Florida I10 Rest Stop Blue Angels
Making a trip down Florida Interstate 10 to Mobile, Alabama to visit the battleship USS Alabama, I was surprised to discover a Douglas A-4L Skyhawk painted in a Blue Angels livery on a pole at a rest stop near Pensacola, Florida (Home of the World Famous Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team). After a quick turnaround, I stopped to get some photos of this fantastic looking Blue Angel.
On my return trip back from the USS Alabama, I found a second Blue Angel aircraft, a Grumman F-9F Cougar at the I10 eastbound rest stop outside Pensacola. Another stop to grab some photos of this Blue Angel were in order.
The Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (1970’s) and Grumman F-9F Cougar (1950’s) aircraft were formerly flown by the Blue Angels.
27Jul23
Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (148490)
Westbound on Interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA).
A U.S. Naval Air Reserve Douglas A-4L Skyhawk (BuNo 148490) painted in Blue Angels livery. 27Jul23
This Skyhawk formerly served with Attack Squadron 205 (VA-205) "Green Falcons". 27Jul23
VA-205 was assigned to Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (RCVW-20). 27Jul23
This Skyhawk served aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67). 27Jul23
The Skyhawk was deployed to the Western Atlantic Ocean in August 1971. 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
This A-4L Skyhawk (148490) painted as a Blue Angel is on display on a pole at a rest stop on the interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA). 27Jul23
Grumman F-9F-8 Cougar (131205)
Eastbound on Interstate I-10 near Pensacola, Florida (USA).
This Grumman F9F-8 Cougar was damaged beyond repair in 1959. Bu. No. 144365 engine blew up after takeoff from NAS Chase Field, Beeville, TX Jul 8, 1959. 27Jul23
This Skyhawk belly-landed and the pilot walked away OK. 27Jul23
The Cougar was then donated to the Museum of Naval Aviation after is was removed from active duty. 27Jul23
The Cougar was restored and painted as a Blue Angels jet (131205) of the mid 1950s. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar (Bu No. 144365) painted in a Blue Angels livery (Bu No. 131205). This aircraft can be found at the rest area on Eastbound US10 West of Pensacola, Florida. 27Jul23
Blues in the Night and the Daytime Rain
A week long trip down to Pensacola, Florida offered me the opportunity to make both day and night visits to the rest stop Blue Angels on I10. The night visits were made after making trips to see the USS Alabama in Mobile, Alabama and the Air Armaments Museum at Eglin Air Force Base on separate days. The day visits were made on the last day of the trip as I departed Pensacola and headed back to Bristol, Tennessee. Unfortunately, rain was in the forecast and I had to dodge the precipitation as I made my photos of the Blue Angels on display.
