Heart-stopping footage shows US Navy Blue Angels pilots flying mere INCHES from each other as they swoop over the sea

This heart-stopping footage shows just how daring Blue Angels pilots really are

A cockpit video posted to social media shows the US Navy stunt pilots flying in formation mere inches away from each other

There’s no room for manoeuvre in this formation, with the planes packed extremely tightly

The camera pans around showing jets to the left, right and above as they swoop over the sea.

At one point the wing tip of one of the planes comes very close to touching the canopy of the filmmaker’s jet.

The footage has been shared tens of thousands of times on Facebook.

At one point the wing tip of one of the planes comes very close to touching the canopy of the filmmake

The Blue Angels formed in 1946 and are the second-oldest formal flight aerobatic team after the French Patrouille de France

Blue Angels pilots are known for flying in a tight diamond formation and partake in more than 70 shows in a number of locations around America each year

They are currently using the F/A-18 Hornet, which had been in service with the US Navy, but had logged too many hours to continue as carrier-based aircraft.

Once handed over to the Blue Angels, several modifications are made to the aircraft, including the removal of the nose cannon. It is replaced with a smoke-fluid system. Changes are also made to the control system, to make it more suitable for precision flying.

The jets are also given their new blue paint scheme.

However, despite their modifications, they can return to duty on an aircraft carrier within 72 hours.

The job of piloting in the Blue Angels does not come without risk however, as throughout its 69-year history, 26 pilots have been killed in air show or training accidents.