When it comes to choreographed spectacles, it’s hard to beat the precision of a military demonstration team — unless, that is, you’ve got members of two military demonstration teams performing together.
The Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, teamed up with fellow units for two separate events as it got performance-ready for its 2023 season.
The squadron’s F/A-18 Super Hornets flew with their Air Force counterparts, the Thunderbirds’ F-16 Fighting Falcons, during a joint training exchange in California. And the Blue Angels’ transport aircraft, a C-130J affectionately known as “Fat Albert,” joined the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon for a photoshoot in Arizona.
The Silent Drill Platoon performed on the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma runway as Fat Albert flew overhead. Photo by Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jade Venegas
The Marines executed various drill sequences during the low flyover—which from some perspectives looked like a fly-under. Photo by Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Pranav Ramakrishna
The Yuma performance kicked off the Marine Corps’ 2023 Battle Color Detachment Tour. Photo by Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jade Venegas
About 70 miles west, members of the Blue Angels welcomed the Thunderbirds to their home for winter training, Naval Air Facility El Centro. Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Bobby Baldock
The two squadrons trained together at El Centro for a week. Fat Albert was there too—on the ground for the teams’ celebrated joint formation, the Super Delta. Photo by Air Force Senior Airman Dakota Carter
The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds debuted the Super Delta at El Centro two years ago. They consider it a symbol of the teamwork, discipline and skill of U.S. service members around the globe. Photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Sarver
Here’s what the Super Delta looks like in action:
The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are co-headlining this weekend’s Point Mugu Air Show in Ventura County, California, and are welcoming military families for a special viewing of the rehearsal on Friday.