An image gallery of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron practicing on Thursday afternoon for the Vero Beach Air Show being held May 10 & 11, 2014 at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport.

A member of the ground crew runs from the roaring F/A-18 Hornets as they prepare to taxi out to the runway to start the practice session.

Heading out to the runway.

Lieutenant Commander Nate Barton waves from the cockpit as he passes.

Four of the F/A-18 Hornets lift off in formation. The vehicle in the foreground is a tow vehicle for the jets when they are on the ground.

Two more Hornets, one pictured here, lifted off from the runway going in the opposite direction.

Contrails form briefly around one of the Hornets during a tight turn.

Breaking formation.

Upside-down flying action.




More upside-down action!


Part of the show is the flying ability of the C-130, nicknamed “Fat Albert”, that brings the Blue Angels’ gear to the shows.

A crewman waves after erecting a U.S. flag atop the C-130 as it rolls down the runway after landing.

Deputies from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office pose in front of an F/A-18 Hornet.
I went out the next day and photographed Friday’s rehearsal before the weekend air show. View the images from Friday’s rehearsal.