Air Force Thunderbirds - Navy Blue Angels

[ashling]

Thunderbirds were on the Today show this morning

Anybody have any idea how much these two outfits cost in money, fuel, energy, pollution?

[Richardo]

1. Insignificant compared to $300 billion for Iraq...

...like, micron sized, I'll bet.

[ashling]

5. I'm sure it is

I started to say in my post that it is a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to other wasteful Pentagon expenditures, but it is still a gross waste of energy, moey, and can not possibly be enviornmentally friendly.

I get mad every time I see them on TV

[Richardo]

7. I just can't get worked up about it.

Meh.

[wtmusic]

9. agree

although before Iraq I used to think they were pretty cool.

Abuse of power kinda takes the lustre off.

[bridgit]

2. can't wait...

http://fleetweek.us/fleetweek

[ret5hd]

3. i read last week (sorry, no link)...

1 hour in an f-16 uses as much fuel as the average u.s. driver uses in 2 years...and the u.s. navy uses 16% of the worlds diesel supply.

kinda expains these oil wars, don't it?

[ashling]

6. sounds like the navy

wouldbe a great candidate for biodeisel

[TheMightyFavog]

11. During the last fuel Crisis in the 70s....

Both the Thunderbirds and the Angels switched from the F-4 Phantom to smaller, more fuel effiecint aircraft.

The Tbirds switched to the T-38 Talon Trainer, and the Angels switched to the venerable A-4 Skyhawk ground attack aircraft.

Now, the USAF still uses the Talon, IIRC, we could easily switch the Thunderbirds back to those, as for the Navy, We migth be able to get them use the F-5 Tigers from the Top Gun School instead of the F-18s. Then again, Perhaps going to the T-45 Goshawk Trainer would be a better move. It's proven to be a good aerobatic platform. It's an Americanized version of the BAE Hawk, the aircraft used by the RAF's aerobatic team, the Red Arrows.

[TheMightyFavog]

14. Using trainers would be a good cost saving move...

I can only think of three other National military aerobatics teams who use front line fighters instead of trainers.

The Patrouille Suisse (Swiss) use F-5 Tiger IIs (Even though the F-5 is quite small compared to the F-16 and F-18.)
The Ukranian Falcons use MiG 29s
The Russian Knights use Su 27s

Every Other aerobatic display squadron I can think of use smaller trainers.

The aforementined Red Arrows use BAE Hawks
Patrouille France Uses Alpha Jets
Frecce Tricolori (Italy) uses the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN
Blue Impulse (Japan) Uses the Kawasaki T-4
The Roulettes (Australia) use the Pilatus PC-9 Turboprop trainer
The Red Checkers (New Zealand) use the PAC CT/4 Piston engine trainer.

[leftofthedial]

4. but they are doing the lord's work, so any cost is justified

praise the righteous mighty sword of the lord

may it smite the evil dewars

[flamingyouth]

8. I'm actually leaving town this week partly due to them

I was going to take a vacation this month anyway, but thought, hey, I can finally get away from the goddamn Blue Angels. Yes, I'm the humorless liberal. You know me. ;)

[TheMightyFavog]

10. All I know is..

The Thunderbirds can fly rings around those Navy Boys...

/Prepares for flaming from the redident squids.

[lpbk2713]

16. Question .....

How many nighttime, foul weather carrier landings do you suppose the Zoomie pilots have under their belt?

[RebelOne]

12. Despite the money, fuel, energy use and pollution,

those Blue Angels are awesome. I saw them at an air show and they totally take your breath away to watch them.

[Zuni]

13. agreed

They are great

[TheMightyFavog]

15. I still say

The Thunderbirds could fly rings around those squids any day.

[Richardo]

17. Now THERE'S an idea: T-Birds vs Blue Angels DOGFIGHT!!

I am SO down!!