Navy Blue Angels, Air Force Thunderbirds take to the sky for joint training in California

STARS AND STRIPES • February 25, 2024

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. The Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds will conduct a joint training exchange at El Centro, Feb. 22-March 1, to trade best practices and develop team interoperability in preparation for the 2024 show season. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Blue Angels, and the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, AKA the Thunderbirds, are conducting an annual joint training exchange for the fifth consecutive year at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. Joint training exercises began Thursday and will continue through Friday, March 1, a Blue Angels news release said.

“We’ve been eagerly looking forward to our annual joint training session with the Thunderbirds,” Cmdr. Alex Armatas, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels, said in the release. “This marks the fifth consecutive year that we have had the privilege of engaging in collaborative training with the Thunderbirds, allowing us to exchange knowledge and skills. Our Air Force counterparts truly grasp the level of commitment and effort required to execute flight demonstrations nationwide.”

The Blue Angels take flight during winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (U.S. Navy Blue Angels/Facebook)

Both teams are in the middle of their winter training cycles. The Blue Angels completed their seventh week of training at El Centro, according to a Saturday post on its Facebook page, and will take to the skies March 9 for its first show of 2024, the El Centro Air Show.

The Air Force Thunderbirds conduct winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro. (Air Force Thunderbirds/Facebook)

The Thunderbirds are in their “last phase of winter training,” according to a Saturday post on their Facebook page. The team’s first air show of 2024 will be the Luke Days Air Show, March 23-24 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

During joint training, flights with similar profiles to the air show routine will be conducted, and no public performances will be made, the news release said. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last performed together at the Point Mugu Air Show in Point Mugu, Calif., in March 2023.

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, welcome the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds to Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Crayton Agnew/U.S. Navy)

The Blue Angels’ mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach. This year is the team’s 78th show season, with 64 scheduled flight demonstrations at 32 locations across the U.S. Visit www.blueangels.navy.mil for more information.

The Thunderbirds’ mission is to recruit, retain and inspire past, present and future airmen while showcasing the pride, precision and professionalism of America’s airmen. The Thunderbirds’ 71st year representing the Air Force will include 54 scheduled flight demonstrations at 29 locations across the United States and Canada. Visit airforce.com/thunderbirds for more information.