Fat Albert - Blue Angels Style

This past weekend's Blue Angels show was the first time I'd seen the Fat Albert act.

The Fat Albert aspect of the Blue Angels has along history.  Shortly after the BA were formed, the need for a support aircraft became apparent to haul the support equipment and personnel from show to show.  Starting in 1970 the platform of choice was a Lockheed Hercules C-130 Transport.  The current aircraft, C-130J, was acquired from the RAF in 2020 to continue the tradition.

Before some shows, Fat Albert does its thing.  

The paint job is just awesome, not to be confused with any other 'skin'.

I like aircraft like the C-130.  Old and still in service.  Most C-130s aren't as colorful as Albert, and don't seek the spotlight but when something has to be there on time, you call a 130.

Photographically - Big, low and slow.  A dream.  But, the prop will limit the speed to 1/100th to 1/200th.  Not that the dream has a nightmare element, but props is props.

Fat Albert - Static Wave

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR

450 mm, 1/100 sec, f/10, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size FX

The flight shots were a bit more difficult.  The sky was heavy overcast.  The max reach on my equipment for the day was 450 mm.  I've been working with Topaz AI GigaPixel when the crops start getting aggressive.

Fat Albert Level Flight

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR

450 mm, 1/100 sec, f/16, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size FX

Fat Albert Left Bank

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR

450 mm, 1/200 sec, f/13, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size FX

The discerning photographer can spot the difference in the props at 1/100th and 1/200th second shutter speed.  (Hit:  For the most part, the rpm of the C-130 engine is constant.)

It was fun to finally see Fat Albert fly.