Blue Angel + Golden Gate Bridge = Cool Pictures

[Tobra]

Check this out
AOL.com Article - Man captures unbelievable photo of Blue Angel fighter jet buzzing the Golden Gate Bridge at 350 mph

[gtc]

Crazy... In Seattle they shut down the bridges while the Blue Angels are flying.

[bleucamaro]

Fantastic shots. I'm surprised he went over the bridge.

[masraum]

[BigInJapan]

I bet he loses his wings.

[Ayles]

The photos from another angle show it's not as dramatic as it appears.

[Scooter]

The last time I saw the Angles in SF was circa 1994 when they flew under the Golden Gate. The best part was when the buzzed Coit tower.

My favorite Angle experience was circa 1998 when they buzzed our building in downtown Seattle at a lower level than where I was on top of the building outside. I could see the plane with the pilot's helmet coming toward me as I looked down, then he pitched up and to the left, with a bit of throttle....AMAZING!!!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Ayles

The photos from another angle show it's not as dramatic as it appears.

I think those must have been photos taken from another pass. He is between the two bridge supporting towers, no matter what angle you look at.

[BigInJapan]

Originally Posted by Ayles

The photos from another angle show it's not as dramatic as it appears.

They fly this area every year. In this his particular pass...the pilot was clearly in violation of the FARs...which are the governing body over conduct in exhibitions. He was in violation of the FARs, and I expect to read a story soon about him being grounded permanently.

Disclaimer: I don't disapprove of having fun with this kind of machine, and these guys deserve a break. Hell, I like to get close to earth in a safe manner far away from people or people made things...but USN pilots have lost their flying privileges over less (500'agl over football stadiums).

Kind of silly, but the law may catch up to this one.

Ian

[BigInJapan]

FYI...the FARs state that you cannot proximate yourself closer than 1000' to any person or manmade structure in any populated area. There are special exemptions for airshows, but I don't think the GGB falls under this particular exemption.

Again, I approve of this guy having fun, and I bet most of the people on the bridge approved. A small minority were probably on their phones immediately.

Short story: I put myself through college building time, and building Lancairs and Glassiars. I have a fair amount of seat time upside down. Where I worked in the late summer...there was a tanker base. Every time the Orion flew out with a full load the tower would get flooded with calls about a low flying aircraft. His question in return would always be: "did it have a bright red tail?"

Ian

[Bugsinrugs]

I believe Larry Ellison flew under the Golden Gate Bridge.