NICE pictures! Thanks for posting them. I grew up in the Bay Area (Woodside), and your pic's brought back some great memories.
I remember when the Angels were in Phantoms, then the A-4's, and now th Hornets. I never thought the A-4's were all that spectacular, but the Phantom...THERE's a crowd pleasing machine! Big, heavy, loud and smokey! Crowds loved 'em. I loved them so much I worked on them for 10 years, until the Corps tranistioned entirely out of them. I could have gone to the Hornets, too, but I had a family, and didn't want to spend 8-10 months a year asea.
The Hornets are great machines for the Angels, too, But they're just not Phantoms, you know? I even saw the Angels fly through Hangar 1 over at Moffet when I was 9 or 10. Diamond formation. Tight, but hey, they're the Blue Angels!
I was stationed in MCAS Yuma for much of my time in, and I would ride my motorcycle over to El Centro to watch the angels practise on weekends. Good times!
Anywho, thanks again!
Pat☺