The Smithsonian reopened the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F.Udvar-HazyCenter to the public Wednesday, May 5, on the 60th anniversary of the first American spaceflight and for the first time, the Mercury mission’s Freedom 7 capsule that carried Alan Shepard into space was on display.
On May 5, 1961, he made the first crewed American flight into space. Shepard would go on to walk on the moon.
The Mercury mission’s Freedom 7 capsule that carried Alan Shepard into space on May 5, 1961, the first crewed American spaceflight. [Renss Greene/Loudoun Now]
But if the historic Freedom 7 space capsule isn’t enough, visitors will for the first time also get to see to a Blue Angels F/A-18C on display, which the museum acquired in November after it flew into Washington Dulles International Airport.
The Thunderbirds: The United States Air Force s Flight Demonstration Team, 1953 to the Present
Only 1 available
Condition: Brand new
by Ken Neubeck
Founded in 1953, the US Air Force Thunderbirds flying-demonstration team has performed in air shows in the United States and around the world. The team is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where it has been honing its skills since 1956. This book details the origins and early formation of the team, as well as describing the different model aircraft that the team has flown during its nearly 70-year history F-84 Thunderjet and Thunderstreak, F-100C Super Sabre, F-105B Thunderchief, F-4E Phantom II, and T-38A Talon, to the present-day F-16A Fighting Falcon mirroring the development of US Air Force fighter aircraft during this time. The book also presents graphic and photographic descriptions of some of the team s signature maneuvers that are performed during a Thunderbirds air show, in stunning imagery. . [Full Description]
The U.S. Navy s Blue Angels won t be flying high, low and upside down this spring at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
After what it called careful consideration, the Navy base canceled the 2021 NAS Jax Blue Angels Air Show set for April 10 and 11. Department of Defense Health Protection Conditions, as well as guidelines imposed by the Centers for Disease Control, and local civilian authorities, currently prevent execution of the air show, according to the Navy base.
The show s website at nasjaxairshow.com had promoted a variety of military and civilian demonstrations, culminating with the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team in its squadron of F/A 18 Super Hornets. And the Blue Angels had announced online at blueangels.navy.mil/show that its April show would kick off its 2021 schedule of 30 shows.
Blue Angels Air Show set for April at NAS Jax is canceled
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Naval Air Station Jacksonville leadership announced Tuesday it had canceled its planned air show featuring the Blue Angels due to COVID-19 guidelines.
The decision was made under Department of Defense Health Protection Conditions as well as guidelines imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and local civilian authorities.
“We look forward to welcoming the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels back to Jacksonville in the future,” NAS Jax wrote in a release announcing the decision.
The Jacksonville show was the next item on the Blue Angels’ appearance schedule, which also indicates the team will perform a dozen other shows later in the year. It indicates the Blue Angels are next scheduled to perform in Jacksonville on Oct. 22-23, 2022.