Warbird Information Exchange

Watching todays SEAFAIR hydroplane races on TV (tip of the helmet to U-1 Madison/OH BOY OBERTO) and I was curious as to why the BLUE ANGELS don't use colored smoke? Todays weather here in the Seattle area was overcast and cloudy with about a 1200 ft ceiling (3rd time in 60 years it's been scuddy weather for race day). The BLUES were forced to do a #4 flat show and the white smoke didn't do much to enhance the presentation. Other teams use colored smoke, notably red, white, and blue for many teams, red, white, and green for the Italians, since the B.A.s are so proud of the bright blue and yellow paint schemes, why not use blue and yellow smoke?
I've seen both the Blues and Birds in shows over the years all over the country where it's overcast on show day and the white smoke just don't get it against gray clouds. And don't tell me 'tradition' this isn't 'fiddler on the roof'

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

They did this "back in the day" with the F-4s. The story as to why they dont anymore is after a flyby of some well dressed dignitaries, ladies and gents with anything white on looked and saw that their white clothing was turned a bright red, after being exposed to the residue. Some of the dignitaries included those with stars on their shoulders whom weren't very happy, hence there was no more colored smoke. They've also got very limited space in the jet as it is (the drum that holds the smoke oil is where the gun goes), and to make the colored smoke "mix" is a messy proposition. It involves a mixture of diesel fuel and dye. Believe it or not, the Reds only have about 2 minutes of the colored stuff on board.

Nathan,
According to EVERY teams PIO, all the teams now use a vegetable based oil in their smoke systems to cut down on pollution (while burning that 'green' oil in the exhaust of Jet A or JP . I can't calculate how a few ounces of colored dye in the mix would cut down on smoke time since no teams (and very few individual performers) leave the smoke on for the entire performance. As far as mixing the stuff, if you are the Blues or Birds you have the FNG doing all the mixing and pouring until the next FNG joins the team and it becomes his job, and if your team is doing 3 shows a week plus practices, I'll bet you'd get really good @ pouring that stuff and not losing a drop.

I'm more interested in making the presentation more interesting, If you've seen the REDS, PDF, or the Italians shows, the first thing that gets your attention and holds it is the different colored smoke and how it all blends into itself and how it makes it easier to see what they're doing during complex maneuvers like cross-overs.

And if you are the guy with all the lightening bolts and farts and darts on your suit, you should be smart enough to figure out you could possibly ruin your fancy duds, or have an aide who whispers in your shell like ear about the possibility.

And, for a reference point, the first time I saw the Blues they were flying straight winged aircraft called F9F-2 PANTHERS @ NAS Sand Point.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-