Blue Angels Grounded, May Cancel More Appearances

The need for increased security at American military installations tied to the war in Iran is putting a damper on the airshow season, specifically performances by the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy demonstration team.

The Blue Angels’ airshows are often at military bases. The increased security measures in place combined with what was described as “increased security measures and evolving force protection requirements” prompted the cancellation of at least two of their events this season.

The first show for the Naval aviator team was scheduled for March 14 in El Centro, California. But on March 4 a Facebook post from the Naval Air Facility (NAS) El Centro Festival of Flight announced the event was being canceled.

Organizers of the show at NAS Lemoore, which was scheduled for March 21-22, followed suit.

The Blue Angels’ 2026 airshow schedule remains posted on their webpage, but the dates are subject to change, as the Navy reallocates resources.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were shows scheduled for April 11-12 at Cocoa Beach, Florida, April 18-19 at NAS Kingsville, Texas, and April 25-26 at Vidalia, Georgia.

Multiple events are scheduled for the rest of the show year, which usually ends in November.

No ‘Fat Albert’

There is one notable absence from the Blue Angels’ demonstrations this year. “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels’ C-130J Super Hercules, will not be performing as the aircraft is undergoing extended maintenance in the United Kingdom.

A Lockheed Martin C-130 has been part of the Blue Angels’ airshows since 1970.

In November the C-130J aircraft went into maintenance to have its integral center wing box replaced, which should add decades to the aircraft’s lifespan. 

The C-130J was acquired from the Royal Air Force in 2019 and designated as C5 ZH885. The aircraft was refurbished and repainted at Marshall Aerospace before being sent stateside where it joined the Blue Angels for performances starting in 2020.

Fat Albert is often the opening act. The behemoth aircraft warms up the crowd by performing a 15-minute demonstration of high-speed low passes, steep climbs, and turns, finishing off with a combat landing. The aircraft is a fan favorite, and there are many who attend specifically to watch it perform.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the precision Navy flying team.

The Blue Angels were created in 1946 with the pilots flying Grumman F6F-5s. The first military show came in June at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, as a means to boost morale post-World War II. The first show for the public took place in July in Omaha, Nebraska.