BLUE ANGELSManeuver Guide

2026 Maneuvers Manual

How the show is flown.

A Blue Angels demonstration follows one of three published sequences, chosen by the weather on the day, all flown inside a defined aerobatic box in front of the crowd.

Show sequences

    Manual 1-1 · 1-2

    The aerobatic box.

    Maneuvers are flown in front of the crowd, centered on a point on the show line. The surface under the box must be clear of everyone except mission-essential personnel.

    Plan view of the aerobatic box: the show line runs left to right through center point, the crowd line is 1,500 feet closer, the minimum box extends one nautical mile either side of center point, transition areas extend to three nautical miles, and 30 degree ingress lines cross at center point. CENTER POINT SHOW LINE CROWD LINE · 1,500′ MINIMUM AEROBATIC BOX TRANSITION AREA TRANSITION AREA SPECTATORS 1 NM1 NM 2 NM2 NM 3 NM3 NM 30° ingress / egress head-on line · behind the crowd 1 NM beyond the show line
    Not to scale vertically. Distances from the manual's Aerobatic Box Dimensions (1-1) and Approved Ingress / Egress Routes (1-2) pages.
    10,000′

    High show

    Minimum ceiling, with 3 NM visibility.

    4,500′

    Low show

    Minimum ceiling, with 3 NM visibility.

    1,000′

    Flat show / C-130

    Minimum ceiling, with 3 NM visibility.

    5 – 7 NM

    Restricted airspace

    A 5 NM temporary flight restriction for every demonstration, 7 NM when density altitude is expected above 4,000 ft.

    150 – 450′

    Inbound altitudes

    Minimum crossing altitudes on the 6-Plane Cross: #1 & #4 at 150′, #2 & #5 at 300′, #3 & #6 at 450′.

    500′

    Crowd clearance

    Ingress and egress routes keep at least 500 ft laterally from the crowd. No passes parallel to the show line inside the 500′ line.

    Manual 3-12 · 3-13

    When plans change.

    The manual also covers what happens when a jet drops out and when a seventh aircraft joins to film.

    5-Plane contingency

    Should any wingman fall out, #4 fills that position to balance the formation. If a solo falls out, the other solo flies single solo using the same maneuvers, with a few substitutions: if #5 is single solo, a minimum-radius turn followed by the sneak to vertical rolls is flown, and a parade pass replaces the tuck-over roll. If the Boss falls out, all aircraft orbit overhead until he can resume.

    Coordinated photo platform

    When a qualified crew is at a show site, a seventh jet may fly in coordination with the Diamond, Solos or Delta to film a practice demonstration. It is not part of the formation and keeps its own deconfliction from every element. The theater's "Photo jet" camera is modeled on this position.