Military aerobatic teams

[Dr Jekyll]

Reading about the US Navy Blue angels I was struck by the fact that they had been going for nearly 60 years and used about 8 different types of aircraft, but for about half that period have stuck with the current F18s.

Which military aerobatic display team has been using the same type of aircraft the longest? The Reds about 35 years, the Italians I think about the same, and the French team slightly less. Any advance on 35?

[marksx]

My first thought was the Patrulla Aguila, but they are 'only' at 30 years with the C101 Aviojet.

[GuyW]

The Snowbirds surely must be up there?

[aeropilot]

USAF Thunderbirds have been using the F-16 for a few years longer than the Angels have been using the F-18.

As for the Angels being 'stuck' with the F-18.......err, with no other suitable jet in the USN inventory they don't exactly have much choice

[Dr Jekyll]

aeropilot said:

As for the Angels being 'stuck' with the F-18.......err, with no other suitable jet in the USN inventory they don't exactly have much choice

Oh I dunno, the T45 could look pretty good in Blue Angels colours. Photoshop anybody?

[AlexIT]

they used the A-4... not that different for an idea of how it would look:

[AlexIT]

BTW, if nothing has changed the current MB339 of the Frecce Tricolori will be replaced by the new MB345 from 2017 (altough I have heard that it might be postponed to 2018).

A drawing from wikipedia:

[aeropilot]

AlexIT said:

BTW, if nothing has changed the current MB339 of the Frecce Tricolori will be replaced by the new MB345 from 2017 (altough I have heard that it might be postponed to 2018).

At least they have something to replace their a/c with........