The Blue Angels are the United States Navy's flight demonstration squadron. The team was formed in 1946, making it the second oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931.
The Blue Angels are known for their spectacular aerobatic maneuvers performed in front of crowds at airshows across the United States and around the world. The team's aircraft are painted blue and gold, with each aircraft numbered and named after a famous American naval aviator.
The Blue Angels currently fly the F/A-18 Hornet, a supersonic jet fighter and attack aircraft. The team typically performs in a six-plane formation, with pilots flying as close as 18 inches apart and performing loops, rolls, and other complex maneuvers at speeds of up to 700 miles per hour.
In addition to their aerial performances, the Blue Angels also engage in community outreach and public relations, serving as ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. They participate in various events, such as airshows, parades, and school visits, to promote interest in aviation and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Maciej "Szamal" Szamałek is an aviation photographer from Poland who specializes in air-to-air photography. For him, photography is a form of play, to express his aviation passion. It helps him to capture fleeting moments and allows him to preserve emotions, sorrows, joys, and memories. It's a constant pursuit to be in the right place at the right time.