F-14 'Tomcat' takes off behind the tail of "Fat Albert".
The Blue Angels use a United States Marine Corps C-130T 'Hercules', nicknamed "Fat Albert", for their logistics, carrying spare parts, equipment, and to carry support personnel between shows. Beginning in 1975, "Bert" was used for Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) and short aerial demonstrations just prior to the main event at selected venues. [I do not recall seeing Fat Albert perform at the 1986 Fargo Airsho.] "Fat Albert Airlines" flies with an all-Marine crew of three officers and five enlisted personnel.