The Barry Foehammer Building

This July 8th at Naval Air Facility Eagles Nest, a long time planned ceremony took place. The Navy Flight Demonstration Team commanding officer and executive officer had been waiting to make the naming of NAFEN's main building a reality since its interior was completed some months ago.

NAF Eagles Nest is the training facility of the USN Blue Angels in SL and it is for them what NAF El Centro is for the real life Blues - just as NAS Miramar in Second Life is for the demo team like real life NAS Pensacola. This is where the Blues were established first, back in 2015, and since then the support and generosity of Barry Foehammer, the region's owner, has been paramount for the lasting presence of the squadron in the region that is named after the real life Blue Angels.

It was decided that these years of unwavering support and hardship deserved enduring recognition not only in words and awards, and indeed Commodore Foehammer has been awarded the title of Blue Angels "Booster" for his outstanding commitment to the squadron, but also in a more lasting and visible way that would pay tribute to his contribution every day and for all to see. Hence the naming of the main building in the facility "Commodore Barry Foehammer Building".

The Commodore was of course invited to the ceremony and here remains the public record of the day along with a short visual description of the building and its multiple purposes. As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

The Commodore arrives at NAF Eagles Nest to see his name on the main building ID wall. CAPT. Vickster Kühn, NAFENCO and the Blue Angels Boss, CAPT. Asra Kron, the squadron XO and Blue Angel 7, and LCDR. Jenny Kaz, the Blues Lead Solo, were present to dedicate the naming.

The Commodore looks back at LCDR. Kaz with a big smile on his face. Recognition sometimes comes way too late and sometimes fails but the Blues made a point of ensuring this time it came true and in good time, after just a few months since the main building was finalized and operational.

The ground floor of the building is where the "flying chairs" are. Intended for rundowns of demo pass lists and other special briefings, this area also provides a more relaxed setting for meetings and local official events. It is as well the place where the awards presented to the squadron are displayed.

Another view of the ground floor open space. Visible on the background are the North access, the elevator and the XO desk.

The XO's desk on the ground floor near the North door, surrounded by a selection of posters from demos the Blue Angels participated in during past Seasons. The poster on the wall behind the desk is a real life Blue Angels Homecoming edition.

The second floor just out of the elevator, the Boss' office. CAPT. Kühn's desk is sided by the Navy and USMC colors and the walls are decked with Blues and personal mementos of a long and distinguished career as an aviator.

The CO's desk from another angle, showing the elevator and the doors to the auditorium. Every inch of the building was optimized for functionality and is put to good use.

The inside of the Roy Marlin Voris Auditorium. This is the official setting for most Blue Angels ceremonies and the location of choice for special briefings, awards and other functions.

The big screen in the auditorium where the Blues view not only the available footage of their practices and demos, but especially real life reels of the squadron in action. The team's demos are based on the real Blue Angels playbook and seeing them on the big screen is part of the training protocol.

CAPT. Asra Kron
Blue Angel 7 / NFDTXO

The First Marine in Blue and Gold

On July 1st of this year, United States Marine Corps Major Alba van Dongen, call sign "Alba", received her orders from Third Fleet command for a tour with the Navy Flight Demonstration Team as number 8 and Fat Albert Airlines captain, after a unanimous vote by all squadron members accepting her as a Blue, thus ending the Major's internship with the team.

The orders came in time for her to pilot Fat Albert in its first official flight demo appearance during this year's Independence Day Air Show (ID4 - see here!). Fat Albert has flown in support of the squadron before and appeared many times in static display during past demo seasons, but the squadron was waiting for a Marine to come forward and take on the responsibility of lifting Fat Albert Airlines off the ground as part of their demonstration layout. Well, the wait is over.

Alba receives her certificate as Angel 8 for the 2018 Season at NAFEN.

Cougar, Mistell, Speed, QB, Alba and Commodore Foehammer.

On this eight day of July, Major van Dongen received the orders officially at the Roy Marlin Voris auditorium, in the Barry Foehammer building at Naval Air Facility Eagles Nest (on the very day the building was officially named after Commodore Foehammer! - see here!). Gathered for the occasion were the active Blue Angels who welcomed her aboard with the traditional "Welcome to the team, asshole!" which Alba has been waiting to hear for a while now, and Commodore Barry Foehammer, who witnessed the customary simple but meaningful ceremony. Major van Dongen's internship, though impacted by her real life and taken aback unnecessarily by unforeseen circumstances, was taken seriously and in tandem with her other obligations as a Marine commanding officer of Third Fleet, and she pulled through all the obstacles in her way with a smile on her lips and staunch resolve. She is a credit to the Corps and a true asset to the Blues and the Fleet.

The certificate with the coveted Blue Angels cases given to Alba on this day.

As Blue Angel 8, Major van Dongen will assist with logistics and internship, particularly of ground crew members and, of course, Fat Albert Airlines crew. She will also assist as alternate Narrator during demonstrations and ground/event coordinator.
Good job pulling through the internship as you did, Major. You have the right to get your coffee brought to you now, so watch out for those pesky interns. Semper Fi.

CAPT. Asra Kron
Blue Angel 7 / NFDTXO / TFCOM

TOPGUN Class One 2017 complete

Dissimilar Air Combat: F-4J versus F-5E.

The first TOPGUN class has been completed.
Following the Naval Fighter Weapons School program for the first time has given us a great platform to build on for the future. The attending crews were outstanding in their participation and collaboration, helping us improve the program with 2018 in mind. Well done everybody!

The top crew will be announced soon and receive the respective award at Miramar.

CAPT. Asra Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM

Some snapshots of Class One. As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

CAPT. Vickster "Speed" Kühn, NFWSCO.

"Speed" and "Cougar" welcome the crews at Miramar.

Front row: "Mistell" and "QB", back row: "BB" and "Witch".

The classroom component of TOPGUN, know your DACT.

Training at NAF Eagles Nest. AK-203 on taxi as AK-20 watches.

AK-20 and AK-21 at NAFEN ready to play Aggressor.

Tomcat vs Tiger: the pinnacle of dissimilarity.

"Speed" is not easy to shake off.

The crews at Miramar before a multi-region exercise.

AK-24 and AK-25: Vipers hot and static at NAS Miramar.

Catch me if you can: Multi-region interception. Ready cameras!

Debriefing after each exercise is SOP at TOPGUN.

AK-24 and AK-26. The Aggressors in practice over the Blake.

Navy Fighter Weapons School
Naval Air Station Miramar - 2017

Fight the Future

The Test 79 F/A-18C on warm up. Research and Development at the forefront of NAS Miramar operations.

To all Third Fleet personnel:

Since RADM. Harcassle left Third Fleet, we experienced two territorial losses, both of which consumed a significant amount of time, work and money to no result. As a consequence of the wasted effort on these territories, I personally lost focus on the main missions Third Fleet has since the secession of the group now assembled in Second Fleet.

Our main missions are split between NAS Miramar and NAF Eagles Nest. The Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Navy Fighter Weapons School, The United States Naval Test Pilot School and Tuarua Fiji's integrity and safety are our main missions. There is much to be done and that is being done in each of those sectors and enough to keep the present crew and future crew members busy for months and months. So why bother expanding at all.

Expanding depends on the quality of leaders and most especially land owners. Rarely you find like minded individuals who are both. And even more rarely both and USN inspired. After the last two disappointments, there will be no more territorial or command additions to Third Fleet. We welcome and in fact are engaged in cooperation with other singular groups that are United States Navy inspired, but will not accept any other command in Third Fleet, besides NASM and NAFEN, that is not under the direct command and land ownership of one of our serving fleet command officers. As for aggregated USN inspired groups that presume to own the navy ideal... well, good luck with that.

Focus on your tasks. Enjoy what you do. And do it well.
Go Navy!
Hooyah!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM

Becoming a Blue Angel

Click to enlarge.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Team is entering mid season with three air shows already performed and are now entering a full practice period in preparation for the Summer air shows. If you are a naval aviator seeking a tour with the demo squadron this is a good time to apply for an internship.

Send your application with your CO's recommendation to CAPT. Vickster Kuhn, NFDTCO, or CAPT. Asra Kron, NFDTXO. For more details about deployments with the Blue Angels see our page in this weblog - link here.

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO / NFDTXO

New SCPMU's received

SCPMU's 17A, B and C in hangar C at Miramar, just arrived. 03/04/2017.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Team received three new Show Center Point Marker Units (SCPMU's) and will start using them as of March 04. These units will provide the team with show center point location, secure communications and a close proximity radar. Deployed during practices and shows at center point, they are also the position from where Angels 7 and 8 do their jobs.

As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

Unit 17C will be stationed at NAFEN.

Units A and B remain stationed at NASM.

17A will be the Show-Ready unit, following the team.

LT. Chardy Oak, Angel 2, inspects unit 17C before shipment.

The USNSL NFDT Blue Angels wish to thank MFFK, the manufacturer of the units, for the support and steadfastness demonstrated during the commission stage, supplying the necessary specs for the application of the NFDT color scheme at Miramar. Our warmest regards to Ms. Cindy Mofafeikou for her outstanding work as MFFK liason.

CDR. Asra Kron
NASMCO, Angel 7