Hey Hey Hey it was a historic day for the Blue Angels and OBA
(OBA®) - Via: U.S. Blue Angels about the photo below: Blue Angels C-130 pilots and crew arrive at Naval Air Station Pensacola with the team’s new C-130J Super Hercules.
“It is quite fitting that in the team’s 50th year flying the C-130 we welcome our latest platform, the C-130J Super Hercules.“ said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels. “With the Blue Angels team once again complete, we look forward to the 2021 season and showcasing the teamwork and trust between our Sailors and Marines.”
2020 marks the team’s 50th year utilizing the C-130 as its lead logistics aircraft. The Blue Angels’ previous C-130 “T” model served the team for 17 years and was retired in May of 2019.
The new Fat Albert made its first trip home to NAS Pensacola from Fort Worth Texas today, on the 14th birthday of OBA...
Today was the first time that the new Fat Albert aircraft would be joining the Blue Angels at NAS Pensacola, their home base and it was the day OBA turned 14 years old.
We posted an update on our OBA Facebook page letting folks know to be on the lookout for a possible Beach Buzz by Fat Albert as she made her way home for the first time from Fort Worth.
It wasn't long after making that post that a Beach Buzz was confirmed. And shortly after we learned that the Beach Buzz was confirmed, we learned that the entire Blue Angels flight squadron was going to fly out to meet their newest family member over the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Morgan and escort her home.
Below are posts, photos and videos captured along the Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast of this historic day.
Above: Laura Collins captured Fat Albert being tailed by the Blue Angels as they Buzzed the Beaches on Perdido Key. Notice how they turned on the smoke just as they passed Laura's camera.
Left: Zach Smith captured the Blues and Fat Albert flying over Wild Hearts just south of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach.
Below: Rachel Kelnhofer captured Fat Albert and the Blues in the gulf in front of the Phoenix X at 2:08 pm.
Below: Brittany McDaniel captured Fat Albert and the Blues Smokin' the Beaches in Orange Beach.
Below Left: Zach Smith captured the Fat Albert and the Blue Angels after they turned and headed back to the west over Perdido Pass in Orange Beach.
Below Right: Tony LaPrest captured the Blues flying back to the east over Perdido Pass after Fat Albert had departed.
Below Left: Eric Snyder captured the Blues over a long stretch of beach on what looks like Perdido Key.
Below Right: Rick Brown captured the Blues flying over the jetties at Perdido Pass.
Bottom Left: Eric Mcclure captured the Blues over Terry Cove.
Bottom Right: Tina Whatley captured the Blues over the emerald green gulf.
Bottom Left: Robin Garrett over the beachgoers.
Bottom Right: Mark Parsons banking in over the beaches headed home.
Bottom Left: Cathi Ware captured the Blues over Mobile Street in Fort Morgan.
Bottom Right: Michael Johnson captured the Blues over swimmers in the gulf in Orange Beach.
Below are various images captured by folks along the Alabama-Florida Gulf Coast at the Fat Albert and the Blue Angels made 3 passes along the coast...
We'd like to extend a big thank you to everyone who shared their photos and videos of this historic event of Fat Albert's first trip over OBA on its way to NAS Pensacola.
Photos posted on August 18, 2020 from the Blue Angels trip home on the 17th.
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