PENSACOLA, Fla. — As the Midshipmen take the field for the 118th Army-Navy Game, their uniforms and helmets will honor the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.
The annual football game will be played from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on December 9 (CBS-TV).
“Although the uniform departs from our customary characteristics, this tribute to the Blue Angels reflects the enthusiastic pride and appreciation we have for the Navy’s premier flying team and the motivation they convey to Navy football and the fleet at large,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk on Monday.
The hand-painted blue helmets will depict the Blue Angels delta formation with smoke-on, and include a golden visor similar to that used by the pilots and a golden mask. The six demonstration pilots perform at air shows across North America each year aboard the F/A-18C Hornet jets.
“This year we partnered with the Naval Academy to use the Army-Navy Game to honor the incredible pilots that make up the Blue Angels,” Gladchuk added. “Anyone who has had the privilege of watching the Blue Angels perform knows there is no show quite like it. It inspires and excites all who stand witness and we couldn’t think of a better way to pay homage to their great feats than creating a uniform that pays tribute to them.”
(Charles A. Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
