The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flying team is getting a new sidekick—one procured from “across the pond”. Fat Albert, the C-130T that flies to air show locations with the rest of the team, is being replaced with a newer C-130J recently retired from the Royal Air Force. The new Fat Albert will have a longer range and greater carrying capacity, allowing it to carry more of the team’s equipment.

As reported by The Aviationist , the U.S. Navy’s aviation department, NAVAIR, has signed a $29.7 million dollar contract to buy a used C-130J from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. The U.K. declared the aircraft surplus, replacing them with the Airbus A400M Atlas military transport.

"Fat Albert" flying over Baltimore, 2015. The Washington Post Getty Images

The old Fat Albert, a C-130T Hercules transport, flew more than 30,000 hours in support of the Blue Angels and was retired in May 2019. The Navy doesn’t have another C-130T and cast about for a replacement. Navy and Marine Corps C-130s will continue to temp as the Blue Angels support aircraft until 2020 when the ex-RAF aircraft will be ready.

In addition to being a new aircraft the C-130J will bring greater performance to the job. The C-130J can fly up to ten percent farther than a C-130T, and carry more than fifty percent more cargo by weight.

Fat Albert is a logistics support aircraft, carrying the team’s maintainers, their tools, and spare parts from performance to performance. It also plays a part in the Blues’ air show, typically kicking off a performance with some fancy flying of its own.

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Source: The Aviationist

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