Blue Angels' Jet No. 5 was reportedly damaged after hitting a seagull

This story has been updated to identify the correct Blue Angel jet that was damaged.

Blue Angels Jet No. 5 was briefly taken out of commission during their performance at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday.

According to a report from UpNorthLive , the jet was damaged after it struck a seagull during the air show.

Fat Albert reportedly flew back to its home base at NAS Pensacola early Sunday to get parts for repairs. It was able to return to the National Cherry Festival air show and perform alongside the Blue Angels at the end of their performance. The damaged jet was also able to return for the end of the show, according to UpNorthLive.

Everything to know: Headed to your first Blue Angels air show? Here's what to know about the team

What is Fat Albert?

Fat Albert is a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules that follows the Blue Angels across the country as they perform air shows during a season. The modified C-130 carries the team’s maintenance and support equipment and has its own moment in the sun during air shows as it performs its aerobatic maneuvers for about 15 minutes ahead of the Blue Angels.

Why is it called Fat Albert?

This is a question where the obvious answer is actually the correct one − Fat Albert’s nickname is a direct reference to the 1970s children’s cartoon "The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids." The nickname was given to the C-130 by Marine Corps Blue Angel pilots at the time it was introduced in 1970.

When did Fat Albert join the Blue Angels team?

The Blue Angels have used support aircraft since the team’s inception but didn’t begin using C-130s until 1970. Since then, the Blue Angels have used variations of the C-130. The newest iteration of the plane happened just a few years ago after the team retired the previous C-130T after it had flown with the team for 17 years and accumulated more than 30,000 flight hours.

Facts about Fat Albert

• Engines: Four Rolls-Royce turbo-prop engines with more than 18,000 pounds of thrust each
• Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches
• Length: 99 feet, 5 inches
• Height: 38 feet, 4 inches
• Speed: 370 miles per hour at 35,000 feet
• Range: 2,400 miles
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 155,000 pounds
• Maximum Cargo Capability: 45,000 pounds

Who pilots Fat Albert?

The Fat Albert crew generally consists of seven members – three pilots, two loadmasters and two flight engineers. Here are the 2024 pilots:

• Maj. Josh Soltan -- Lead C-130 "Fat Albert" pilot
• Capt. Sam Petko
• Capt Isaac Becker

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels' Jet No. 5 was reportedly damaged after hitting a seagull