<P> During their aerobatic demonstration, the Blues fly six F / A-18 Hornet aircraft, split into the Diamond Formation (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the Lead and Opposing Solos (Blue Angels 5 and 6). Most of the show alternates between maneuvers performed by the Diamond Formation and those performed by the Solos . The Diamond, in tight formation and usually at lower speeds (400 mph), performs maneuvers such as formation loops, rolls, and transitions from one formation to another . The Solos showcase the high performance capabilities of their individual aircraft through the execution of high - speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns . The highest speed flown during an air show is 700 mph (just under Mach 1) and the lowest speed is 120 mph . Some of the maneuvers include both solo aircraft performing at once, such as opposing passes (toward each other in what appears to be a collision course) and mirror formations (back - to - back . belly - to - belly, or wingtip - to - wingtip, with one jet flying inverted). The Solos join the Diamond Formation near the end of the show for a number of maneuvers in the Delta Formation . </P> <P> The parameters of each show must be tailored in accordance with local weather conditions at showtime: in clear weather the high show is performed; in overcast conditions a low show is performed, and in limited visibility (weather permitting) the flat show is presented . The high show requires at least an 8,000 - foot (2,400 m) ceiling and visibility of at least 3 nautical miles (6 km) from the show's centerpoint . The minimum ceilings allowed for low and flat shows are 3,500 feet (~ 1 km) and 1,500 feet (460 m), respectively . </P> <P> When initially formed, the unit was called the Navy Flight Exhibition Team . The squadron was officially redesignated as the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron in December 1974 . The original team was christened the Blue Angels in 1946, when one of the pilots came across the name of New York City's Blue Angel Nightclub in The New Yorker magazine; the team introduced themselves as the "Blue Angels" to the public for the first time on 21 July 1946, in Omaha, Nebraska . </P> <P> The official Blue Angels insignia was designed by then team leader Lt. Cmdr . R.E. "Dusty" Rhodes and Virginia Porter (Illustrator for Naval Air Advanced Training Command), then approved by Chief of Naval Operations in 1949 . It is nearly identical to the current design . In the cloud in the upper right quadrant, the aircraft were originally shown heading down and to the right . Over the years, the plane silhouettes have changed along with the squadron's aircraft . Additionally, the lower left quadrant, which contains the Chief of Naval Air Training insignia, has occasionally contained only Naval Aviator wings . </P>

Where did the blue angels get their name