Fat Albert, the Blue Angels’ beloved C-130J Super Hercules transport jet, did not fly ahead of the fighter jets as usual on Friday during the Blues’ dress rehearsal show on Pensacola Beach. Chelsea Dietlin, a spokeswoman for the Blue Angels, said Fat Albert was grounded Friday due to a “minor mechanical issue.”

What happened to Fat Albert Blue Angels?

Fat Albert, the Blue Angels’ beloved C-130J Super Hercules transport jet, did not fly ahead of the fighter jets as usual on Friday during the Blues’ dress rehearsal show on Pensacola Beach. Chelsea Dietlin, a spokeswoman for the Blue Angels, said Fat Albert was grounded Friday due to a “minor mechanical issue.”

How many Blue Angels have crashed?

two dozen Blue Angels
Over two dozen Blue Angels have forfeited their lives while flying in an air show, flight demonstration, or practicing for one, yet one would be hard-pressed to find a memorial in remembrance of them.

Does Fat Albert still do Jato?

Unfortunately, these JATO rocket bottles were last produced during the Vietnam War era, and the team’s stockpiles were depleted during the 2009 season, the year this video was taken. The latest plane to be known as the Blue Angels’ Fat Albert arrived in August 2020, escorted by F-18 Hornets.

Do the Blue Angels ever crash?

SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Wednesday marks five years since Blue Angels pilot, Marine Captain Jeff Kuss, was killed when his jet crashed while practicing for the Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna. Captain Kuss died while flying as Blue Angel #6 on June 2, 2016.

Why do the Marines fly Fat Albert?

The No. 4 slot pilot often flies the No. 7 aircraft in Friday’s “practice” shows. The Blue Angels use a United States Marine Corps Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules, nicknamed “Fat Albert”, for their logistics, carrying spare parts, equipment, and to carry support personnel between shows.

How much do Blue Angel pilots get paid?

Blue Angels Salary

Annual Salary Monthly Pay
Top Earners $113,000 $9,416
75th Percentile $52,000 $4,333
Average $47,123 $3,926
25th Percentile $23,000 $1,916

What is the new Fat Albert plane?

C-130J Super Hercules
The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team is replacing the team’s “Fat Albert” transport plane and the new plane is almost ready to fly home. The ex-Royal Air Force C-130J Super Hercules will replace an older model C-130T as the team’s official chaperone.

Do the Blue Angels fight in combat?

The Blue Angels do not fight in combat. Today, however, the Blue Angels do not fly in combat. Pilots assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, fly their F/A-18 Hornets in the Delta formation over Mt.

Are Blue Angels Top Gun pilots?

Do the Blue Angels charge to perform?

The Blue Angels usually fly six at a time, meaning the operational costs are between $60,000 and $80,000 per hour — so depending on how long the flyover mission is, things could get expensive quickly. The Thunderbirds are a bit cheaper — F-16 variants cost between $8,242 and $8,701 per hour to fly.