2021 Blue Angels & Thunderbirds! NAF El Centro

[@blancolirio]

Wow! Great cinematography Spencer! No announcer/no music... just jet noise...even better!!

[@ajoyce53]

That High Alpha pass by the Blues had me yelling with my fists in the air! No one does it tighter!! GO NAVY!!!

[@jagterg4945]

Spencerhughes, you should be the videographer representing the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. I like your videos you continously follow their training. Thx for keeping us enthusiasts alive. God Bless You.

[@brothermanv]

I was thinking the same thing! They could really give their video people a day off and just use Mr. Spencer's footage. Lol

[@talon0863]

I totally agree, he keeps getting better and better.

[@747heavyboeing3]

He's good, but not as good as Blues video man

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

You guys should try watching MKBLUES. He has shot 99% of the practices since 1//20/2010. He is there everyday for both practices. Spencer does a great job when he isn't filming trains.

[@brothermanv]

@@thereissomecoolstuff I like both

[@juliannegallo6816]

Definitely goosebump time. I just hold my breath on some of those pass through maneuvers. That is really the PERFECTION of PRECISION. I'm breathless just watching. You are the best Pilots ever. Love you all. Thank you for showing us what these plans can do. In your hands.

[@TheMFC182]

Tremendous framing and quality! One of the best airshow videos I've seen yet.

[@tbolt2948]

I love it! As far back as I can remember, I'm 62, I wanted to see the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performing together. I've seen both independently several times at airshows all the way back to F-4s. The Vipers are my favorites, I just wish they would upgrade to the Block 70/72 variant. I hope the back injury won't affect Thunderbird 5's standing as a fighter pilot, bad backs and high Gs don't go together very well and ejections can cause back injuries by themselves. Speedy recovery to the pilot and return f to flight duty. After all "Thunderbirds are go"!

[@WeeWillyII]

Super Hornets sure add new dimension to Blue Angels display with higher thrust/weight ratio. The six ship pass was epic.

[@AJFar-tm7dn]

Whole different level now. Super Hornets blow it away. Fly Navy.!

[@Kevin-hc2zl]

Our pilots must love seeing all of these people coming out, to watch them practice their maneuvers? Great video!!

[@timmiller7589]

Incredible video! Thank you for sharing for those of us who are unable to attend🇺🇸

[@johndanaher6371]

Really do appreciate you taking the time and sharing these videos. Only thing I miss is the smell of the exhaust. While I favor the Angels, kudos to all the pilots in both services for doing what they do. Lucky dogs! Lol

[@7_Tapz]

This has gotten me so fired up for airshow season

[@Saybleu]

👍

[@Glashawk1]

Great perspective from behind the crowd. Quite a turn out. Used to live down the road there when I was a kid and we’d go to that exact spot to watch the Blues in A-4s. Back then, hardly anyone came out for practice shows. Good to see the crowds enjoying the show.

[@tusseyd]

Just a fantastic video. Well done Spencer Hughes. Love seeing the Blues in the new Super Hornet.

[@barryklinedinst6233]

The best air show ever. The two best teams in one place.

[@kurtklein4299]

My father was retired Navy and I was Air Force. This would have been my family's dream show to watch the best pilots on the planet. The photography is absolutely stupendous and is even better than you get from NFL or NASCAR.

[@MLOCharmer]

Perfect position Spencer, very nice camera work!

[@USAFDeathFromAbove]

Nothing like watching the Thunderbirds in action.

[@westernbigfootexploration]

Spencer, you are an absoulte master at your craft. I watch your vids every day and finally decided to drive 3hrs with my daughter and got there just as the Angels took off. In between the BA and Tbirds, my cousin and I watched a handful of your vids, was telling him you're here someplace. It's unbelievable how you film them! You should be their official video guy! Cheers - Jonathan

[@aaronhackett9829]

Awesome, we did not come to El Centro this winter so these videos help!

[@charlesbass66]

I've seen both teams more times than I can remember, but I never get tired of seeing Angel 4 sliding into the slot on takeoff. Loved this camera angle.

[@jzghostrider66]

GREAT STUFF Spencer VERY Nice. Weird seeing those two with the centerline tanks though

[@whalehands]

I love both and they both do their missions better than anyone else. I was in the AF and never seen the Thunderbirds once. I've seen the Blue Angels 5 times from when I was 3-4 as a young child. Yes, they made much of an impression on me, I remember that well. All the way up to when my AFB hosted them. My job was to set up alllllllll the concrete barriers. Because we were the only ones on base that had heavy equipment. Long story short, I will always love the Blues the most.

[@mraviatorboii2510]

Wow!!! Looks like a brand new blue angels maneuver at 7:36, The right echelon to Diamond roll!

[@Primus54]

Indeed... much more interesting to watch which should make the following sneak passes even more dramatic!

[@mraviatorboii2510]

@@Primus54 I do wish they use Afterburners on their sneak pass like the Rhino Tac Demo team does..

[@Primus54]

@@mraviatorboii2510: Can you recommend a video of the Rhino Tac Team? Also, I could be wrong but I think the Blues’ solos have a much longer distance to accelerate to just under Mach 1... afterburners might put them over the number. A big no-no!

[@Primus54]

@@mraviatorboii2510: Also, quick story. Mid-80’s at the Dayton Air Show, the first local appearance of the B-1B began by a full afterburner sneak overhead pass at about 500 ft. The air show is held at Dayton International, the B1-B took off from nearby Wright-Patt AFB, so nobody knew it was coming. I think I jumped 10 ft into the air!

[@greenfire6924]

Agree. My poor memory skills tell me that maneuver is new. But it looks like left echelon to diamond to me. Pausing the playback I've used the comma and period key on my key board to advance/retard one frame at a time. Based on who is blocking the view of who's smoke makes it look like echelon left. Regardless that maneuver is sweet to see! Hope it makes it into the 2021 show.

[@RCHeliJet]

*Best Pilots in the World.!!*

[@Smokeyonesix]

Nope.. The Red Arrows are the best in the world

[@ajoyce53]

@@Smokeyonesix Oh Canada!! Love the Canadian Hornet Demo Team paint schemes! Always so beautiful! As the Canadian-born son of a US Navy Aviator, I’m gonna have to give the (totally biased) nod to The Blues as #1 in my book, but when it comes to jets turning gas into beautiful noise, I’ll take whatever I can get!!

[@agoodchristianpilot159]

@@Smokeyonesix why does nobody know about them then?

[@FallenPhoenix86]

@@agoodchristianpilot159 What makes you think no one knows about them?

[@qwe-ju3uv]

Blue Impulse is also the best

[@burntorange3]

Those Thunderbirds are on point! Always soooo good! Great video!

[@evanbenjamin4578]

Magnificent capture Spencer Hughes

[@jamezbren2]

4:51 No thrust vectoring and still unbeliveable nose authority, the Super Hornet is truly something else

[@jeffarab4947]

Exactly that's why these fighters are legendary same to the f16 they are the best fighters without all the fancy stuff

[@romanjacob9807]

Except they lack the power

[@Saybleu]

When Ben pulls out of the MRT I get chills. Holy lord!!! So intense.

[@daisyedberg6658]

What are you talking about?

[@Saybleu]

@@daisyedberg6658 Daisy. The MRT is a Minimun Radius Turn. I had the name wrong. I said Ed when in fact I meant Ben Walbourn. Ben was a Blue Angel years ago the team brought back to fill the #5 spot. I edited my original comment. Would you like some fries with that? @4:53 Ben is pulling out of the MRT ( Minimum Radius Turn ).

[@sonidoelpicudo]

1:14😳 new Move!!! Epic!

[@aqhasassy]

I’m in awe. I’ve attended only one air show, witnessed the sonic boom, Robins AFB, can’t remember the yr. A jet approached from behind us-what a show! I was called a liar twice-“they don’t do that at air shows”.

[@RazgrizF14D]

They don't, if the plane did break the sound barrier it was an accident and the pilot for sure got in trouble for it if it was intentional.

[@aqhasassy]

@@RazgrizF14D We saw the jet before we knew it was over us- I’m sure it was just VAPOR. Silly me, I thought faster than the speed of sound created the boom. I was there. You were not.

[@RazgrizF14D]

@@aqhasassy Did i say that what you heard was not a sonic boom, no, all I said was that pilots are not allowed to go faster than the speed of sound at airshows. I was not disputing what YOU heard. Again, if it was a sonic boom that you heard, then the pilot of said aircraft would be in deep trouble.

[@marylagua5079]

They are so close to one another and so beautiful 🤩 it’s show time. Outstanding!!

[@auntbubbyauntbubby6074]

Just amazing talent the best of the best GO NAVY !!!! The T-Birds are the best of the best also God bless to all

[@douge4444]

Beautiful. Their best adversaries are on the same team.

[@skykeg4978]

I love how the Thunderbirds use the Delta ( D ) with the centerline tank during the practice sessions.

[@thewildgoose1979]

Giving Blue Angels rides.

[@knowmoredesign]

I was wondering about this. Why the tank?

[@thewildgoose1979]

@@knowmoredesign With the second seat, it takes away some of the fuel cell, which results in needing a external tank to make up for the extra fuel needed.

[@bills5621]

WTG Spence!! Loved the head on of the Diamond takeoff

[@weaselworm8681]

Fascinating and awesome. But I worry about accidents. Edit: adding comment. I watched this twice. The sound quality is exceptional. Very enjoyable experience.

[@scottclark1062]

Great video as always!!! Is that the normal amount of people that show up for training?

[@SDsc0rch]

WHAT a great opening! well done : )

[@agoodchristianpilot159]

Gorgeous. Absolutely amazing.

[@mmoo2592]

Greetings from the Egyptian Air Force💜🙏

[@alfs222]

FANTASTIC!! BEAUTIFUL VIDEO!! THANKS!!! СПАСИБО БОЛЬШОЕ!!!

[@rockymaze9508]

I thought driving my cop car with lights and siren in a high speed chase made my hair stand....I would love to ride in one of these

[@pennycook3447]

Excellent!! Excellent!!! Great Video! Thank You for Sharing!!!!👍

[@BucketListCoachWebShow]

Bad ass... Forgot to add to my calendar. When do they practice again!

[@BucketListCoachWebShow]

@Andres Marquez Thanks

[@philmontejano5971]

Heading to Pensacola next week

[@joanofark7649]

Spencer, you knocked it out of the ballpark in this amazing video! 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@athanstreitz9178]

As blancolirio stated!! KUDOS and Thank you for sharing Spencer!

[@deedubs602]

Such shiny new jets for the blues.. The super hornets look so good in the blue and gold scheme. My favorite still has to be the A4s though such a snappy little plane was perfect for acrobatics. Grew up in Pensacola and miss seeing them every week!

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

Who doesn’t love the Scooters? (Nickname for the A-4) 🙂 It may not have been as fast, large, or loud as the Phantom, but it was such as easily maneuverable little aircraft that it was able to last longer than the Phantom after all the problems it had.

[@tabithasabella5212]

You guys are breathtaking stunning. Jaw dropping oh my goshing. Love smiles hugs and a phenomenal job to my top guns in blue

[@joeycool4381]

I saw my suv so many times in the video 😂👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸

[@DScott2010]

Thank you Spencer, my save later folder is packed with your content. Keep up the great work. -from Florida-

[@donkoh5738]

holy crapola that was one lucky bird @ 9:15 ... that said, I'd love to see a block IV Super+ modified with DSI inlets, YF-23 wing, all-moving aero-shaped tail fins and the upgraded F414 along with those TVC paddles harvested from past x-plane programs for good measure 👁🗯👁✌

[@grabir01]

Shocking beginning.. Amazing for sure. These guys are studs for sure. Who gives this a thumbs down?

[@blueboar]

#4 hit that Slot fast and hard, looked great.

[@juliannegallo6816]

Fantastic video. Wow so proud of you all. Freedom sounds so good! God bless you.

[@dilbert67]

Ah, good old El Centro. I spent many days on the range trapped between the sun and the sand. A daily air show kinda made up for the day.

[@AJFar-tm7dn]

Broiling I bet.

[@Primus54]

Awesome videography. The Blues look a little more precise than their Air Force brothers in this video, but the Birds are at a disadvantage missing one of their Solos on this visit. Let us hope both get to perform most of their shows this year!

[@burntorange3]

Video taken from completely different angles (takeoff is what I'm assuming you mean). Love both, but precision is in the eye of the beholder.....or camera angle

[@Primus54]

@@burntorange3: No... not just the takeoffs. The Blues diamonds and echelons formations are much tighter and the coordinated four plane rolls are more in sync. Camera angles were the same for those maneuvers.... or close enough not to matter.

[@greetenmax]

I am very impressed by the Blue Angels Super Hornets. Wow.

[@sgtsellin1991]

Once again some great work here. Keep it up.

[@keyladiaz2502]

👑👑 FELIZ SEMANA SANTA HD

[@whtlightnn]

Can't wait to SEE the Angels this SUMMER!

[@rickfoss5003]

I'm wondering why two of the TBirds were carrying centerline tanks during the practice? I also realized that I seem to get as much enjoyment some times out of watching the rejoin after some of their maneuvers as I do from the actual maneuver. I spent three years at Nellis (63-66) and got to watch the TBirds transition from F-100s to F-105s. They are always impressive but even this Air Force Vet has to admit that the Blues fly a tighter formation. I've always wondered why.

[@VMCAviationVideos]

Wow, super video, Thanks!

[@scee1871]

That opening shot is gold.

[@markdessert4077]

On Wednesday all six Blues and all 6 thunder birds made a 12 wide wing tip pass straight down Aten rd . The posse was headed to main runway at NAF EL CENTRO. The whole armada had smoke on it was EPIC. HOPE someone can post video.

[@DafyddPhillips]

Stunning

[@iKeto_gal]

Hey Spencer, I'm planning on going to Star Wars Canyon this month. Do you know if there's still flying out there? I'm wondering if during these covid times that they don't practice flying out there these days.

[@Michael_W007]

I'm curious too. I had planned to go last year but all of the fires created too much smoke in the canyon, so there was a TFR in place.

[@labmatthew]

I am so jealous to have missed this!!

[@philmontejano5971]

Saw them 6 times the last week They won't allow access on March 13

[@phantomphan1974]

Good to meet you in person finally! What day is this video?

[@venturasurfing]

Spencer, could you tell what body and lens you use and what you stabilize with. I'm going to guess a EOS R with an EF 100-400 and adaptor on a good fluid head. If you say that you did it with a GH5 and Leica 50-200 handheld, I'm just going to go home. The initial takeoff was remarkable. I don't get how you pivoted around as they passed over you. It was so tight. I completely do not get how you did that. I think you must be a handheld wizard. That's my only explanation. I wonder if most people realize how difficult it is to get these shots as tight as you did. I'm not blowing smoke, I really mean that.

[@mpetry912]

great opener. That #4 pilot has the stuff.

[@goofyiest]

i grew up in Yuma, and never new about the winter practices until years after I left...so sad. :(

[@trull122]

Thank you for sharing.

[@seansullivan1439]

Outstanding !

[@jalpajalpatec3916]

Great,Wonderful,Amazing,Beautiful,I'm Proud to be an English American👏💖🇺🇸🗽🦅📡🛰💎🌟

[@cldriver]

Great front shot of diamond takeoff! Never seen #4 slide into the slot from a head on view.

[@patjev2740]

Makes me miss El Centro

[@joanofark7649]

I'll be there again tomorrow and Tuesday, can't wait.

[@jasonlapean3868]

Which days do they practice?

[@qwe-ju3uv]

Is that the vapor caused from the edges of the vertical stabilizers?

[@jdub_7139]

@spencerhughes2255 I know this years show is supposed to be virtual, but do they plan on allowing people to park on the side of the adjacent roads to watch in person?

[@spencerhughes2255]

They always close the roads around the base for the Air Show because the FAA will be present.

[@oliverlebot]

Hey I love your stuff man! Do you know if they are practicing in the AM TOMORROW March 2nd?

[@JoeCoolPilot]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@whalehands]

Question. Why did two of the Thunderbirds have centerline tanks? Is that for fuel? Or is that those storage type tanks pilots to carry their stuff in?

[@elleg.2521]

WOOOHOOO!!!!!---'THE BLUE-ANGELS.....ROCK!!!!

[@RemoVegas]

BEAUTIFUL JOB WHERE'S THE Radio CHATTER..?

[@dougcronkhite2113]

The Blues look show ready.. The Thunderbirds are still looking a little 'loose' at times.

[@blueboar]

They're just Social Distancing!

[@armywidow6004]

@@blueboar 😄😄😄😄

[@philmontejano5971]

Thunderbirds never fly as close. Trust me, I've seen both for 40 plus years! Blues don't wear G suits and land on carriers. All you need to know.

[@armywidow6004]

@@philmontejano5971 you are correct.

[@dennisjanda5081]

SPECTACULAR..THANKS !!!

[@GOASTRC]

Blue Angels just went up a few more notches using the Super Hornet! Interesting how the fuel system cannot keep up with some manoeuvres, guess it doesn't like overtime!

[@kenbiggs8864]

Superb videography!

[@aaf6133]

Much respect to the Blue Angels we love you, but the T-Birds put on a better show! More aggressive maneuvers, more dynamic formations, simply more fun! Love all our military! Was camping at Superstition Mountain (near training area) a few months back and we were treated to a daily airshow!

[@trevorwoolley7432]

That double farvle roll was pretty sharp.

[@docwill184]

Thunderbird 5, "...back issues, "not good, "You can blow at any seam..." --Tom Wolfe, 'The Right Stuff'

[@SDsc0rch]

i'm curious...... is there a consensus yet? which a/c provides a better show? legacy hornet or a super hornet??

[@Primus54]

Hard to tell from videos, but if you watch/listen to some of Spencer’s videos of the legacy from last year, there is a definite different engine whine from the legacy which made the sneak passes and solos approaches more audibly exciting. And because the Super Hornets are larger, they don’t “appear” to be going as fast in some of the maneuvers.

[@747heavyboeing3]

VFA 122 Screaming Eagles based at NAS LEMOORE will due a an F 18 Super Hornet demo on March 13. 122 is RAG squadron.

[@TheGr8Dantini]

Great photography. What gear do you use?

[@Kristinkirkland138]

Magnificent!!! 💙💛💙

[@shannonkoeppen5362]

Heading to El Centro on Saturday. Any suggestions for location to watch?

[@hoku51]

The Best as Always!!

[@herbboucher816]

Flying by the seat of your pants, awesome

[@Confidential619]

So March, 13 they're having an airshow in el centro? I remember I went to one of these when I was a kid once.

[@lindasilkwood3468]

Thank you for not putting music over that noise!!!

[@sherlynmcdonald1089]

AMAZING 👏 🥰