A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...08-04-04...Blue Angels

Aquamarine

[Aquamarine]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Imagine you're enjoying a lazy day on the beach in Florida when suddenly out of nowhere you're gifted with an unexpected sight as the Blue Angels fly over with a thunderous roar in an awe inspiring tight formation. In just a few seconds it's all over and you're left wondering if maybe you had nodded off in the Florida sunshine and somehow dreamed that unbelievable sight.

Incredibly a few moments later they come back again and exhibit their oneness still in perfect formation! Then you find yourself along with others on the beach cheering for the precision and aerial artistry of the Blue Angels - America's premier pilots.

If you would like to have an idea of what this sensation is just click on the link below and give the page a few seconds to load. You may even want to explore this site a little while you're there.

Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, Blue Angels, is stationed at Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola, Florida with the squadron spending the winter (January through March) training pilots and new team members at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, California. The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and to represent the naval service to the civilian community, its elected leadership and foreign nations.

The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. A Blue Angel flight demonstration exhibits the choreographed refinements of Navy-trained flying skills. It presents the graceful, aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane diamond, as well as the fast-paced high performance maneuvers of the two solo pilots. Pilots average 32 years old.

The "Blue Angels" team is always only 6 pilots because the training sessions are so intensive there is no time available to train a "backup pilot".........The aircraft fleet maintained for the 6 pilots consist of 11 F-18 Hornets (Cost $28 million each).......6 for the show....3 "spares" and 2 F-18 Hornets with 2 seats for media and VIP flights during the entire Air Show.

The renowned delta formation is complete with six jets performing maneuvers, as a whole, in formation.

Another Blue Angel flight demonstration exhibits the choreographed refinements of Navy-trained flying skills........... It presents the graceful, aerobatic maneuvers of the four-plane diamond....A formation so "tight" that there is only 18 inches between the wing tip of one jet plane and the cockpit of another.

At the end of World War II, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to showcase naval aviation. The team performed its first flight demonstration less than a year later, June 1946. Flight Leader, Lt. Cmdr. Roy "Butch" Voris led the team flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat at Craig Field at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida.

The Navy Flight Demonstration Team transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat, August 25, two months after the first demonstration. In 1947, flight leader Lt. Cmdr. Robert Clarke, introduced the famous Diamond Formation, now considered the Blue Angels' trademark. The Blue Angels began flying its first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther, by the end of the 1940s.

The Blue Angels reorganized in 1951 and reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, where the team began flying the F9F-5, the faster version of the Panther. The team remained in Corpus Christi until the winter of 1954. The beginning of 1955 brought the team to its present home, Sherman Field, at NAS Pensacola, Florida, where it transitioned to flying the swept-wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar.

In 1968, the U. S. Navy chose the Phantom for its Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team. The Blues made their debut in F-4Js at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona on 15 March 1969, and for five seasons thrilled millions worldwide with their exhibitions of precision flying.

In December 1974, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team began flying the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and was reorganized into the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. This reorganization permitted the establishment of a commanding officer vice a flight leader, added support officers, and further redefined the squadron's mission emphasizing the support of recruiting efforts. Cmdr. Tony Less was the squadron's first official commanding officer.

On November 8, 1986, the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year during ceremonies unveiling their present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft now serving on the nation's front lines of defense. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 260 million spectators.

When someone first comes to the Blue Angels, they go through a probationary period of about three months, at which time everyone on the team has input as to whether this person personifies the high standards of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Only after receiving the approval of their peers does one receive the official Crest of the Blue Angels to wear on their uniform. This creed is the message for each new team member as they become "crested" as a U.S. Navy Blue Angel.

"Once a Blue Angel always a Blue Angel"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-02-04...Military Monday 08-03-04...Luvya, Dubya! (Countering the Baddest and Ugliest) Billie

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[Aquamarine]

[Aquamarine]

Welcome to The Finest!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Aqua.

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning Aeronaut, thought you may enjoy this Post.

[Pippin]

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!!!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

TO THE FLAG

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY,

BLESS THIS DAY AND ALL I MEET AND KNOW IN IT.

GUIDE MY THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ACTIONS THIS DAY

BLESS AND PROTECT PRESIDENT BUSH AND HIS FAMILY FROM ALL HARM SPIRITUALLY,PHYSICALLY AND POLITICALLY.

LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION AND DELIVER ME FROM ALL EVIL.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN

[Conspiracy Guy]

morning

[Aquamarine]

Hi Pippin. Thanks for the lovely prayer.

It's foggy here this morning but is lifting already.

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning Conspiracy Guy.

You up and at em? :)

[The Mayor]

August 4, 2004

Morning, Noon, Night

Read: Psalm 55:16-23

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. —Psalm 55:17

Bible In One Year: Psalms 66-67; Romans 7

---

In May 2003, a powerful earthquake struck northern Algeria. TV news images showed distraught people searching the rubble for survivors, while others numbly visited hospitals and morgues to see if their loved ones were alive or dead. Families stood together weeping and crying out for help. Their burden of uncertainty and grief could be seen, heard, and felt.

If you've experienced an intense feeling of loss, you'll appreciate the words of David in Psalm 55, penned during a painful time in his life. Oppressed by the wicked, hated by his enemies, and betrayed by a friend, David spoke of the anxiety and anguish that threatened to crush his spirit: "Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me" (v.5).

But instead of caving in to fear, David poured out his heart to God: "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice" (vv.16-17).

Prayer lifts our eyes from personal tragedy to the compassion of God. It enables us to cast our burdens on the Lord instead of breaking under their weight. When our hearts are filled with pain, it's good to call on God in prayer—morning, noon, and night. —David McCasland

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer. —Scriven

In prayer, God hears more than words; He listens to your heart.

[CrazyIvan]

One of the (now ex) Blue Angels pilots, Hunter Wade, is the son of Conservative talk show host Don Wade and his wife Roma who host a morning show on WLS here in Illinois. By the way, Don hates to fly.

[old-ager]

> Imagine you're enjoying a lazy day on the beach in Florida when suddenly out of nowhere you're gifted with an unexpected sight as the Blue Angels fly over ...

Yes! Pensacola Beach "ping".

[F14 Pilot]

BUMP!

[Conspiracy Guy]

yes m'am.



Blowing in the Wind

How many times must he flip flop and flip,
Before he takes a firm stand?
How many lies must he tell about Nam,
Before we all call his hand?
How many times can he vote pro and con,
Before he is totally canned?
His answer my friend, is changing with the wind.
His answer is changing with the wind.
How many times will he say George Bush lied,
Before he tells us a fact?
How many times must I hear him drone on,
And still my ears stay intact?
How many deaths did he cause there in Nam,
With all his appeasements at home?
The answer and trend, John Kerry's not our friend,
The answer's John Kerry's not our friend.
How many terms could John Kerry serve,
Before America's gone?
How many days before he would cave in,
Afraid to protect our home?
How many weeks till he gave us away,
And let the UN take the throne?
The answer my friend, we'd twist in the wind,
The answer is we'd twist in the wind.

Conspiracy Guy 8/3/2004

[lonestar]

I love the Blue Angels but never wanted to be one. When I drove, I liked to stick my head out the window.

Weinie

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, all. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Hey. Why not the Thunderbirds?

[Aquamarine]

How interesting.
CrazyIvan...is that related to a submarine term?

[Pippin]

(((AQUA)))!

[Aquamarine]

Yes! Pensacola Beach "ping".

I've seen them flyover on Panama City Beach and Daytona Beach over the years. They get around!

[Aquamarine]

Prayer lifts our eyes from personal tragedy to the compassion of God. It enables us to cast our burdens on the Lord instead of breaking under their weight. When our hearts are filled with pain, it's good to call on God in prayer—morning, noon, and night. —David McCasland

So true, He is the light of the world.

Good Morning Mayor and thanks for the spiritual and coffee. Great way to start the day off.