BEAUFORT, S.C. (April 25, 2019) Capt. Eric Doyle, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, flies in formation with an F-22 Raptor assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor demonstration team during a photo exercise above Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The Blue Angels are scheduled to conduct 61 flight demonstrations at 32 locations across the country to showcase the pride and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to the American public in 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)
The two aerial demonstration teams joined together during the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort air show to showcase never-before-seen images of both the F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Hornet.
“This formation represents more than just the seven jets captured on camera,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul ‘Loco’ Lopez, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team pilot/commander. “It is a representation of the professionalism and excellence that every servicemember portrays in the United States military.”
The concept for this unique formation began as an idea between two former squadron-mates who both share a passion for aviation. Douglas Glover, co-founder of 3G Aviation Media and the mastermind behind coordinating this dissimilar formation, reached out to U.S. Navy Maj. Jeff Mullins, Blue Angels #4, about the possibility of getting the two teams together.
“What started as a ‘what if’ between myself and Blue Angels #4, took months and months of back and forth, matching aircraft capabilities to the images requested by both teams,” Glover said. “All of the hard work, the late nights, and the elevated levels of stress briefing a room full of top-tier pilots was worth it when the ramp dropped behind the photoship, followed closely by the F-22 and the Blue Angels’ diamond.”
Seeing the world’s premier 5th-generation fighter alongside the iconic blue and gold of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is a sight many wanted to see but never thought would happen. The end result, seven fighter jets from two separate services flying over the skies of South Carolina, involved a joint effort that will be cherished for years to come.
“I would like to thank the maintainers that fix, service, and maintain the aircrafts; they are vital to our mission and making a flight like this happen,” Lopez said. “Flying alongside the Blue Angels was an incredible experience, and seeing it all from the cockpit of the F-22 is something I will never forget.”
For more information on both the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team and U.S. Navy Blue Angels, you can follow each team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @F22DemoTeam and @USNavyBlueAngels.
Story by 2nd Lt. Samuel Eckholm
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs