A New Season starts: Blue Angels Homecoming 2018

NAS Miramar main gate dressed up for Homecoming, February 10, 2018.

After two postponements, this year's Blue Angels Homecoming happened on the weekend of February 10 and 11, at NAS Miramar, traditionally marking the new season start for the Navy Flight Demonstration Team. This year, the Blues proudly flew their new F/A-18C Hornets for the first time, launching the first operational version of the upcoming Shana Carpool Aircraft commercial F/A-18C and F/A-18D Hornets.

For two days and two demonstrations, the Blues introduced the 2018 team to their fellow officers, their families and friends and audiences from all over Second Life. Attendance was at the level of last year's edition ( see here ) and around 100 people were able to enjoy the air show throughout the two days.

Day one team, from port side, BamBam, QB, Cougar, Hawk, Mistell and the Boss.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who could be at Miramar to watch this annual event and thank you all for your amazing support. We fly the skies of SL to bring awareness to not just the United States Navy but also aviation in general, and the audiences that follow us each year makes our job, indeed, the best in the world. Thank you so much.

The Blue Angels 2018 Season is officially open and what a year we have in store for you! More news to follow and the invitation was made at Miramar at the end of Day Two and is repeated here now for the second air show of the year at Luxor International Airport, one of the Blues favorite demo locations, in March. Details soon.

A special shout out to LT. Hazel "Witch" Brook and canine reporter extraordinaire Quin Avery for helping us relay the Blue Angels radio communications to part of the audience on Day One, our Third Fleet officers who served as ground crew on Day Two, and General Luke Flywalker, who recorded Day One on video. Watch the video on the SL Aviation Network channel - right here!

Please follow the link on the icon above to see the complete photo coverage of the two day Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show of 2018. The photo coverage page will be accessible always from the right column of this weblog and now also in the February issue of the NEPTUNE magazine!
Go Navy! Go Blues!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
Angel 7

Homecoming Air Show Layout

 
The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show takes place this weekend, February 10 and 11, at Naval Air Station Miramar. As usual there will be a small VIP area at Miramar but the audience will be split between three locations: bleachers on the NW shore of Deder Isle, the region East of Miramar, and seats on two USN frigates, the USS Defiant and the USS Dauntless, on the Aldabra Sea.

The Blue Angels will be inaugurating the 2018 Season with the new F/A-18C Hornets and to mark the occasion a stock version of the Hornet will be raffled on site during the Homecoming weekend (see here).

Dates and times

Saturday, February 10 at 1500 hrs (3 pm SLT)
Sunday, February 11 at 1200 hrs (noon SLT)

Things to know and do

- Please do not fly to Miramar - the station is closed to air traffic during local air shows.
- Please arrive early. Local officers will assist you and guide you to the best seats available.
- Please be mindful of your scripts! There are script counters in place to help you reduce script usage.
- Please remain in your seat and watch the show using your camera.
- Please use one of the three locations available to spectators. Local officers will provide LMs.
- Miramar (Du Sud Isle) is a Homestead, so restricted to general public during air show time.
- If you choose to sail to the Aldabra Sea demo area please remain outside the audience sims.

Audience locations

Deder Isle - Capri island bleachers - 15 seats - SLUR here!
USS Defiant - Port Gonn, Northeast of Miramar - 13 seats plus - SLUR here!
USS Dauntless - Conwy, North of Miramar - 13 seats plus - SLUR here!
N.A.S. Miramar - VIP seats by Building A. - 7 seats - Reserved - SLUR here!

Show Layout

Center point on Conwy with exit to Port Gonnonertnert.
Blue Angels 1 to 4 start from 36 L and 36 R in finger four formation, half squirrel cage maneuver to diamond formation on take off followed by a half Cuban eight between Rafeiraga and Conwy.
Blue Angels 5 and 6 start from 32 for a split take off, lead solo performs a dirty roll on take off while the opposing solo goes vertical and performs a split S.

Pass One
Diamond
360 pass.
Coming from the West in diamond formation the four aircraft will perform a wide circle over center point, completing 360 degrees.
Solos
Opposing aileron roll.
Coming from opposing regions, West and East, the two solos will meet at center point and execute a 360 degree roll as they fly by each other.

Pass Two
Diamond
Individual aileron roll in formation.
Coming from the west, the four aircraft execute a 360 degree roll in the diamond formation as they fly over center point.
Solos
Section high alpha pass.
Coming from the west, the two solos execute a side by side slow speed pass virtually standing their aircraft on their tails.

Pass Three
Diamond
Dirty loop.
Coming from the West in dirty configuration, gear, flaps and hook down, the diamond executes a loop on center point.
Solos
Fortus.
Coming from the West, the solos execute a dirty configuration pass over center point with the lead solo inverted, mirroring the opposing solo flying under.

Pass Four
Diamond
Double farvel.
Coming from the West, the diamond enters center point and Angels 1 and 4 roll 180 degrees to remain inverted in formation during the pass and into the next region East where they roll another 180 degrees to assume their normal position.
Solos
Tuck away cross.
Coming from the North, the two solos roll together 270 degrees on their axis over center point, crossing with minimum separation.

Pass Five
Diamond to Echelon Four
Echelon four parade pass.
Coming from the West in echelon four formation the four aircraft execute a parade pass over center point.
Solos
High speed roll.
Coming from the West the two solos execute a high speed aileron roll over center point.

Pass Six
Echelon Four to Echelon Six
Echelon six parade pass.
The solos join with the other four aircraft for an echelon six formation parade pass over center point, coming from the West.

Pass Seven
Delta
Delta parade pass.
Coming from the West, the six planes execute a parade pass in delta formation over center point.

Pass Eight
Delta
Starburst.
Coming from the North, the delta breaks into a starburst over center point and reforms to the East.

Pass Nine
Delta
Carrier break and landing.
Coming from the West, the six planes break at intervals from the delta formation past center point, to travel North, then West and then South to land in a spaced single file, performing a carrier break landing.

To the 2018 Homecoming Air Show Entry

NFDT Blue Angels 2018
NAS Miramar

The Bug is Back!

Celebrating the Blue Angels first demonstration with the new Boeing F/A-18C Hornet, developed for them by Shana Carpool Aircraft, and as a bonus on the occasion of the 2018 Homecoming Air Show at NAS Miramar where the Bug will be officially launched, we will be having a raffle of a stock version F/A-18C similar to the ones soon available to the general public.

They will come in two variants of US Navy VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" squadron: a CAG aircraft (AA/400) and a low visibility version (AA/402). Colors are made by the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life official supplier Eight Shades of Blue and the raffle winner will have personalized liveries with his or her name on both versions.

We would like to thank Ms. Shana Carpool for her gracious gesture, giving away a F/A-18C for the Homecoming Air Show raffle, and hope to see you at Miramar on the weekend of February 10 and 11, for two days of excitement and fun with the Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels!

NOTE:

The Raffle tickets may be purchased on site at various locations during the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at NAS Miramar, February 10 and 11.*

* It was decided that the raffle tickets are free - which means only one ticket per person.

UPDATE! 2018/02/17

We will be having a do over raffle of a stock version F/A-18C similar to the ones soon available to the general public. The winner of the raffle held during Homecoming weekend graciously returned the voucher allowing for another person to have the chance to win the new Bug!

The raffle station will be placed at NAS Miramar, by the main gate, from February 18 to February 25, at which time the winner will be determined. So head on to Miramar and enter your name!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron

NASMCO / TFCOM

It's coming!

HEADS UP!! Homecoming moved to FEBRUARY 10 and 11! More details soon!

A new Season begins...

The Blue Angels formation zooms through Conwy off Miramar on day two of Homecoming, 01/28/2017.

Homecoming for the Blue Angels went on for the second day and this time the air show was not met by as much "adverse weather" as the day before. The Diamond and two Solos were ready on cue and Angel #7, the Narrator was free from her alternate duties and able to perform on the ground.

Audience attendance was amazing throughout the two days and between Miramar, the bleachers on Deder Isle, the U.S.S. Defiant on Port Gonn and the U.S.S. Dauntless on Conwy over 100 spectators were able to view the air show.

Day one team, from port side, Mistell, Cougar, QB, Torch, Hinch and the Boss.

The Homecoming Air Show traditionally opens the new Navy Flight Demonstration Team season and it serves as a first approach to the new year's demo layout that will now be fine tuned and set for regular practice by the team in preparation for the coming appearances, of which two will be related to Relay For Life and already confirmed. This was the first time the team used the F9F-6 single seat Grumman Cougar and she performed well and according to the N.F.D.T.'s standards.

To all those who could come to N.A.S. Miramar in this historic occasion we extend our warm thank you and wish you will continue to follow the Blue Angels in the future. Through a very rough time on day one to a less complicated but still hard environment to fly in on day two, the audience stood by and watched as the Blue Angels aviators performed to the best of their ability and pushed through the odds to accomplish an outcome that once again proved not just their skill but also their resolve and determination to get the job done, both hallmarks of the Naval Aviator. What an incredible audience! Thank you.
To the officers of N.A.S. Miramar that helped on the ground, from ATC to crowd control, congratulations on a job very well done.

Please follow the link above to see the complete photo coverage of the two day Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show of 2017. The photo coverage page will be accessible always from the right column of this weblog. Go Navy! Go Blues!

CDR. Asra "Cougar" Kron
Angel 7

Homecoming is here!

N.A.S. Miramar ready to welcome the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show audience, 01/26/2017.

The first day of the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is here!
Today at 12:00 hours (12 pm SLT) the Blue Angels will perform for an audience that may watch the demonstration from three different points close to Miramar. If you are coming to see the air show here are a few things you should know and do to help the team fly at its best and ensure you can also have the best conditions as spectator.

Things to know and do

- Please do not fly to Miramar - the station is closed to air traffic during local air shows.
- Please arrive early. Local officers will assist you and guide you to the best seats available.
- Please be mindful of your scripts! There are script counters in place to help you reduce script usage.
- Please remain in your seat and watch the show using your camera.
- Please use one of the three locations available to spectators. Local officers will provide LMs.
- Miramar (Du Sud Isle) is a Homestead, so restricted to general public during air show time.
- If you choose to sail to the Aldabra Sea demo area please remain outside the audience sims.

Audience locations

Deder Isle - Capri island bleachers - 15 seats - SLUR here!
USS Defiant - Port Gonn, Northeast of Miramar - 13 seats plus - SLUR here!
USS Dauntless - Conwy, North of Miramar - 13 seats plus - SLUR here!
N.A.S. Miramar - VIP seats by Building A. - 7 seats - Reserved - SLUR here!

The Dauntless just North of Miramar and the Defiant out to the NE.

The complete Homecoming Air Show layout can be viewed HERE. We hope you come see the United States Navy Second Life Blue Angels on their return home as the 2017 Season begins. Today and tomorrow at 12 pm SLT! Blue Skies! GO NAVY! GO BLUES!

CDR. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO, Angel 7

Six days away!

CLICK POSTER TO GO TO THE HOMECOMING PAGE!

Homecoming Air Show 2017 Layout

CLICK POSTER TO GO TO THE HOMECOMING PAGE!