Bastille Day at Ville de Coeur - World Tour Stop 1

Without further ado, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team flew to France for the first leg of the 2018 Blue Angels First Second World Tour! Following contacts between the Blues and the Mayor of the beautiful Ville de Coeur community, Madame le Maire Ayla Panacek-Guisse invited the squadron to stop by on the 14th of July no less, on our way to Paris where the first demo of the World Tour will take place early September. We were of course honored to fly over the French community on their national holiday and join the celebration.

The squadron flew in with Fat Albert and the big bird would be a part of the fly over, on its second official appearance with the Blue Angels this Season. This is a record of the event which we enjoyed very much! Vive la France!

Click on each image to enlarge!

 

CAPT. Kron and Madame le Maire Ayla Panacek-Guisse early 14th at the lovely town square on Aquitaine Coeur Nord discuss the fly over and the Quatorze Juillet celebrations at Ville de Coeur.

Angel 7 on the small airstrip at Coeur Franche Comte, from where the squadron would take off, warms up for a test run. Initial assessment proved the flight to and from the fly over regions to be a challenge. The notes taken would prove very useful for the demo team later on.

The Blues tour Ville de Coeur in one of the squadron's land vehicles. Going through the path from Coeur Franche Comte to Aquitaine Coeur Nord using the local roads was a wonderful experience.

Ville de Coeur is a lovely community and the details are astounding. A must for all who appreciate locations that mirror real life. You feel like driving through the French country side for real!

Just in time for the first event of the day's celebrations, the Blues decide to walk the rest of the way as the local citizens and guests gather up ahead. A quick change of uniform to match the occasion was in order.

From left, CAPT. Kron, CDR. Rainbow, LCDR. Kaz and walking towards them the Boss, CAPT. Kühn, in their navy full dress whites. Major van Dongen would come in later on.

The beautiful Eglise d'Aquitaine where the service took place.

The Blues remove their covers as they enter the church where many of Ville de Coeur citizens were already. They are greeted by the local head of security, Cathrine Huntress.

The congregation assembled at the Eglise d'Aquitaine as the service started.

Pére Magnus Brody, the local priest, performed the service on voice with beautiful musical choices to punctuate the religious ceremony. A lovely parish and wonderful event.

A moment of introspection during King's College Choir rendition of "Be Thou My Vision".

Ville de Coeur's first couple during the service: Madame le Maire Ayla Panacek-Guisse and her husband, Bedrich Panacek-Guisse.

The Blues in full dress whites sitting at the Eglise d'Aquitaine.

View of the congregation from the outside through the beautiful stained glass rose window above the altar at the Eglise d'Aquitaine.

Major van Dongen, Blue Angel #8 and Fat Albert Airlines captain arrives at the Eglise d'Aquitaine.

Standing for the Lord's word as Pére Brody reads from the scriptures. "Thanks be to God."

USMC Major Dominique van Dongen, who the Blue Angels have to thank for the presence at this wonderful location en route to Paris on this year's Bastille Day, stands with her fellow officers in her Marine Corps full dress uniform. One of the best newbies the Blues ever had.

The Blue Angels at the Eglise d'Aquitaine, as the service comes to an end, stand at attention for "La Marseillaise". From left, CAPT. Vickster Kühn, LCDR. Jenny Kaz, CDR. An Rainbow, CAPT. Asra Kron and Major Dominique van Dongen. "Allons enfants de la Patrie! Le jour de gloire est arrivé!..."

Outside the Church after the service, the Blues run into two of their most ardent fans: the little cats Tanja Byron and Newbienchen Zane! They follow the squadron everywhere!

Back at the airstrip on Coeur Franche Comte, final inspection of the F/A-18C Hornets as take off time nears. The jets would take off first and wait for Fat Albert to join them before heading South to the fly over area above Coeur Azur and Aquitaine Coeur Nord.

Before the flight, CAPT. Asra Kron reveals the evocative plaque the Blues would later gift the French community. Big smiles on every face.

Boarding the aircraft. T minus five minutes.

The small airstrip was long enough to accommodate the four blue and gold jets. Just!

The Blues static at the end of preflight as the smoke check was done.

Fat Albert takes off from Coeur Franche Comte and joins the Hornets over Coeur d'Alsace. The squadron was then ready to fly South.

Bird's eye view of Angel 4 as it approaches Aquitaine Coeur Nord.

The Boss didn't make it into Coeur Azur, and Blue Angel 4 took over the lead. All in a day's work for the Blues. You roll with it and fly right no matter what.

Fat Albert literally having a blast over the crowd assembled at Aquitaine Coeur Nord, lighting up flares as the C-130 flies over the beautiful town.

The Boss was not the only one having difficulties that day. Blue Angel 2 had a share of rough weather over Coeur Azur. Here Blue Angels 4 and 3 hang tight as number 2 recovers.

Major van Dongen and good old Fat Albert did very well! One final pass and back to Coeur Franche Comte, this time ahead of the jets.

The three remaining Blues on the final pass over Coeur Azur. Blue Angel 4 would have a taste of the bad weather conditions on Aquitaine Coeur Nord right at the end of the fly over. But the deed was done!

Returned to the airstrip on Coeur Franche Comte, the Blues change back into full dress uniform to join the celebrations on Aquitaine Coeur Nord's central square. The World Tour had officially started!

Assembling on the edge of the square at Aquitaine Coeur Nord.

The Blue Angels salute Madame le Maire Ayla Panacek-Guisse and her husband as they present the evocative plaque marking the occasion.

An accordéon playing, good wine and cheese, beautiful people... The Blues party with the locals and guests as the fireworks go off above them.

The general view of Aquitaine Coeur Nord's central square as the celebration went on. The Blue Angels had a great time at Ville de Coeur and we are honored to have been invited to participate in the local Bastille Day commemoration. "Bon Quatorze et au revoir, Ville de Coeur!"

This photo was sent to us the day after by Madame le Maire Ayla Panacek-Guisse, showing her by the Blue Angels gift as it sits on a wall of one of Ville de Coeur's gardens! Merci bien, Madame le Maire!

Blue Angels First Second World Tour . 2018

United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

 

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

Pushing the Envelope

An open letter from Blue Angel 7.

On the eve of our third Independence Day Air Show, I came to realize how far we have come as a squadron and why we managed to get here. Each year we are presented new challenges and at each turn we fight the demons that live in the clouds as much as those living in our souls. How each of us handles that reality and keeps pushing the envelope to the extent our lives and limitations allow it is what defines us as mirrors of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron in Second Life.

Here we are again, standing tall and humbled by those who like ourselves fly the skies of this virtual world in ways most people never will, pressing on at each practice and demonstration to achieve what lies ahead seemingly in our reach but yet unreachable: the perfect demo.

In ways that resemble real life aerobatic flight more than you'd expect, we go up every time facing many adverse factors that range from our physical and mental shape, the state our aircraft is in and this virtual world's conditions - that we call "weather" in jest. And Second Life has some nasty weather as you well know. But we keep going up again and again and that's part of the envelope we choose to push, just as our own limits are. So add all these factors up and you understand being a demo pilot is not for everyone. Now, on top of all that, add the fact that we as Blue Angels represent the finest naval aviation squadron in the United States Navy.

Any real life naval aviator who had the privilege of flying a blue and gold jet will tell you that the Blue Angels is one of the most democratic units in the military, due to its exclusive nature and the close bonds that exist among their pilots and crew. But they will also tell you that the time they spent with the Blues was perhaps the hardest in their military careers, albeit the most rewarding and exciting period in them. In Second Life, we proudly follow that tradition and stay true to the Blue Angels (and U.S. Navy) values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. This simply means that we carry ourselves as a naval officer would while enduring all the challenges our choice brings with it.

The success rate of a Blue Angels candidate in our squadron is 20%. Out of every 10 candidates, only 2 make it past internship and the first year as a newbie with the demo team. They all know what is expected of them and what the conditions are - there are no surprises. All the veteran Blues in the squadron have been flying under those exact same conditions for years and any of them can tell you that as far as the squadron is concerned we remain the same. The same in our way of portraying a Blue Angels demo pilot, the same in our way of tackling the obstacles that come before us and the same as individuals. Through the years we became a very tight group, and to become a part of it is one of the many hurdles a Blues candidate has to overcome, and after internship, when all of the commissioned Blue Angels vote to let someone in, that hurdle is often still to be faced.

Under these circumstances it was no surprise to me that in a period of practically 30 days, recently, two interns and two newbies decided to resign from the squadron. I was however, disappointed. It always hurts to see someone give up after all the work and effort you put into helping him or her, but it is thanks to that process that we keep our standards as high as they are. And when you keep standards high, chances are some will drop out when they realize they are not getting any lower. It is just a fact of life, even if second life.

I am very proud of my fellow virtual naval aviators in the Navy Flight Demonstration Team, veterans and newbies, and to the best of my abilities will keep on working with them to make us better each day, just as they do. And in doing so, I sincerely hope that we can carry on this great tradition and remain the ambassadors of the United States Navy in this virtual world, much like the true Blues do in the real one. It has been my honor and privilege to be one of the keepers of this flame for the last two and a half years. May it shine ever bright in the ones to come.

Go Navy! Go Blues!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
Blue Angel #7 / NFDTXO