Take a look at these new shots of the C-130J that will replace the C-130T of the Blue Angels demo team.
As already reported, the Blue Angels are preparing to receive the new C-130J “Fat Albert”. On Jun. 30, 2020, the team posted the first photo of the “new” aircraft in Cambridge, UK, where Marshall company has carried out the maintenance, painting and modifications to C-130J that the US Navy has purchased from the UK Ministry of Defence to replace the C-130T. In fact, The “new” Fat Albert is actually a second-hand aircraft, a divested Super Hercules previously serving with the Royal Air Force with registration ZH885.
On Jul. 1, The Aviationist contributor and photographer Stewart Jack took some shots of the new aircraft outside of the hangar at Cambridge Airport.
The new photos provide a better look at the new livery that has introduced some pretty evident changes from the previous C-130T paint scheme: the flight surfaces’ yellow tips; two yellow stripes along the fuselage, instead of the old single stripe; the white top changed to a tear drop design; the “Blue Angels” marking in yellow instead of blue.
After completing the scheduled maintenance tests (that include an aircraft systems operational check out and a functional check flight) the new Fat Albert will undertake the transatlantic flight to reach the team’s homebase at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
