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The Santa Rosa Island Authority and air boss for the Pensacola Beach Air Show has stated that this year’s show will go on as scheduled barring any new restrictions from the governor of Florida. This is the Blue Angels’ first scheduled show for 2020.

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Blue Angels newest support aircraft

The Blue Angels Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules “Fat Albert” is unveiled in the United Kingdom. The USMC crew for the C-130J (BuNo 170000) must still perform some series of flight tests from overhaul center Marshall Aerospace and Defense in Cambridge (UK), including an aircraft systems operational check out and a functional check flight, before its transatlantic flight to the Flight Demonstration Team NAS Pensacola (FL) in mid-July 2020.

Fat Albert has been a crowd favorite at air shows for fifty years, mostly performing during the first twelve minutes of the Blue Angels flight demonstration before the fighters will start their show.

This Super Hercules is the fourth Fat Albert over the past fifty years. Last year, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron retired number three due to age and performance. The new aircraft is former Royal Air Force Hercules C5 serial ZH885 (construction number 382-5483). The first performance of the new Fat Albert, when COVID does not disturb the schedule, in the States will be the "Thunder Over Michigan" show on 29 August 2020.

On 30 June 2020, 170000 was revealed in a slightly updated blue/yellow/gold paint job. The flight surfaces now have yellow tips, similar to the F/A-18 Hornets, two stripes run down the side of the aircraft and the iconic white top has been changed to a tear drop design.

Meet our all-Marine C-130 aircrew!

Formally known as Crewmasters, our Blue Angels Fixed-Wing Aircraft Loadmasters are aircrew who perform duties essential to the operation and maintenance of the C-130J Aircraft and are qualified as Flight Engineers. Their routine duties include: pre-flight and post-flight checks, turnaround inspections, maintenance away from home station, servicing, staging and loading of cargo and passengers, computing weight and balance, high/low power engine runs and they serve as right seat taxi observers.

They are also responsible for assisting the pilots with engine run-up, takeoff, cruise, descent, landing, securing, and in-flight normal/emergency procedures.

Operationally, Loadmasters assist in the planning and execution of tactical missions such as air-to-air refueling, assault support missions, rapid ground refueling, low level flight, transporting hazardous cargo, aerial delivery, and battle field illumination.

Pictured from left to right:

Gunnery Sergeant Mike Burgess is a native of Crown Point, Indiana and joined the Marine Corps in 2006. His previous commands include VMGR-452 and VMGR-352. Mike joined the Blue Angels in July 2019.

Gunnery Sergeant Chris Maxheimer is a native of Mt. Pulaski, Illinois and joined the Marine Corps in 2003. His previous commands include VMGR-152, VMGR-234 and VMGR-252. Chris joined the Blue Angels in September 2017.

Staff Sergeant Christopher Carter is a native of Miami, Florida and joined the Marine Corps in 2010. His previous commands include VGMR-152 and VMGR-352. Christopher joined the Blue Angels in December 2018.

#USMC #SemperFi #BlueAngels

While the Pensacola Beach Air Show is cancelled this year, we’re still in Pensacola this week bringing you all the action from this week’s practices! Here’s some video from yesterday’s practice over NAS Pensacola.