Blue Angels: First Airshow of 2024 at NAF El Centro | Full Demo

The US Navy Blue Angels take to the skies over NAF El Centro for their first public demonstration of 2024. Sadly, #4 had some jet trouble midway through the demo, and the team flew a 5 ship demo for the remainder of the show.
Recorded March 9, 2024
Shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max with the Blackmagic Camera App for iOS
2024 Blue Angels
#1 | CDR ALEXANDER ARMATAS
#2 | LCDR JACK KEILTY
#3 | LT WES PERKINS
#4 | LCDR AMANDA LEE
#5 | LCDR GRIFFIN STANGEL
#6 | CDR THOMAS ZIMMERMAN
#7 | LT CONNOR O'DONNELL
00:00 Walkdown
02:32 Startup
03:03 Taxi
05:01 Diamond Takeoff
07:54 Solos Takeoff
09:01 Diamond 360
09:21 Opposing Knife Edge
09:58 Diamond Roll
10:22 Inverted to Inverted Pass
10:46 Diamond Aileron Roll
11:20 Fortus
12:15 Diamond Dirty Loop
13:15 Minimum Radius Turn
14:23 Double Farvel
14:58 Opposing Min Radius Turn
16:26 Diamond Echelon Pass
16:46 Opposing Horizontal Rolls
17:56 Changeover Roll
18:35 Sneak Pass
19:15 Line Abreast Loop
20:33 Opposing 4 Point Roll
21:21 Diamond Vertical Break
22:13 Vertical Pitch
23:30 Barrel Roll Break
24:55 Double Tuckover Roll
25:32 Low Break Cross
27:11 Section High Alpha
28:43 Burner 270
30:07 Delta Roll
31:05 Fleur De Lis
33:36 Loop Break Cross
36:14 Delta Breakout
36:57 Pitch Up Break
38:20 Taxiing Back
40:28 Walkdown
#blueangels #thunderbirds #usnavy #usairforce #aviation #airshow #airshows #aerospace #aerospacehorizons #fighterjet #fighterpilot #f18 #f18superhornet #f16 #f16viper #formation #flying #flyingpaint #gladtobehere #aviationlovers #military #pilot #aviationphotography #planespotting #afterburner #militaryaviation #topgun #takeoff #gforce #cultureofexcellence #aerobatics #flying #superhornet #viper #fightingfalcon #elcentro #wintertraining

[@bugalaman]

This will never be not totally cool as hell. Even after 10 years of service in the Air Force, I never get tired of seeing these beautiful war machines.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thank you for your service!

[@SKRUBL0RD]

this was my dream as a kid, but requiring glasses by high school killed it.

[@mason-ug5eq]

They’re not war machines they’re just show off’s

[@mason-ug5eq]

For the Marines in the Air Force

[@tomdaly17]

LtCmdr Amanda rocks!!

[@stretchmfe4913]

I think they're all pretty good pilots actually.

[@rad7404]

Let's go Blue Angels guys and girl give it your all and may God bless u and your families.

[@katyp5914]

@rad7404 🕊💜🇺🇸✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️

[@geraldmurphy1428]

I totally enjoy watching the BLUE ANGELES. Reminds me of the AIR SHOW NORFOLK Virginia. I've saw them Before DEPARTMENT of 6 months Cruise on the Franklin D Roosevelt. Retire Navy Veteran ⚓️ 🦅

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thanks for your service and for watching!

[@geraldmurphy1428]

@aerospacehorizons my pleasure. Wishing you and your Family and Friends the Best to come 😇🙏

[@cornfieldcloset]

My husband was stationed on the USS Shenandoah AD44 in the 80's Norfolk. We enjoyed seeing the Blue Angels. Awesome performance.

[@temarikel8674]

That yaw right after takeoff by #4 to get in position was subtle and sweeeeeeeet!

[@iramiyahira8301]

Saw my fave military airshow in Maui in the 70.s. as a boy ❤WOW!!!!😮❤❤

[@mikebell1961]

As a young Navy Corpsman stationed at NAS Pensacola I watched out the window of NAMI as the Blues practices in the A4. 40 years later I am still mesmerized watching them from my front yard in El Centro as they practice in the newest Jets It never gets old!

[@shirleyy5040]

Very cool! Stationed in El Centro from 1979-1982. A-4s were the best!

[@DianeEllis-xk1jj]

Hopefully I will see them again soon live! Thank you for your service! This show is enough to nearly cause a sonic boom! WOW!

[@Roseylady2]

I used to watch them in Cleveland every year as a child. They always had an empty spot for the pilot that crashed. Awesome team of men and woman!

[@davidowen6373]

I lived on base when I was 10-12 years old in the early ‘70s and always loved to see the Blue Angels when they wintered in El Centro

[@aerospacehorizons]

That must have been awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@tammygeorge2061]

Thank you for your service and great show! I also want to thank the cameraman for an amazing job filming. LtCom Amanda, you are an inspiration for all of the young girls…Thank you! Someone messed up the schedule for 2024 lol. You’re in Cleveland twice. When you should have a date in Pittsburgh (Moon Twp) Pennsylvania. We miss the Blue Angels! 💜🙏

[@johnshields6852]

Saw these guys 1970 Weymouth, Mass. Naval air station, sadly long since closed down. Great show. 🇺🇸

[@user-bp3sr4ep6y]

thank you blue angels for your service fly high bue angels

[@Tank11111]

Man, I love the thunderbirds; but I think the blue angels take the cake. I've always loved the blue angels, and that's why they inspire me to hopefully become a pilot one day.

[@aerospacehorizons]

The Blues are the best! Thanks for watching!

[@kaycarey4877]

I first encounter the Blue Angels was in 1963. As a military brat always had the best seat in the house.

[@ingelabounty8886]

So proud of these young men and to have seem them several times in N. California was an experience none other. They are an amazing specimen of human beings in their own special league. KUDOS TO ALL ❤🌹

[@aerospacehorizons]

Men and women! Thanks for watching - glad to be here!

[@derek777]

The control that these pilots have over their aircraft! They do a very clean demo can’t wait to c them in person

[@wcreview8227]

SOO AMAZINGLY COOL!! I am lucky enough to live right by one of the places they stage before a show onn Long Island and got to hang around and meet them all.. Crew too

[@JudeSpurlin-pg7ri]

Amazing! May God bless and strengthen you and your families

[@ShearonNewsom-fy1rb]

Love and hugs Blue Angels

[@iraeaglemind]

Awesome!🛩️

[@MichaelWalker-qp2ud]

Thank you for the beautiful

[@KorraTheFrenchie]

They always put on a great show at Seafair here in Seattle every year!

[@Rotorhead1651]

Saw my first military airshow at Eglin AFB, Florida during my first year in the USAF, assigned to (then) Eglin Auxiliary Field #9 at Hurlburt Field, which eventually became Hurlburt Field AFB. The USAF Thunderbirds perfomed there that day. Even all these years later (about 42) I still remember the awe I felt that day, seeing not just the aerial demonstration teams, but the static displays as well.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Airshows are incredible! Thanks for watching!

[@ralphpeabody9101]

They are so amazing

[@user-be6lj3iv7m]

i saw a 5 plane demo at Miramar back in 89 or 90. #5 had to drop out of the demo for computer problems. 5 planes or 6 is still a cool demo

[@Rene1964]

Looking forward to seeing them at Travis on 16 March.

[@larry5508]

Love the Blues, it never gets old..

[@aerospacehorizons]

Truly it never does. Thanks for watching!

[@AudreyRSmith]

Been waiting for this video ty so much for posting this 😊

[@aerospacehorizons]

You're so welcome! Enjoy!

[@CesarDelgado-fu2nd]

​@@aerospacehorizons 😊😊😊

[@chilliwilly5708]

❤ blue angels

[@shirleyy5040]

Very cool recording! How in the world did you get the radio transmission? It really adds excitement. Slightly less volume on the music would be even better. Thank you for your work. Can’t wait to see the Blues at Oceana in September.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thanks! It’s a long story, but I had to splice in some audio from a practice they did at El Centro a few weeks prior to avoid the video getting hit with KZbin copyright strikes on account of the music they play during the show. Working hard to figure out an audio solution to get the full radio transmissions in and minimize music as much as possible. Stay tuned for future shows. WingFlexAviation captured this show with the full radio calls if you want to check out his channel as well!

[@juanlopez1973]

I saw the TBA from out of the streets of el Centro 👍

[@official22yrs]

nice, so what is the shutter set at on the video camera? thanks

[@aerospacehorizons]

It's shot on an iPhone, which doesn't have an adjustable Iris, so the shutter speed is very very fast to compensate for the huge amount of daylight coming in. So much so that there's almost no blur. I've been experimenting with ND filters to see if I can bring some of that blur back into the shots. Thanks for watching!

[@childofgod0726]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 I REALLY REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING ALL OF THIS..!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO IN OUR MILITARY...BE SAFE AND BE BLESSED...😊😊😊😊😊 SEE YOU IN OSHKOSH WISCONSIN AND MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN WEATHET PERMITTING IN 2024

[@tklube308]

I have my tickets to see the Blues up in Dayton Oh on 22 June 24. Cant wait😊

[@robertholland5771]

I got my media parking pass, photography tour/photography pit passes for Saturday the 22nd. In November!!!!

[@yvonneperezt3917]

Oui magnifique !!❤✈️👨‍✈️🇺🇸

[@CesarDelgado-eq2el]

Nice!!!😊😊😊😊

[@Tymothic]

I realize Top Gun focuses on combat mission and Blue Angels focus on flight demonstrations. Yet what are the primary differences between the two entities? Can a TG pilot be an a member of the BA without the interview process? Are the maneuvers between the TG and BA pilots the nearly the same?

[@lw216316]

Let's pray they may continue to perform shows and not have to go to war.

[@chrisyarbrough785]

Too cool.the one thing that never changes

[@PharaohHowell-mb6bo]

the music? lol...

[@aerospacehorizons]

I was just saying this to my buddy yesterday at the show. Virtually nothing has changed about airshows since I've been going to them. Even the vendor tents have the same souvenirs and banners. Oddly comforting.

[@shieldmaiden2660]

Go Blues - GO!!!

[@_wingflexaviation_]

Nice video dude

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thanks man! Can’t wait to see yours!

[@_wingflexaviation_]

@@aerospacehorizons Coming soon haha!

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

Saw their first show at Pensacola NAS a few weeks ago. My son is stationed there and we saw them while visiting him.

[@AudreyRSmith]

What is the meet and greet like do they come Up to the crowd or do u pay for it 😊

[@aerospacehorizons]

They come up to the crowd usually but if they did this time I missed where they went.

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

I think I'd be shocked to see a Blues demo start and finish with all six jets. Seems to happen more frequently than with the legacies.

[@aerospacehorizons]

They had a pretty good handle on it last year. This year they've been flying 2 F models pretty much all of winter training. Not sure what's going on - I thought one of the big benefits of the Super Hornet over the legacies was improved serviceability and parts availability.

[@bmezay6211]

Hopefully isn’t 2017 all over again it was much worse

[@GDBROWN]

I've seen plenty of their airshows with the C models where they have one jet fall out. Haven't seen much difference with the E's and F's.

[@CesarDelgado-fu2nd]

This awesome dude 😊😊😊

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thanks for watching!

[@CesarDelgado-eq2el]

​@@aerospacehorizons best video 📹 ever!!!😊😊

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@CesarDelgado-eq2el Thank you for watching!

[@CesarDelgado-fu2nd]

@@aerospacehorizons ☺

[@GreggK6EGG]

i wonder what happened to the #4 place, great video

[@aerospacehorizons]

Thanks for watching! What I've heard is it essentially boils down to engine trouble.

[@haroldreardon1407]

#4 was there.

[@TBolt1]

@@aerospacehorizonsI take it #4 cruised around until the team returned as one unit? Thank you for the upload. 👍

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@TBolt1 she landed at some point but I didn't see when. Then she took off again shortly before all the Delta stuff began - I caught maybe a second of it on camera so there wasn't really a way to include it in the video. Kept expecting a rejoin to the formation but it never happened. Then she landed pretty covertly right after 6 did and rejoined the taxi back like nothing happened.

[@GreggK6EGG]

thanks for the info, same thing happen to #5 half way through in 2019 once again great video thanks for posting it@@aerospacehorizons

[@nomore8042]

I just love watching America's #1. Performance Flight Team. The Thunder Chickens aren't horrible but they're not the Blue Angels either !!!!! Go Navy !!!!!!

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

What happened to #4? It was gone halfway through. The announcer kept calling it a diamond formation that it was suppose to be but there were only 3 planes in the formation? Very odd. Did it have a mechanical issue?

[@aerospacehorizons]

Yep. Engine trouble midway through the demo making formation flying unsafe. Bummer, especially for the first show of the year, but it is what it is. The Blues fly the oldest Super Hornets in the fleet so there are always going to be some issues.

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

@@aerospacehorizons Did #4 land during the performance and then rejoin the taxi at the end of the show? They do fly with the oldest series of jets but they are meticulously maintained so this kind of thing is rare. I did see a lot of issues with the smoke system on 2 of the jets during the performance. It would come on and go off then back on during a time when the rest of the formation had full smoke on. I would love to hear the internal comms between the jets and the ground.

[@aerospacehorizons]

​@@On-Our-Radar-24News Yes #4 landed at some point. I didn't catch it they were very discreet about it. She did take off again towards the end of the demo but never rejoined the formation. She landed after #6 did and rejoined the taxi. Per another comment on this video - someone actually mentioned the smoke system issues are intentional. Towards the beginning of the season the pilots will turn off their smoke when they are out of position in formation to make the debrief easier so they can call out mistakes/improve. The jets are meticulously maintained, but things happen. The #4 jet in particular was swapped out at least once on the flight line before they even took off. #4 and #5 both flew in 2 seat F variants. #4/#5 are always the most senior members of the team so they are given the problematic jets more often. I think it's a combination of early season struggles and being far from Pensacola. I have no doubt they'll tighten it up for the rest of the season. Especially now that they're due to return back to Pensacola today.

[@On-Our-Radar-24News]

@@aerospacehorizons Oh ok. Thanks for the explanation. Didnt know that about the smoke system being turned off intentionally.

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@On-Our-Radar-24News I didn't either until someone commented about it on this video a few days ago. Always new things to learn! Thanks again for watching!

[@alexbrucales2984]

Did you shoot these videos handheld or with a tripod?

[@aerospacehorizons]

Handheld, in a bit of a rig. I go into a ton more detail here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3_GinWlhNqhnbMsi=7xsnZUyPCES91apV Thanks for watching!

[@mckeeboys8929]

No music this year with the demo?

[@aerospacehorizons]

There is but the KZbin copyright police don’t like it. :(

[@KorraTheFrenchie]

Any reason why some of the jets are the single seat and some are the dual seat variants?

[@aerospacehorizons]

Maintenance issues. Ideally they’d all be in single seaters but since they try to use those more, they’re down more often. The Blues fly the oldest Super Hornets in the fleet so there are always issues. Thanks for watching!

[@DreadnautVS]

I should have tried to find ya and say hello, I was there Mon-Wed and Sat.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Oh man that would have been awesome! It was a great show despite the #4 troubles. What's the next show you're planning on attending?

[@CesarDelgado-fu2nd]

​@@aerospacehorizons 😊😊

[@DreadnautVS]

@@aerospacehorizonsyeah it’s too bad Amanda got a FADEC advisory with an afterburner degrade status during the show. I’ll be at Colorado Springs, Wichita, & Miramar. At Colorado Springs and before Reno we will be taking the Blues flying in the backcountry in our airplanes.

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@DreadnautVS Oh damn! I hadn't heard the reason. Did you catch that on the radio? I thought she landed and got back up in a backup jet. Was expecting to see her rejoin but never did. I'm planning on definitely going to Miramar. We'll see about the others - Colorado Springs sounds incredible! I'll let you know if I end up making it out there. How much for a ride in the backcountry with the Blues? 🤣

[@DreadnautVS]

@@aerospacehorizons didn’t catch it on the radio, a friend on the team mentioned it. Sadly during the backcountry flying with the Blues we can’t take any others.

[@bobbybenn8275]

What happened to the black solo pilot?

[@Curt-ge9gc]

The Pilots are only assigned for a 3 year Assignment to the Blues. Then back to a Fleet Squadron.

[@brodricj3023]

Why are #4 and #5 2-seaters? I thought #7 and the spare were the only 2-seaters.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Which jet is which changes almost daily. They repaint them depending on maintenance issues. They were having a lot of issues with the single seaters early in the season so the two seaters got a new paint job for this show.

[@brodricj3023]

@@aerospacehorizons Thanks for the explanation. I wonder how the pilots need to adapt with a last minute change of plane from a single seat to 2.

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@brodricj3023 as far as I’m aware there is next to no difference flying the single vs 2 seat F-18.

[@ronlucock3702]

Is the term "Naval Aviation" a contradiction in terms?

[@AudreyRSmith]

Where was Amanda during the show

[@aerospacehorizons]

I’m not sure. They didn’t say, but her jet was replaced at least once on the line before the demo so I’m thinking it was some kind of maintenance issue.

[@davidmartin8275]

Well she magically appeared at the End of the Show, Due to the edit on this Video, Don't know when Angel #4 reappeared on the Flight Line. Go Figure. Ah the magic of Naval Aviation.

[@aerospacehorizons]

She landed covertly at some point and then took off again mid show. I kept expecting her to rejoin the formation but she didn’t. No idea what happened. She landed after 6 did as if nothing happened.

[@bmezay6211]

Great coverage u beat mike lol

[@aerospacehorizons]

🤣 thanks for watching!

[@lmdragon-michellemusicvide2541]

💙💙💙😇

[@larrysouthern5098]

AN E TICKET RIDE!! Yeah BABY YEAH!!!

[@ImpendingJoker]

What happened to the Slot Pilot? Some of these maneuvers are not as impressive with just 3 aircraft, and the Line Abreast Loop is usually 5 planes not 4.

[@aerospacehorizons]

#4 had engine trouble midway thru the demo and couldn’t safely fly the show sadly.

[@ImpendingJoker]

@@aerospacehorizons That is unfortunate. The Blues seem to have that happen to them often. I've left shows when I see they aren't using a full formation because they just don't impress me at that point.

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@ImpendingJoker 5/6 of one of the best shows on earth is still a great show. Unless I had an airshow in my backyard everyday I’d never get tired of it even if it was slightly imperfect.

[@user-kk1ne9wf7j]

@@ImpendingJoker Thank you for the whiner perspective.

[@davidmartin8275]

Really Sad Kingsville won't be getting the Blues this year, Corpus Christi in May 2025, If the Navy at the Base can get the paperwork ready we should have the Blues in 2026. I noticed that the Navy must be hurting for single seat hornets since two of the jets were two seaters, just a thought. Darn good team.

[@aerospacehorizons]

They had 2 F models in the sky and one went down mid way through presumably for maintenance issues. Not sure what’s going on with their inventory it’s been wonky the entirety of winter training too.

[@user-kk4nk3uo2u]

You people have too much form! Don't show off

[@user-kk4nk3uo2u]

😊

[@OmegaElevenEngage]

NAS Meridian hasnt had a show since 2011

[@jasonthomas9364]

Busy season ahead of them

[@aerospacehorizons]

Indeed they’re just getting started. Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelWalker-qp2ud]

I seen you near halls highschool

[@notthatdonald1385]

I guess no. 7 wasn't available to replace 4.

[@aerospacehorizons]

I think they were having some big maintenance troubles with the #4 jet. They replaced it on the line before the show and it still went down midway through.

[@dlees5895]

#4 and 5 were the 2 seat 7s aircraft

[@jameslane8364]

🎥🎬👍🏻 Jim KC. 2USA 465. 73.

[@blue81blue81]

Bummer about #4. Not the way you want to start a new show season.

[@aerospacehorizons]

Yeah real bummer. They've seemingly had jet issues all through Winter Training not sure what's going on.

[@blue81blue81]

@@aerospacehorizons It's got to be a tremendous task keeping 6 jets airworthy when they are flying almost everyday 2 and 3 times a day. And probably doesn't help these are old jets. The Blues typically get planes that are recently fleet retired. Then they're stripped down and equipped with smoke sys etc.

[@katyp5914]

🕊💜✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️🇺🇸

[@atticusmcbuddy6283]

Bunch of Seagulls squawkin, the Thunder chicken's rattle the tail like a Eastern.

[@davidcampbell4174]

This was a rough show by Blue Angel standards.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

How so?

[@patriciac7697]

🧡🤍🧡🤍🧡

[@mevalemadre6223]

What's up with all the maintenance issues this year? I see Blue #4 had to drop out of the show, and smoke systems were intermittent throughout? I know they fly the oldest F/A-18E/Fs, but come on, you're presenting at very high profile public events... surely NavAir will give you the $$ and manpower to keep those six jets up for show season???

[@jamesriordan7]

#4 having issues is one thing, but the intermittent smoke is actually intentional. If the pilots find themselves just slightly out of position, they will go "smoke off" so that they can debrief why they were out of position afterwards. I just learned this a few weeks ago while also questioning why they were having such issues with their smoke systems.

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@jamesriordan7 oh so interesting. I noticed this happening early in the season last year and it stopped by the end of the season. I figured they were still working out kinks with the smoke system in the super hornet but was surprised to see those same issues this year. Thanks for the info!

[@PugetExposure]

Was your vantage point from one of the ticketed executive chalet tents?

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@PugetExposure Yep!

[@PugetExposure]

@aerospacehorizons I saw different signs posted at the tents. Are you able to chose which tent you you get

[@MaxHeadRoom-bd9vs]

Best of the Best Have steel balls and now steel breast

[@user-uc4uz8zv5j]

عناوين الاخباريه تقول في غارات جوية

[@Paul1958R]

No taxpayer dollar left unwasted

[@SKRUBL0RD]

come on! the only plane to go down is the only female pilot? that's fucked up

[@aerospacehorizons]

Bummer for sure. But they typically give the most temperamental jets to the veterans on the team since they’re better equipped to handle it.

[@user-lj6xt8xg1n]

Цирк на дроте.

[@enigma51ted]

great show, but way overuse of smoke, and way over use of saying 'ladys and gentleman'....All air-shows please stop that once and for all....Stop saying that

[@user-kk1ne9wf7j]

When whiners stop posting🤡💩like that. Until then ... never.

[@user-sv6zd7hv8k]

Сколько же показухи. Зачем эти дешевые хождения? Отдание чести.?

[@davidmathews9633]

They always have the stupidest music at air shows

[@aerospacehorizons]

And you didn’t even get to hear half of it because of KZbin copyright! Thanks for watching.

[@davidmathews9633]

You do a great job on these vids

[@aerospacehorizons]

@@davidmathews9633thanks for the kind words! Appreciate you watching.

[@heathercook6376]

Still clowns in the worst military in the world 😂