Asia-Pacific
Blue Angels wow crowd at Hawaii air show
Stars and Stripes
October 1, 2012
Spectators watch daredevil air maneuvers from the back of a display C-17 aircraft during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The event starred the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as a host of other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Spectators watch daredevil air maneuvers from the back of a display C-17 aircraft during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The event starred the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as a host of other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
A member of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team "Leap Frogs" lands on the airstrip during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The event starred the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as a host of other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
A member of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team "Leap Frogs" walks away from the airstrip following a skydive. during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The event starred the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as a host of other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Kirby Chambliss performs at low altitude flyby prior to the Blue Angels appearance at the Kaneohe Bay Air Show, Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Kirby Chambliss performs at low altitude flyby prior to the Blue Angels appearance at the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Two members of the Blue Angels fly in tandem during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Tens of thousands of spectators turned out at Kaneohe Bay to watch the Navy aerobatic team, along with other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the Blue Angels fly in a close pattern during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Tens of thousands of spectators turned out at Kaneohe Bay to watch the Navy aerobatic team, along with other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Two members of the Blue Angels fly in a close pattern during the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Tens of thousands of spectators turned out at Kaneohe Bay to watch the Navy aerobatic team, along with other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
The Blue Angels land on the runway at the Kaneohe Bay Air Show on Sept. 30, 2012, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Tens of thousands of spectators turned out at Kaneohe Bay to watch the Navy aerobatic team, along with other aviators and parachutists. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
KANEOHE, Hawaii — Tens of thousands of spectators gathered Sunday to watch the daredevil flying of the Navy’s Blue Angels and other aerobatic pilots performing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Kaneohe Bay.
The Navy team flew for about 30 minutes, delighting the crowd with low-altitude flybys, inverted rolls and other maneuvers.
Civilian aviators, including Red Bull’s Kirby Chambliss, warmed up the crowd, which also witnessed skydives from the Navy’s special warfare “Leap Frogs.”
Including the seven pilots who flew Sunday, 16 officers at a time generally serve with the Blue Angels. Each year the team typically selects three new tactical jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot, according to the Blue Angels website.