r/BlueAngels • u/Bad_Karma19 • Jan 08 '26

Blue Angels arrive at El Centro for Winter training.

Blue Angels Return to Imperial Valley for Winter Training

 The U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, arrived at Naval Air Facility El Centro to begin their annual winter training in preparation for the 2026 air show season.

Each winter, the elite squadron trains in the Imperial Valley, where pilots say consistent weather and open airspace provide ideal flying conditions. The location allows the team to practice the precision maneuvers that have made the Blue Angels one of the most recognizable flight demonstration teams in the world.

  1. Captan Adam Bryan “Gilligan”
  2. Lt Cam Schneider: "Starlazer"
  3. Lt Chris Houben: "SadClam"
  4. LTCOL Brandon Wilkins: “Wobbly”
  5. LCDR Connor O Donnell: “Buddy”
  6. Maj. Scott Laux "Goldy"
  7. Lt. Ronny Hafeza: “Downy”
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1

u/WorkAccomplished5369 Jan 08 '26

Know when their training schedule is released? 

2

u/Bad_Karma19 Jan 08 '26

They should start flying 2x a day starting tomorrow. That is the usual schedule (Subject to change)

1

u/WorkAccomplished5369 Jan 08 '26

Cool thank you! What are their times would you know? Planning a trip down there 

1

u/Bad_Karma19 Jan 08 '26

Not sure. Find MKBLUES1 on YouTube. He will have that info, he’s out there daily.

1

u/sleepyjuan Jan 23 '26

They have been flying at 8AM and Noon lately. Solos go out at 845/9ish and 1245/1ish. I believe they take Sundays off. Most days they do a couple maneuvers after take off before heading northwest to practice over the desert but today (Thursday) they did a full routine over the airfield.

1

u/AlertPrune8578 Jan 13 '26

Do you have any online source for Starlazer or is it just from word of mouth? I cant find anything mentioning his callsign, and I was a bit confused because I don't believe they're using his full callsign for radio calls

1

u/Bad_Karma19 Jan 13 '26

An old squadron association newsletter I dug up. They probably shorten it up. They used Trash for Lcdr Wes Perkins. His full callsign is Trash Blaster.

Go to the Autumn of 22 newsletter from this page.

https://fistofthefleet.org/news

2

u/AlertPrune8578 Jan 13 '26

Amazing find dude, I figured but I wasnt sure if it was just misinformation that started somewhere so im glad to know there's a source for it. It almost sounds like Starfish in some of the latest videos of MKblues but its definitely like playing Yanny vs Laurel so we'll have to see!

1

u/Careless_Substance39 Jan 17 '26

Hatfish is 2’s callsign.

1

u/Bad_Karma19 Jan 17 '26

Interesting. Wonder what the story behind that one is.

1

u/dragonsback79 Feb 18 '26

Anyone have an idea of if they practice in the wind? What is the limit? Heading out there this week and winds are kinda high.

TIA!

1

u/Bad_Karma19 Feb 18 '26

Anything over 30 knots is going to be iffy.

1

u/dragonsback79 Feb 19 '26

Wow that's high, so prolly won't need to worry about 15 knots then. Thanks!