Are Blue Angels in El Centro?

[w6kru]

Three weeks ago I was out at Superstition OHV area. I heard some activity on the Startup frequency 273.3. Then the planes went to the El Centro Twr freq. Shortly afterward they contacted the tower for clearance for low altitude maneuvers. A little bit later 2 planes crossed in close proximity right over our heads. We could see the pilots helmets in the canopy.

Two different people told me that one of the planes went underneath the power lines at speed right before I got there? These were not the big towers but the smaller power line poles.

Today I was over at Plaster City and picked up lots of activity on Fat Albert ( 236.45 ). This definitely sounded like Blue Angels. It seems a little early for them to be in town though?

[Brian]

I checked and notice this freq is used by 236.45 VMFAT-101 air-air
273.3000 NTD Range Ctrl (info from 2003)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalmilcom

Could be a jet from VMFAT-101 ?
http://www.3maw.usmc.mil/mag11/vmfat101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMFAT-101

As you know already. Blue Anglels wont be there till March 14,2009 NAF El Centro, CA.

[ChrisK]

I think the Blue Angels train at NAF El Centro in the off-season.

[w6kru]

I think the Blue Angels train at NAF El Centro in the off-season.

You are correct. I asked the locals about it and they didn't think they were in town yet but the traffic I heard yesterday tells me otherwise.

[Rescue Pooh]

This is what I found after doing some searching. According to this they won't be in El Centro until Jan. 3rd.

http://kxoradio.com/local-news/blue-ang ... tro-2.html

[w6kru]

This is what I found after doing some searching. According to this they won't be in El Centro until Jan. 3rd.

http://kxoradio.com/local-news/blue-ang ... tro-2.html

Well now you've really got me wondering. The traffic I heard this weekend sure sounded like the BA doing a formation type of exercise. I usually see bombing practice out there and there is very little associated radio traffic. These guys were really chatty and joking around a bit. I even heard laughter over the air a couple of times.