the A-10 a premier close air support asset.

U.S. Air Force Video by Senior Airman Mya Crosby, Senior Airman Christina Rios and Airman 1st Class Giovanni Sims, 355th Wing

What makes this clip unique is the gorgeous, non-standard double-delta silhouette of the J 35J Draken which stands out in Full Afterburner against the beautiful (although cloudy) Austrian background.

Filmed on Sep. 6-7, 2019 the cool video in this post features the SAAB J 35J Draken (serial 35556/10-56) from the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight (SwAFHF) performing at Airpower 2019 Airshow at Zeltweg Air Base, Austria.

What makes this clip unique is the gorgeous, non-standard double-delta silhouette of the Draken which stands out in Full Afterburner against the beautiful (although cloudy) Austrian background.

As explained by Jan Jørgensen & friends in the book Saab 35 Draken The ultimate portfolio, when the Draken was retired from Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) active service, two J 35J’s were set aside to be used as flying museum aircraft. One has been operated by Försvarsmaktens Veteranflyg (armed forces veteran flight) based at Halmstad and flown regularly at Swedish air shows (35556), while the other has been stored at Aeromuseum in Säve (35586/10-62).

In 2013 Försvarsmaktens decided to stop itsnVeteranflyg activity, and 35556 was transferred to the SwAFHF at Såtenäs, to be flown on the civil register.

The Austrian Air Force was one of the fourth operators (along with the Swedish Air Force, the Danish Air Force, and the Finnish Air Force) of the Draken. A few Austrian Air Force J 35OE Drakens continued to fly until Dec. 22, 2005. This date was not just a milestone for the service but also the last time the Swedish double-delta fighter was flown as an operational combat aircraft after 45 years of service with the air forces of four nations.

Following retirement many Austrian AirnForce Drakens have been given to museums for the preservation, but also some were returned to Sweden by road for scrapping.