3
00:00:47,250 --> 00:00:50,416
The Blue Angel Creed!
4
00:00:50,416 --> 00:00:52,208
As a Blue Angel,
5
00:00:52,208 --> 00:00:57,208
I will dedicate all my efforts to pride,
professionalism and perfection.
6
00:00:57,208 --> 00:01:02,083
I will strive to honor the crest I earned
and the flag I wear,
7
00:01:02,083 --> 00:01:05,458
but I will never forget from where I came.
8
00:01:05,458 --> 00:01:08,708
Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
9
00:01:49,375 --> 00:01:52,000
First day
that I drove up to the hangar
10
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,250
{\an8}in El Centro and,
11
00:01:54,250 --> 00:01:55,875
{\an8}you know, saw my name on a parking sign,
12
00:01:55,875 --> 00:01:58,708
{\an8}saw my name on the door,
saw my name on the side of a jet already,
13
00:01:58,708 --> 00:02:01,583
{\an8}and it was like, "Man, this is...
this is real."
14
00:02:10,125 --> 00:02:11,958
I have
the blessing, the privilege,
15
00:02:11,958 --> 00:02:13,250
the honor to be
16
00:02:13,250 --> 00:02:17,041
boss of the Blue Angels right now,
and I've been so for a couple years.
17
00:02:18,291 --> 00:02:20,708
But this is my last year.
18
00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:24,250
Had a chance to be part
of seven deployments,
19
00:02:24,250 --> 00:02:27,041
served in a lot of different conflicts
around the world throughout the years.
20
00:02:27,041 --> 00:02:30,541
And... and naval aviation was a home
and was something that
21
00:02:30,541 --> 00:02:31,916
I feel like I was meant to do.
22
00:02:36,041 --> 00:02:38,875
It was something that
I wanted to do since I was a kid.
23
00:02:38,875 --> 00:02:42,208
Something that I never thought
was actually gonna happen.
24
00:02:44,333 --> 00:02:47,041
Every year, about a third
of the entire squadron
25
00:02:47,041 --> 00:02:48,833
rotates back to the fleet.
26
00:02:48,833 --> 00:02:51,916
The challenge for every boss
is to get the newbies,
27
00:02:51,916 --> 00:02:54,958
their replacements,
up to speed for the coming season
28
00:02:54,958 --> 00:02:57,708
and integrated into
the Blue Angel way of life.
29
00:02:59,583 --> 00:03:01,625
All these thoughts
were going through my mind, like,
30
00:03:01,625 --> 00:03:04,458
"Oh, man, you know,
it's just... I don't...
31
00:03:04,458 --> 00:03:07,208
I don't know what I'm doing.
Do I even belong here?"
32
00:03:08,625 --> 00:03:11,541
But this is it. This is who I am
for the next two years,
33
00:03:11,541 --> 00:03:14,541
and this is my job for the next two years.
34
00:03:14,541 --> 00:03:16,916
I am now a Blue Angel.
35
00:04:54,208 --> 00:04:56,125
All right, welcome back, everybody. Evan.
36
00:04:56,125 --> 00:04:57,666
Yes, Boss, we'll debrief
our practice over El Centro.
37
00:04:57,666 --> 00:04:59,041
- Fired up, ready to go.
- All right.
38
00:04:59,041 --> 00:05:02,125
I'll take a safety for rolling up
to low brake cross at 450.
39
00:05:03,875 --> 00:05:05,583
Pay Doc ten dollars
for a zipper and a collar.
40
00:05:05,583 --> 00:05:06,833
I'll fix it all. I'm glad to be here.
41
00:05:06,833 --> 00:05:08,291
- Cheese.
Yes, sir, Boss.
42
00:05:08,291 --> 00:05:13,000
I'll have it for safety, though,
but underline deep sag on the fan rollout.
43
00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,208
Naval aviation is something
I fully dedicate myself,
44
00:05:16,208 --> 00:05:17,875
and I can look back in 20 years
45
00:05:17,875 --> 00:05:21,791
and say I gave every fiber of my being
to getting better at it.
46
00:05:21,791 --> 00:05:23,458
But you come to the Blue Angels,
47
00:05:23,458 --> 00:05:25,500
and that really happens
in that first season
48
00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,291
where you're trying
to figure this thing out.
49
00:05:28,291 --> 00:05:29,958
That can be scary.
50
00:05:29,958 --> 00:05:31,708
I'll fix it all.
I'm glad to be here, Boss.
51
00:05:31,708 --> 00:05:32,875
- All right, Whiskers.
Yes, sir,
Boss,
52
00:05:32,875 --> 00:05:34,875
I'll take safeties for being 296 knots
out of the PUB.
53
00:05:34,875 --> 00:05:37,041
Pay Doc five dollars for pregame jitters.
54
00:05:37,041 --> 00:05:38,708
I'll fix it all. I'm glad to be here,
Boss.
55
00:05:38,708 --> 00:05:40,083
- Day taps, Boss.
Good jet.
56
00:05:40,083 --> 00:05:42,875
Good jet.
57
00:05:42,875 --> 00:05:44,708
All right, roll it!
58
00:05:44,708 --> 00:05:47,833
There's a crucible
you have to go through together.
59
00:05:54,208 --> 00:05:58,500
It has to be six pilots
totally synced up, flying as one.
60
00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:00,500
- Go! Let's go!
61
00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:03,000
You are clear
to taxi via runway two-four-A.
62
00:06:05,875 --> 00:06:07,875
How's it going?
63
00:06:11,083 --> 00:06:15,083
And it can be frustrating at times
to train brand-new guys from the fleet.
64
00:06:19,375 --> 00:06:22,833
One of the first things we go out and do
is just do basic turns.
65
00:06:22,833 --> 00:06:24,916
We turn left, we turn right.
66
00:06:24,916 --> 00:06:27,166
Three, two, nine, seven, four...
67
00:06:28,875 --> 00:06:31,208
And just do that
over and over again,
68
00:06:31,208 --> 00:06:35,166
because if you don't have the right
foundation, it's just not gonna work.
69
00:06:45,291 --> 00:06:46,583
Rip it.
70
00:06:51,166 --> 00:06:52,916
As the boss,
you're the flight leader.
71
00:06:52,916 --> 00:06:54,083
You're the conductor.
72
00:06:54,083 --> 00:06:55,500
You're the lead goose
in the formation, right?
73
00:06:58,958 --> 00:07:00,541
Ready? Hit it.
74
00:07:03,125 --> 00:07:05,625
These jets are max performing.
75
00:07:08,583 --> 00:07:13,416
At low altitudes, at high air speeds,
in close proximity to other aircraft.
76
00:07:13,416 --> 00:07:16,166
I have to be steady at the helm,
as they say.
77
00:07:16,166 --> 00:07:18,791
Ease in the power.
78
00:07:22,625 --> 00:07:25,500
Chomps flies in the four position.
79
00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:30,166
He's back there watching
and making sure that we're good.
80
00:07:30,166 --> 00:07:32,958
The number four
pilot for the Blue Angels.
81
00:07:32,958 --> 00:07:35,166
{\an8}It's the best seat in the house.
82
00:07:36,166 --> 00:07:38,041
{\an8}You can see everything.
You can see what Boss is doing.
83
00:07:38,041 --> 00:07:39,958
You can see what
all the wingmen are doing.
84
00:07:42,625 --> 00:07:44,625
And you're kind of
the airborne safety observer
85
00:07:44,625 --> 00:07:46,958
because you have
that best seat in the house.
86
00:07:48,916 --> 00:07:50,291
Yes.
87
00:07:50,291 --> 00:07:52,125
{\an8}As the flight surgeon on the team,
88
00:07:52,125 --> 00:07:55,833
{\an8}you're also the lead
ground safety officer.
89
00:07:55,833 --> 00:07:57,708
- Okay, rolling.
- Okay, rolling.
90
00:07:57,708 --> 00:08:03,291
I study the demo
inside and out for every position.
91
00:08:04,375 --> 00:08:08,875
I know where they should be at all times:
their altitude, their air speeds.
92
00:08:11,125 --> 00:08:15,250
With two brand-new pilots
on the team this year,
93
00:08:15,250 --> 00:08:18,875
I am constantly watching them.
94
00:08:23,250 --> 00:08:25,833
Chewy, you kind of start a little flat,
and you're trying to hold it in there,
95
00:08:25,833 --> 00:08:27,625
and Jamammy actually goes deep.
96
00:08:27,625 --> 00:08:29,583
Is that kind of what you're seeing?
97
00:08:29,583 --> 00:08:32,541
Cheese and I
are 100% the newbies.
98
00:08:32,541 --> 00:08:34,250
Steep learning curve, for sure.
99
00:08:34,250 --> 00:08:36,250
Just feel deflated
100
00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:37,666
and like you're the worst pilot ever.
101
00:08:37,666 --> 00:08:39,041
How did I get here?
102
00:08:39,041 --> 00:08:40,708
It just rippled through the formation.
103
00:08:40,708 --> 00:08:43,708
So, like, Jamammy was first,
I was second, then Cheese was third,
104
00:08:43,708 --> 00:08:47,250
and just, like, the whole formation
shifted, then had to shift back into set.
105
00:08:48,416 --> 00:08:52,000
So, this year, we've had
a new two pilot, a new three pilot,
106
00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:53,791
I'm filling a new role as the slot pilot,
107
00:08:53,791 --> 00:08:56,458
a new six pilot in the demo,
108
00:08:56,458 --> 00:08:59,875
and then our number five pilot,
he was out half the year last year,
109
00:08:59,875 --> 00:09:01,791
not flying in the demo,
so we're getting him
110
00:09:01,791 --> 00:09:03,875
learning how to fly in formation again.
111
00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:10,083
We're bringing five new people
into this formation and making one demo.
112
00:09:15,791 --> 00:09:17,333
Good work. See you in a little bit.
113
00:09:17,333 --> 00:09:19,708
- Yeah.
- Whoo!
114
00:09:23,375 --> 00:09:26,208
It's one team, six jets.
115
00:09:26,208 --> 00:09:28,833
{\an8}We all do something
a little bit different.
116
00:09:28,833 --> 00:09:30,708
{\an8}We'll start the show with four jets,
117
00:09:30,708 --> 00:09:32,875
{\an8}the Diamond takeoff maneuver.
118
00:09:35,541 --> 00:09:38,875
{\an8}And then you'll have the two
solo individual takeoff maneuvers.
119
00:09:49,583 --> 00:09:54,166
Generally, our maneuvers alternate
between Diamond and solos.
120
00:09:55,666 --> 00:09:59,458
And by the end of the show, we'll get
the Delta together, all six jets.
121
00:10:01,416 --> 00:10:05,333
{\an8}The Delta Formation is the signature
formation of the Blue Angels.
122
00:10:09,458 --> 00:10:11,333
Early on in winter training,
both Chomps and I
123
00:10:11,333 --> 00:10:14,958
are heads on a swivel, making sure
our new guys are learning that
124
00:10:14,958 --> 00:10:17,250
we've got enough space
to get out of the way.
125
00:10:20,375 --> 00:10:22,125
Cheese is a guy who's an aggressive guy.
126
00:10:22,125 --> 00:10:24,375
If you're riding a horse,
you got to pull back on the reins.
127
00:10:24,375 --> 00:10:27,166
He's a little more pull-back-on-the-reins
type of guy.
128
00:10:29,666 --> 00:10:31,583
We had to use a term called
"knock it off" a couple times,
129
00:10:31,583 --> 00:10:33,583
meaning we're stopping right now.
130
00:10:33,583 --> 00:10:35,875
Cheese was bringing in
a whole bag of knots.
131
00:10:35,875 --> 00:10:38,291
Coming in way too hot.
132
00:10:38,291 --> 00:10:40,916
I'm looking over my shoulder going,
"This ain't gonna work."
133
00:10:44,458 --> 00:10:46,833
Three spot's
incredibly challenging.
134
00:10:46,833 --> 00:10:50,000
A big departure from what you do
in terms of fleet flying.
135
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,291
You're also on kind of
the more difficult side of the formation.
136
00:10:53,291 --> 00:10:56,291
We're all very used to looking left
when we fly,
137
00:10:56,291 --> 00:10:58,791
which is what Cheese gets to do
in the two spot.
138
00:10:58,791 --> 00:11:01,416
On the left side, in that three spot,
you're looking right the whole time.
139
00:11:01,416 --> 00:11:04,250
All your controls are
right in front of you or to the left.
140
00:11:05,333 --> 00:11:08,333
And it's just sort of
an unnatural position to be in.
141
00:11:11,958 --> 00:11:16,458
The very first time the Diamond
was practicing the Vertical Break...
142
00:11:19,166 --> 00:11:21,333
...Jamammy went the wrong way.
143
00:11:30,916 --> 00:11:33,750
You think to yourself,
okay, as a safety officer,
144
00:11:33,750 --> 00:11:35,458
is he safe? Number one.
145
00:11:35,458 --> 00:11:39,375
Two, do I speak up and get in his cockpit,
or do I stay silent right now
146
00:11:39,375 --> 00:11:41,583
and watch what he does to recover?
147
00:11:46,875 --> 00:11:49,708
You have to make that decision,
and I decided:
148
00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:51,666
Remain quiet. This is his first time.
149
00:11:51,666 --> 00:11:53,125
He looks safe.
150
00:11:53,125 --> 00:11:55,500
He may be going
the wrong direction. [laughs]
151
00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:58,583
It's not funny, but it doesn't look like
he's gonna hit anybody else.
152
00:12:00,250 --> 00:12:02,250
Kind of scared us.
153
00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:05,791
It was like, how is he gonna
respond to this, right?
154
00:12:05,791 --> 00:12:09,541
Did he rattle himself to the point
where he's not able to compartmentalize,
155
00:12:09,541 --> 00:12:11,041
put that one in the past?
156
00:12:16,083 --> 00:12:18,916
Two flat on the in.
Little mismatch, break the seal.
157
00:12:18,916 --> 00:12:22,208
Apex ten left, two wide
and five tight in the up.
158
00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:24,208
Vertical up was three left.
159
00:12:24,208 --> 00:12:27,958
It's an incredible amount of stress
going in on the newbies.
160
00:12:28,958 --> 00:12:31,791
You're constantly being told
what you did wrong.
161
00:12:31,791 --> 00:12:34,000
So, Cheese, we actually overbanked,
it looked like.
162
00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,375
Did you feel good about that one today?
163
00:12:35,375 --> 00:12:36,708
Cheese, see how tight you look there?
164
00:12:36,708 --> 00:12:38,666
- And, Cheese, you just
drifted forward again.
Yep.
165
00:12:38,666 --> 00:12:40,708
All of us are way fast,
and we're all idle/boards
166
00:12:40,708 --> 00:12:43,625
trying to control everything
in close here.
167
00:12:43,625 --> 00:12:47,375
Everyone comes into this team
a relatively accomplished pilot, thinking,
168
00:12:47,375 --> 00:12:49,250
"I feel comfortable flying an F-18,
169
00:12:49,250 --> 00:12:52,041
I feel... I feel pretty good
about my abilities as a pilot,"
170
00:12:52,041 --> 00:12:55,333
but this place is the...
it's the great equalizer.
171
00:12:57,958 --> 00:12:59,750
Time away from family is...
172
00:12:59,750 --> 00:13:02,916
is the most difficult part
of being on this team.
173
00:13:02,916 --> 00:13:06,291
Work in El Centro
for three months in a cocoon.
174
00:13:06,291 --> 00:13:08,791
Which we need to be--
you need that kind of safe place
175
00:13:08,791 --> 00:13:12,166
to get it to a point where
we can take it on the road.
176
00:13:13,333 --> 00:13:15,750
But it's just such a grind.
177
00:13:15,750 --> 00:13:18,291
It's monotonous. It's Groundhog Day.
178
00:13:18,291 --> 00:13:21,583
You're waking up in the desert
every day in the dark,
179
00:13:21,583 --> 00:13:24,208
going to work in the dark.
180
00:13:25,291 --> 00:13:28,041
Flying two or three times every day.
181
00:13:29,958 --> 00:13:31,958
Going home in the dark,
182
00:13:31,958 --> 00:13:35,083
and then you're studying
for your flight the next day.
183
00:13:37,208 --> 00:13:39,750
I'm not the most
academically sound person,
184
00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:41,833
and it's a struggle.
185
00:13:43,208 --> 00:13:46,041
So, flying two to three times a day,
that's what you need.
186
00:13:46,041 --> 00:13:48,375
I absolutely needed it.
187
00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:52,500
This is how I typically do it.
188
00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:54,166
Bring it inboard a little bit,
189
00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:56,666
and I'll extend a little bit here,
and then that'll make
190
00:13:56,666 --> 00:13:58,666
the arc feel more normal
as we come in here.
191
00:13:58,666 --> 00:14:00,291
- Yes, sir, Boss.
- Questions?
192
00:14:00,291 --> 00:14:01,625
- None.
- All right, fired up, ready to go.
193
00:14:01,625 --> 00:14:03,541
Fired up, ready to go, Boss.
194
00:14:05,458 --> 00:14:10,083
We're all responsible for our lives
with... in no uncertain terms.
195
00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:12,625
Everybody's lives are in
each other's hands,
196
00:14:12,625 --> 00:14:16,541
that they're not going to do something
that we don't expect.
197
00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,583
It's an unforgiving business.
198
00:14:21,583 --> 00:14:23,666
Rip it.
199
00:14:32,333 --> 00:14:33,833
Great job today.
200
00:14:33,833 --> 00:14:36,041
Thanks, Boss. It was amazing.
See you back at the ranch.
201
00:14:36,041 --> 00:14:37,333
You got it, Mo.
202
00:14:41,500 --> 00:14:44,000
You walk down the halls
in El Centro, and you see
203
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,166
all the faces that have made up
the past of this organization.
204
00:14:47,166 --> 00:14:49,375
Legendary figures who you hear about,
205
00:14:49,375 --> 00:14:51,250
you hear whispers about
throughout the fleet.
206
00:14:52,458 --> 00:14:54,291
Boss Wooldridge--
he's one of the first people
207
00:14:54,291 --> 00:14:55,958
I met after I made the team.
208
00:14:57,375 --> 00:14:59,375
He's a legend.
209
00:14:59,375 --> 00:15:01,291
One of
the unique things about him is
210
00:15:01,291 --> 00:15:02,541
he got called back
211
00:15:02,541 --> 00:15:04,875
to be the boss of the Blue Angels
three total times.
212
00:15:04,875 --> 00:15:06,875
He's the only guy
that's done it three times.
213
00:15:09,083 --> 00:15:10,375
He has spent so much time.
214
00:15:10,375 --> 00:15:14,208
{\an8}He's intimately familiar
with what goes on.
215
00:15:14,208 --> 00:15:16,958
When I came
to the Blue Angels, I was amazed
216
00:15:16,958 --> 00:15:20,875
at how close the formations were
and-and the maneuvers.
217
00:15:22,333 --> 00:15:25,250
How can you do that?
218
00:15:25,250 --> 00:15:27,583
But as Vince Lombardi said,
219
00:15:27,583 --> 00:15:31,625
we're gonna go out there today,
and we're gonna "chase perfection."
220
00:15:31,625 --> 00:15:34,208
We'll never get perfection,
but along the way,
221
00:15:34,208 --> 00:15:36,791
we're going to realize excellence.
222
00:15:36,791 --> 00:15:39,833
...accelerate to
300 miles per hour.
223
00:15:39,833 --> 00:15:41,708
The markers toward
getting to excellence
224
00:15:41,708 --> 00:15:43,916
is when you're able to, as a formation,
225
00:15:43,916 --> 00:15:45,916
feel like you can move it in closer.
226
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,833
We define our season
by what we call our sets,
227
00:15:50,833 --> 00:15:53,083
which is how close we fly together.
228
00:15:55,291 --> 00:15:58,041
At the beginning of the season,
we'll start in our furthest-out set,
229
00:15:58,041 --> 00:15:59,708
which we call the Fleet Parade.
230
00:15:59,708 --> 00:16:02,458
As close as you would ever fly
in the Navy.
231
00:16:02,458 --> 00:16:04,583
{\an8}And then as we start to progress,
232
00:16:04,583 --> 00:16:08,458
{\an8}we'll start to bring those sets in
a little bit tighter to Blue Gold.
233
00:16:08,458 --> 00:16:10,166
When we say Blue Gold set,
234
00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,625
{\an8}it's where the line of the blue paint
235
00:16:12,625 --> 00:16:15,375
{\an8}and the gold paint actually meet.
236
00:16:15,375 --> 00:16:20,041
{\an8}That's where Jamammy's gonna
put in his head, is underneath that.
237
00:16:20,041 --> 00:16:22,541
{\an8}And that's about 18 inches apart.
238
00:16:22,541 --> 00:16:24,500
If you raise your hands
above your head,
239
00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:27,125
it'd be from the top of your fingertips
to your top of your head
240
00:16:27,125 --> 00:16:29,583
is 18 inches away from each other.
241
00:16:29,583 --> 00:16:30,958
22-ton jets,
242
00:16:30,958 --> 00:16:33,250
400 miles an hour.
243
00:16:35,666 --> 00:16:38,333
The next step would be
our closest set, which is Yankee,
244
00:16:38,333 --> 00:16:40,333
meaning that he's
going to put his aircraft
245
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,833
underneath the "Y" on my left wing.
246
00:16:42,833 --> 00:16:46,291
{\an8}So, Jamammy, he's actually gonna
slide up underneath like that.
247
00:16:47,375 --> 00:16:50,833
{\an8}That creates that parallax that we're all
in that perfect Diamond Formation
248
00:16:50,833 --> 00:16:54,250
{\an8}and almost have our wingtips overlapping.
249
00:16:59,083 --> 00:17:02,208
As the new number two,
I set the formation.
250
00:17:03,250 --> 00:17:07,375
I need to be perfect in every way
because everybody looks at me
251
00:17:07,375 --> 00:17:09,000
to set the distance.
252
00:17:10,375 --> 00:17:12,083
If I'm off by a letter,
253
00:17:12,083 --> 00:17:14,291
Jamammy then looks at that
and he sets it off of me,
254
00:17:14,291 --> 00:17:16,875
and then Chomps sets that distance
off of both of us.
255
00:17:16,875 --> 00:17:20,375
So, if there's any mismatch down the line,
256
00:17:20,375 --> 00:17:22,583
essentially, it's probably caused by me.
257
00:17:30,583 --> 00:17:34,083
People just don't realize
how physically demanding the flight is.
258
00:17:38,041 --> 00:17:39,541
I mean, the demo is
259
00:17:39,541 --> 00:17:42,958
45 minutes of, as Blue Angel eight
calls it, pure violence.
260
00:17:48,291 --> 00:17:51,500
We had, first of all,
a 45-pound spring
261
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:53,500
pulling the stick away from us.
262
00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:57,000
You couldn't get a good feel for it
unless it was pulling away from you
263
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,083
at about 45 pounds.
264
00:18:01,916 --> 00:18:05,791
It is a full-body workout
when these aviators fly,
265
00:18:05,791 --> 00:18:08,083
from their feet to their hands
to their head.
266
00:18:10,083 --> 00:18:12,333
They use their entire body
267
00:18:12,333 --> 00:18:14,708
to combat g-forces.
268
00:18:19,166 --> 00:18:21,708
When you're pulling g's
in the aircraft, all your blood
269
00:18:21,708 --> 00:18:24,916
{\an8}is rushing down to your legs,
to your lower extremities.
270
00:18:24,916 --> 00:18:27,416
{\an8}And once that blood leaves your head,
271
00:18:27,416 --> 00:18:30,250
you're then at risk
of loss of consciousness.
272
00:18:33,041 --> 00:18:35,083
First sign is
you're gonna lose your vision
273
00:18:35,083 --> 00:18:38,916
and start graying out-- tunnel vision.
274
00:18:38,916 --> 00:18:44,000
In order to combat that, we're gonna push
that blood back up with our muscles.
275
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,333
Squeezing the legs,
the butt, the abs.
276
00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:50,958
And if it's a real heavy g pull,
then making sure I lock down
277
00:18:50,958 --> 00:18:52,541
a three-quarter-lung-capacity breath.
278
00:19:06,291 --> 00:19:10,708
As a pilot, you understand the risk.
279
00:19:10,708 --> 00:19:13,250
You do a job where,
at practice, in training,
280
00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:15,375
you can end it all in an accident.
281
00:19:18,250 --> 00:19:20,458
So it's just... it's a mix of emotions.
282
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,000
What we do
is very dangerous.
283
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,041
First couple times you take off,
you got to push the "I believe" button.
284
00:19:34,041 --> 00:19:36,333
{\an8}But one of the things we learn
in flight school
285
00:19:36,333 --> 00:19:38,416
{\an8}very early on is it's a team sport.
286
00:19:38,416 --> 00:19:40,541
{\an8}We're all the same,
cut from the same cloth.
287
00:19:42,708 --> 00:19:47,125
The risk is never any lower
when we go out and practice
288
00:19:47,125 --> 00:19:50,125
as it is when we're doing the actual show,
so we take
289
00:19:50,125 --> 00:19:51,833
a fine-tooth comb to everything.
290
00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:08,875
It looked like
we were good, and--
291
00:20:08,875 --> 00:20:10,833
We were good until a half mile.
292
00:20:10,833 --> 00:20:13,125
That's gonna be your focus
for tomorrow, is that arc.
293
00:20:13,125 --> 00:20:15,166
So let's take a hammer down
to that one tomorrow.
294
00:20:15,166 --> 00:20:16,708
Really try to fine-tune that.
295
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,166
During the debrief,
we dissect everything.
296
00:20:21,166 --> 00:20:23,458
There's definitely times
at the end of days
297
00:20:23,458 --> 00:20:25,875
where you're frustrated
'cause you can't get a maneuver right.
298
00:20:25,875 --> 00:20:29,333
And not only do you know
that you did it incorrectly in the air,
299
00:20:29,333 --> 00:20:32,750
but now you get to watch it
frame by frame on a TV screen,
300
00:20:32,750 --> 00:20:34,833
like, zoomed in with an HD camera,
301
00:20:34,833 --> 00:20:37,708
so you can really see
how bad you were, you know.
302
00:20:37,708 --> 00:20:41,208
But that's-that's part of it.
That's how we... that's how we get better.
303
00:20:41,208 --> 00:20:44,833
Every single person does that,
including Boss.
304
00:20:44,833 --> 00:20:47,416
That's, like... that's a tendency for me,
probably a tendency for somebody else,
305
00:20:47,416 --> 00:20:48,958
is you're trying to get down this much...
306
00:20:48,958 --> 00:20:51,458
You should be your own worst critic.
307
00:20:51,458 --> 00:20:52,916
That's a commitment we have.
308
00:20:52,916 --> 00:20:55,000
It's easy to say, tough to do.
309
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,791
Be a better version of yourself.
Be a better teammate.
310
00:20:56,791 --> 00:20:58,416
Help the team get better every day.
311
00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:03,916
- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
312
00:21:03,916 --> 00:21:06,666
-"Diamond" on three. One, two, three.
Diamond!
313
00:21:08,666 --> 00:21:11,041
Failing together.
314
00:21:11,041 --> 00:21:12,958
The "failing together" mindset
315
00:21:12,958 --> 00:21:14,458
really gets people close.
316
00:21:17,166 --> 00:21:19,875
Everything is trust,
317
00:21:19,875 --> 00:21:22,875
and so far, over El Centro,
that's where we really build that trust.
318
00:21:27,458 --> 00:21:30,000
What you're seeing now
in this final week is this teamwork,
319
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,666
this focus point, this foundation
320
00:21:31,666 --> 00:21:35,083
to try to reach for that perfection
every single day.
321
00:21:35,083 --> 00:21:37,166
But the closer you get to that pinnacle,
322
00:21:37,166 --> 00:21:39,166
the further away
you realize you actually are.
323
00:21:39,166 --> 00:21:42,625
♪ Well, it seems so real ♪
324
00:21:42,625 --> 00:21:45,333
♪ I can see it ♪
325
00:21:45,333 --> 00:21:48,208
♪ And it seems so real ♪
326
00:21:48,208 --> 00:21:50,916
♪ I can feel it ♪
327
00:21:50,916 --> 00:21:53,916
♪ And it seems so real ♪
328
00:21:53,916 --> 00:21:56,875
♪ I can taste it ♪
329
00:21:56,875 --> 00:21:59,666
♪ And it seems so real ♪
330
00:21:59,666 --> 00:22:02,458
♪ I can hear it ♪
331
00:22:02,458 --> 00:22:07,708
♪ So why ♪
332
00:22:07,708 --> 00:22:10,625
♪ Can't I touch it? ♪
333
00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:18,541
♪ So why ♪
334
00:22:18,541 --> 00:22:21,541
♪ Can't I touch it? ♪
335
00:22:49,208 --> 00:22:52,291
All right. It's Friday, March 11, 2022
336
00:22:52,291 --> 00:22:54,375
over Naval Air Facility El Centro,
California,
337
00:22:54,375 --> 00:22:57,583
where the winds are three-three-zero
at nine, ten miles vis, sky clear.
338
00:22:57,583 --> 00:23:01,625
Forecast for the winds: three-four-zero
at six, unlimited vis, sky clear.
339
00:23:01,625 --> 00:23:04,166
When we're cleared for takeoff, we'll put
four on the runway with a wind check.
340
00:23:04,166 --> 00:23:07,958
Check your parking brake off.
Diamond Half Squirrel Cage.
341
00:23:07,958 --> 00:23:09,833
Left turnout
followed by the solo section...
342
00:23:09,833 --> 00:23:13,708
During the briefs,
we will follow around our ground track
343
00:23:13,708 --> 00:23:16,083
with our pens
as Boss is talking through the sequence.
344
00:23:16,083 --> 00:23:19,333
Whiskers will be in from behind
the crowd to Sneak to Vertical Rolls,
345
00:23:19,333 --> 00:23:22,500
and the five ship will be in from
the right for the Line Abreast Loop.
346
00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:25,166
Once we get
to a certain maneuver,
347
00:23:25,166 --> 00:23:26,583
we will chair-fly.
348
00:23:26,583 --> 00:23:28,125
Around the crowd for the Delta Roll.
349
00:23:28,125 --> 00:23:29,291
- Ball, say five.
Cheese.
350
00:23:29,291 --> 00:23:30,375
Jamammy.
Chomps.
351
00:23:30,375 --> 00:23:31,458
Chewy.
Whiskers.
352
00:23:31,458 --> 00:23:33,541
After you do it so much,
353
00:23:33,541 --> 00:23:36,625
you know exactly where you're going,
what you're doing, how it's gonna feel,
354
00:23:36,625 --> 00:23:39,375
and you can actually, like,
visualize yourself doing it,
355
00:23:39,375 --> 00:23:44,416
getting a-a practice in on that maneuver
before you go out and do it.
356
00:23:44,416 --> 00:23:46,916
Airspeed call. Come left.
357
00:23:46,916 --> 00:23:48,166
Got six, Boss.
358
00:23:48,166 --> 00:23:50,166
Boss.
359
00:23:50,166 --> 00:23:51,666
Come in for left.
360
00:23:53,666 --> 00:23:55,291
We're left turn for the Delta Roll.
361
00:23:55,291 --> 00:23:58,666
A little more pull.
362
00:23:58,666 --> 00:24:01,500
Horizon seven-five, easing power idle.
363
00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,291
Ready? Roll hat.
364
00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:06,166
- We're left turn for the Fleur De Lis.
Cheese.
365
00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:07,250
Jamammy.
Chomps.
366
00:24:07,250 --> 00:24:08,625
Chewy.
Whiskers.
367
00:24:12,333 --> 00:24:14,541
Distractions, we talked about it,
are gonna be here.
368
00:24:14,541 --> 00:24:15,916
It's game-on time.
369
00:24:15,916 --> 00:24:18,708
And just keep in mind
you're gonna have jitters.
370
00:24:18,708 --> 00:24:21,833
You're gonna go out there,
and even though it's at El Centro,
371
00:24:21,833 --> 00:24:24,333
there's-there's gonna be
a few thousand people there
372
00:24:24,333 --> 00:24:27,625
that'll be saying something
that's gonna be looking to distract you.
373
00:24:27,625 --> 00:24:29,833
Think about that tonight,
and think about when you get in there,
374
00:24:29,833 --> 00:24:32,708
just like we talked about,
everything from the walk down,
375
00:24:32,708 --> 00:24:36,125
start talking the cadence,
thinking about it, hop in the jet,
376
00:24:36,125 --> 00:24:38,958
do everything and don't get distracted
by looking around.
377
00:24:38,958 --> 00:24:40,666
Stay focused inside the canopy.
378
00:24:40,666 --> 00:24:43,541
And then once we're on the runway,
it's same as it ever was.
379
00:24:43,541 --> 00:24:44,958
So, with that, I'm glad to be here.
380
00:24:44,958 --> 00:24:46,625
Rip it!
381
00:25:16,250 --> 00:25:18,250
We're going to try to do
what we can to make the demo
382
00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:22,708
as tight, as low,
as entertaining as possible.
383
00:25:22,708 --> 00:25:24,416
But that's not my line.
384
00:25:24,416 --> 00:25:27,333
You know, this...
this-this tiger that I'm chasing.
385
00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:30,250
The most important thing is
386
00:25:30,250 --> 00:25:32,000
six jets up, six jets down.
387
00:25:43,958 --> 00:25:45,958
First day of the show season,
388
00:25:45,958 --> 00:25:49,125
and I can't tell you
what it's gonna feel like.
389
00:25:49,125 --> 00:25:51,583
I have no idea what to expect.
390
00:25:51,583 --> 00:25:53,083
You know, it's another
one of those things.
391
00:25:53,083 --> 00:25:56,500
Like, man, am I... am I ready to do this?
392
00:26:31,625 --> 00:26:34,541
Ladies
and gentlemen, your United States Navy
393
00:26:34,541 --> 00:26:37,375
takes pleasure in performing for you this,
394
00:26:37,375 --> 00:26:39,416
our first flight demonstration
of the season.
395
00:26:41,833 --> 00:26:44,791
Now, to the left,
Captain Kesselring calls:
396
00:26:44,791 --> 00:26:47,000
"Smoke on. Off brakes now.
397
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,333
Burners ready now."
398
00:26:48,333 --> 00:26:50,041
And the Blue Angel Diamond is rolling.
399
00:26:51,041 --> 00:26:53,541
Burners ready now.
400
00:27:19,458 --> 00:27:21,791
The Diamond is
approaching for a maneuver that is likely
401
00:27:21,791 --> 00:27:25,458
familiar to those of you who have seen
the Blue Angels perform in the past.
402
00:27:25,458 --> 00:27:28,958
From the right, at 400 miles per hour,
the Diamond Roll.
403
00:27:31,833 --> 00:27:36,875
All four aircraft flying as one in this
graceful 360-degree rolling maneuver.
404
00:27:49,250 --> 00:27:51,291
The two solo pilots will next demonstrate
405
00:27:51,291 --> 00:27:55,250
the inverted flight capability
of the F-18.
406
00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:57,833
Approaching inverted from the left
and right, Lieutenant Commander Rickoff
407
00:27:57,833 --> 00:28:01,958
and Lieutenant Commander Bratton
will roll their aircraft 360 degrees.
408
00:28:01,958 --> 00:28:03,458
Bratty, hit it.
409
00:28:09,416 --> 00:28:14,083
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Opposing Inverted to Inverted Roll.
410
00:28:16,916 --> 00:28:19,958
As the four Diamond pilots approach,
you should notice
411
00:28:19,958 --> 00:28:23,583
the flight leader and slot pilot
are both in the inverted position.
412
00:28:23,583 --> 00:28:25,458
The Blue Angel Double Farvel.
413
00:28:25,458 --> 00:28:26,833
Ready? Hit it.
414
00:28:40,583 --> 00:28:42,041
Rip it.
415
00:28:43,125 --> 00:28:45,625
Pull. Pull it.
416
00:28:52,541 --> 00:28:55,041
The 2022 team
takes a great deal of pride
417
00:28:55,041 --> 00:28:57,625
in saluting Navy
and Marine Corps aviators,
418
00:28:57,625 --> 00:29:01,208
maintenance crews
and support personnel everywhere.
419
00:29:01,208 --> 00:29:04,541
From the left, your Blue Angels.
420
00:29:19,333 --> 00:29:22,375
It has been an honor and our pleasure
to perform for you
421
00:29:22,375 --> 00:29:25,583
our first flight demonstration
of the season.
422
00:29:29,125 --> 00:29:31,500
The Blue Angels aren't about
just jet performance.
423
00:29:31,500 --> 00:29:35,041
Anybody can go out there and learn
to do a lot of twirls and loops and rolls,
424
00:29:35,041 --> 00:29:36,541
but to do it together,
425
00:29:36,541 --> 00:29:39,875
to make six jets fly as one,
that's the magic.
426
00:29:39,875 --> 00:29:41,291
That's the Blue Angel magic.
427
00:29:41,291 --> 00:29:42,625
Ladies and gentlemen,
428
00:29:42,625 --> 00:29:45,666
representing your United States Navy
and Marine Corps,
429
00:29:45,666 --> 00:29:48,166
the Blue Angels 2022.
430
00:29:50,958 --> 00:29:54,208
It was a little bumpy road,
but I made it.
431
00:29:54,208 --> 00:29:56,875
Once we finished crowd-lining,
you know, Chomps came up and said,
432
00:29:56,875 --> 00:29:59,833
"Hey, guys, congrats.
You're... you're demo pilots now."
433
00:30:00,833 --> 00:30:02,833
So it was pretty incredible.
434
00:30:05,750 --> 00:30:07,583
You finish
that show in El Centro,
435
00:30:07,583 --> 00:30:10,458
that drop of salute happens,
you head back to your room,
436
00:30:10,458 --> 00:30:12,166
and you start packing it up.
437
00:30:12,166 --> 00:30:14,583
Then you see Fat Albert
getting loaded up with all of our gear,
438
00:30:14,583 --> 00:30:17,125
all of our personnel,
and you realize that,
439
00:30:17,125 --> 00:30:21,166
"Hey, I've got an eight-month season
staring me in the face right now."
440
00:30:22,833 --> 00:30:24,666
So it's daunting, to say the least.
441
00:30:24,666 --> 00:30:28,291
Not just that first week
but every week after that.
442
00:30:28,291 --> 00:30:31,708
Bert's rolling, and so are we,
to a... to a town near you.
443
00:30:33,625 --> 00:30:37,083
Fat Albert is
our C-130J Super Hercules asset,
444
00:30:37,083 --> 00:30:39,333
affectionately known as Bert.
445
00:30:39,333 --> 00:30:42,000
Those are our Marines, an all-Marine crew.
446
00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,083
They also provide logistics support.
447
00:30:45,791 --> 00:30:48,625
{\an8}Fat Albert is key in essentially
supporting the team
448
00:30:48,625 --> 00:30:50,541
{\an8}to and from every single air show site.
449
00:30:51,625 --> 00:30:55,750
It's about 30,000 pounds of cargo,
45 personnel.
450
00:30:57,041 --> 00:31:00,000
- Okay, you got all the newbies?
- Maybe.
451
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:01,333
- Yeah.
452
00:31:01,333 --> 00:31:03,833
We have
six pallets worth of gear.
453
00:31:03,833 --> 00:31:06,291
{\an8}All of our friends are sitting
on the red seats or blue seats
454
00:31:06,291 --> 00:31:10,541
{\an8}on the sides, crammed in tight,
almost knee to pallet.
455
00:31:10,541 --> 00:31:13,625
- And about this close to your buddy.
456
00:31:20,791 --> 00:31:23,041
We've just done
that first air show.
457
00:31:23,041 --> 00:31:25,250
Now we're off to New Orleans.
458
00:31:25,250 --> 00:31:27,500
We're gonna roll into town like a...
459
00:31:27,500 --> 00:31:28,708
like a circus, I guess.
460
00:31:32,208 --> 00:31:34,416
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels
returned to town this weekend.
461
00:31:34,416 --> 00:31:35,833
The Blue Angels
came into town,
462
00:31:35,833 --> 00:31:38,166
{\an8}landing at the Naval Air Station
in Belle Chasse.
463
00:31:42,875 --> 00:31:44,833
Right when
we get there with Fat Albert,
464
00:31:44,833 --> 00:31:47,333
you know, we kind of, like, set the tone.
465
00:31:48,916 --> 00:31:53,333
When that crew entrance door opens,
everything is set up perfectly
466
00:31:53,333 --> 00:31:55,125
so that we're able to put on a great show.
467
00:31:56,708 --> 00:31:59,875
It's definitely similar
to being on a sports team.
468
00:32:01,125 --> 00:32:02,958
The schedule is relentless.
469
00:32:04,250 --> 00:32:07,083
You are constantly on the road.
You're constantly traveling.
470
00:32:08,208 --> 00:32:10,833
Exact mesh of a sports team
471
00:32:10,833 --> 00:32:13,791
with the schedule of a touring
rock and roll band.
472
00:32:18,750 --> 00:32:21,333
{\an8}I always say it's like
planning 30 weddings.
473
00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:24,875
{\an8}Thirty weddings and 30 places
you've never been to
474
00:32:24,875 --> 00:32:26,666
{\an8}with 30 families you've just met.
475
00:32:44,708 --> 00:32:46,875
Great job today.
476
00:32:49,541 --> 00:32:51,375
Pitch-Up Break. Cheese, upper deck.
477
00:32:51,375 --> 00:32:52,541
And down.
478
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,208
Coming back home
at the end of those three months
479
00:33:27,208 --> 00:33:29,458
and-and seeing our families
on the flight line
480
00:33:29,458 --> 00:33:31,958
for the first time was incredible.
481
00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:41,041
It's so special to have this home base.
482
00:33:43,041 --> 00:33:45,708
This place that just loves us so much.
483
00:33:47,750 --> 00:33:49,166
Our families are here.
484
00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:51,625
Our families live here all the time.
485
00:33:59,625 --> 00:34:05,250
For me, when I found out
I made the team, that was on July 11th.
486
00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:06,541
One month later, Jo was born.
487
00:34:06,541 --> 00:34:09,666
And a month after that,
I left to go join the team.
488
00:34:09,666 --> 00:34:13,458
So, the fact that they take care
of our families so well, I think,
489
00:34:13,458 --> 00:34:16,708
is what really, uh,
endears this place to us.
490
00:35:15,125 --> 00:35:17,875
I never had any thought
that I would be on the team.
491
00:35:17,875 --> 00:35:20,333
You know, joining a team
where I'm gonna be gone for,
492
00:35:20,333 --> 00:35:22,541
you know, nearly 300 days a year,
493
00:35:22,541 --> 00:35:25,625
uh, with a brand-new little daughter
and having some tough conversations
494
00:35:25,625 --> 00:35:28,041
with my wife about:
"Do we want to do this?"
495
00:35:28,041 --> 00:35:30,083
And for me, it was... it was:
496
00:35:30,083 --> 00:35:33,250
This is a way I can, you know,
in a sense, kind of give back.
497
00:35:36,708 --> 00:35:38,833
June 20, 1986.
498
00:35:38,833 --> 00:35:41,750
I'm, like, this nine-year-old boy
up in Fargo, North Dakota.
499
00:35:43,458 --> 00:35:47,541
My dream when I saw the Blue Angels
was to go serve my country.
500
00:35:50,375 --> 00:35:52,666
You know, I grew up
playing sports-- basketball--
501
00:35:52,666 --> 00:35:54,833
and finishing up college
and, you know, thinking like,
502
00:35:54,833 --> 00:35:57,541
"Boy, I'd love to fly for the Navy,
but I'm just... you know, I'm too big.
503
00:35:57,541 --> 00:35:59,333
I can't fit in the cockpit."
504
00:35:59,333 --> 00:36:02,833
And sure enough, it turns out I fit
and they-they would have me,
505
00:36:02,833 --> 00:36:05,833
and kind of the rest is history,
as far as joining the Navy.
506
00:36:10,208 --> 00:36:11,833
I'm currently
a major in the Marine Corps,
507
00:36:11,833 --> 00:36:14,291
managing aircraft maintenance.
508
00:36:15,375 --> 00:36:17,791
Brian told me, you know,
"One of the bucket things in my career
509
00:36:17,791 --> 00:36:19,583
is to maybe apply for the Blue Angels.
510
00:36:19,583 --> 00:36:21,666
It's one in a million.
One in a million, though.
511
00:36:21,666 --> 00:36:23,083
We're never gonna get it."
512
00:36:23,083 --> 00:36:28,625
And we were both in quite a bit of shock
when we found out that that was happening.
513
00:36:28,625 --> 00:36:31,416
We're just super fortunate
to have been stationed together.
514
00:36:32,791 --> 00:36:34,833
For the next duty station,
he's got his orders.
515
00:36:34,833 --> 00:36:37,666
I do not have my orders yet,
so I'm still kind of knocking on wood,
516
00:36:37,666 --> 00:36:40,750
hoping everything kind of
comes in alignment for it.
517
00:36:40,750 --> 00:36:42,375
But again, it's not...
518
00:36:42,375 --> 00:36:44,583
Don't stress about something
you don't have the control over.
519
00:36:46,583 --> 00:36:49,666
It's definitely a bit of a jigsaw,
as far as trying to, you know,
520
00:36:49,666 --> 00:36:52,125
plan a family in the military.
521
00:36:52,125 --> 00:36:53,875
It's doable. I mean, we've got two.
522
00:36:53,875 --> 00:36:55,791
It's definitely doable, so...
523
00:36:55,791 --> 00:36:59,500
it'll be just one of those things
that you... that you work through.
524
00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:01,041
Yeah, there you are.
525
00:37:01,041 --> 00:37:02,458
All right, Remy.
526
00:37:05,958 --> 00:37:08,791
There's not much flying tours left
for a guy like me.
527
00:37:08,791 --> 00:37:11,541
The mission was really what...
what I went back to.
528
00:37:13,458 --> 00:37:17,750
People's dreams, uh, dreams they never
thought they could possibly achieve,
529
00:37:17,750 --> 00:37:21,541
can come true, and that's the mentality
we want in the Blue Angels.
530
00:37:27,083 --> 00:37:28,875
What I never realized--
531
00:37:28,875 --> 00:37:32,250
and I've been on great teams before--
what I didn't realize is how attached
532
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:33,541
I'd be to this team.
533
00:37:33,541 --> 00:37:35,875
Bye-bye, Remy.
534
00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,875
There isn't a family
like a Blue Angel family.
535
00:37:49,875 --> 00:37:51,208
And I'll miss that.
536
00:37:51,208 --> 00:37:54,291
I'll miss that and...
and all that goes along with it.
537
00:37:56,083 --> 00:37:58,500
Everything here is about
being a member of the team.
538
00:38:00,583 --> 00:38:05,000
It takes all 141 personnel
on our command doing their job,
539
00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:07,291
putting forth that maximum effort.
540
00:38:09,458 --> 00:38:10,916
It's constant.
541
00:38:10,916 --> 00:38:13,875
It's 18 hours a day
with the same people every day.
542
00:38:13,875 --> 00:38:16,083
So every single person in here--
every pilot,
543
00:38:16,083 --> 00:38:18,416
every officer, every teammate,
every enlisted maintainer--
544
00:38:18,416 --> 00:38:20,916
whatever position we have
on this team is family.
545
00:38:20,916 --> 00:38:23,291
♪ Through the hard times and the good...
546
00:38:23,291 --> 00:38:25,750
What's up? Mic check.
Hey!
547
00:38:25,750 --> 00:38:27,541
Like I said,
give it 100%.
548
00:38:27,541 --> 00:38:30,166
This is the time that I need y'all.
I'm glad to be here.
549
00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:32,166
Whoo!
550
00:38:41,125 --> 00:38:43,375
♪ I have to praise you ♪
551
00:38:45,375 --> 00:38:46,583
♪ I have to praise you...
552
00:38:46,583 --> 00:38:49,500
Chief Mass Communication Specialist
Paul Archer.
553
00:38:50,583 --> 00:38:53,083
My name
is Oyindamola Michael.
554
00:38:53,083 --> 00:38:54,958
I am the number six crew chief.
555
00:38:54,958 --> 00:38:57,208
My name is
Lieutenant Griffin Stangel.
556
00:38:57,208 --> 00:38:58,833
Uh, call sign "Push Pop."
557
00:38:58,833 --> 00:39:01,458
Lieutenant Brian Abe. Uh, I go by Mo here.
558
00:39:01,458 --> 00:39:03,500
Lieutenant Paul Kruger, call sign "Suppo."
559
00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:05,083
I'm Lieutenant Henry Cedeño
560
00:39:05,083 --> 00:39:06,666
from Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico.
561
00:39:06,666 --> 00:39:08,958
♪ I have to praise you...
562
00:39:12,166 --> 00:39:14,458
So, my role on the team
as Blue Angel number seven
563
00:39:14,458 --> 00:39:15,958
is I'm the narrator.
564
00:39:15,958 --> 00:39:17,458
♪ I have to praise you...
565
00:39:17,458 --> 00:39:20,083
My goal is to interact
with a crowd of tens of thousands,
566
00:39:20,083 --> 00:39:22,250
sometimes hundreds of thousands of people.
567
00:39:24,916 --> 00:39:27,250
I'm a mass
communication specialist.
568
00:39:27,250 --> 00:39:28,541
We're aerial photographers, right?
569
00:39:28,541 --> 00:39:30,083
We get to go up and fly in the jet
570
00:39:30,083 --> 00:39:32,791
and take all the pretty Blue Angel photos.
571
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:39,875
I've got a female
front man right now.
572
00:39:39,875 --> 00:39:41,875
That's only happened,
I think, maybe once before.
573
00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:43,250
You know, running the entire crew.
574
00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:45,541
What's up,
guys?
Hey!
575
00:39:45,541 --> 00:39:47,791
All right, all hands
tomorrow is gonna be 0800.
576
00:39:47,791 --> 00:39:50,000
I got a lot of information
to put out, so pay attention.
577
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,166
I need two volunteers.
578
00:39:51,166 --> 00:39:52,875
From '99 to 2000,
579
00:39:52,875 --> 00:39:55,208
Karen Marini was
the last female front man.
580
00:39:55,208 --> 00:39:56,625
They called her Frontchik.
581
00:39:56,625 --> 00:39:58,000
Now I go by Front Ma'am.
582
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,625
And then my bravo is a front man.
583
00:40:00,625 --> 00:40:03,833
Hot seat, Front Ma'am.
Flight walk complete. We have ATAF...
584
00:40:03,833 --> 00:40:07,041
Essentially, I'm walking
every single jet on the line,
585
00:40:07,041 --> 00:40:09,625
along with our crew chiefs.
586
00:40:09,625 --> 00:40:13,666
We have 12 crew chiefs,
and it's two crew chiefs per pilot.
587
00:40:16,083 --> 00:40:20,291
I'm the number one crew chief,
Boss Kesselring's crew chief.
588
00:40:20,291 --> 00:40:22,041
We go in the cockpit,
just check everything
589
00:40:22,041 --> 00:40:24,000
that the pilot would check
before they take off.
590
00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:27,541
Flight controls, you know,
the displays, everything.
591
00:40:27,541 --> 00:40:30,458
And then I'm just
double-verifying, triple-verifying
592
00:40:30,458 --> 00:40:33,166
everything's good for that pilot to get
in the cockpit and go out and fly.
593
00:40:34,416 --> 00:40:37,333
As a pilot, I never
pre-flighted an airplane.
594
00:40:37,333 --> 00:40:40,916
I had so much trust in my crew chief.
595
00:40:40,916 --> 00:40:44,833
All I do is get
in my aircraft and strap in.
596
00:40:44,833 --> 00:40:47,333
He'd tell me it's good to go,
and it's good to go.
597
00:40:47,333 --> 00:40:51,000
When the jet's good to go,
we do a signature handshake.
598
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,833
- We do it and go, "Whoo!"
Whoo!
599
00:40:53,833 --> 00:40:56,333
♪ Praise you like I should ♪
600
00:40:56,333 --> 00:40:59,000
♪ I have to praise you ♪
601
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:00,708
Uh, prepare to take off.
602
00:41:07,541 --> 00:41:10,166
When I was four years old,
my dad took me to an air show
603
00:41:10,166 --> 00:41:12,083
in Fort Worth, Texas,
604
00:41:12,083 --> 00:41:15,083
and I got to watch the Blue Angels fly
for the very first time.
605
00:41:15,083 --> 00:41:17,041
I thought that they were awesome.
606
00:41:17,041 --> 00:41:18,875
To the point where I, like,
ran away from my parents
607
00:41:18,875 --> 00:41:20,791
to go try to find the jets,
wherever they were parked.
608
00:41:20,791 --> 00:41:22,333
And they had to come up
over the loudspeaker:
609
00:41:22,333 --> 00:41:23,916
"If you've lost a little
four-year-old son,
610
00:41:23,916 --> 00:41:25,708
can you come to the announcer booth
611
00:41:25,708 --> 00:41:28,416
and we'll give your son
back to you" type of thing.
612
00:41:28,416 --> 00:41:32,208
I found 'em. I fell in love
with aviation at four years old.
613
00:41:36,291 --> 00:41:38,583
I wanted to do something like that.
614
00:41:38,583 --> 00:41:41,000
Right when Cheese's jet
kind of drifted deep,
615
00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:44,708
your jet looked like it just twitched
and kind of almost did the same thing.
616
00:41:44,708 --> 00:41:46,708
So we just need to focus on that set
down the line, especially...
617
00:41:46,708 --> 00:41:48,416
Chomps is a big softie.
618
00:41:48,416 --> 00:41:50,625
He just understands the stakes at play.
619
00:41:50,625 --> 00:41:53,500
I mean, he's the guy
that has the best vantage point
620
00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:57,166
of the entire formation
every second, every day.
621
00:41:58,750 --> 00:42:03,625
That's a heavy weight, and Boss kind of
owns that as the commanding officer.
622
00:42:03,625 --> 00:42:05,416
But there are things I just can't see.
623
00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:08,250
And back there, we had some depth...
624
00:42:08,250 --> 00:42:12,250
Chomps is, uh,
our lone Marine Corps pilot.
625
00:42:12,250 --> 00:42:14,166
We make fun of him,
call him General Zastoupil,
626
00:42:14,166 --> 00:42:16,666
because he kind of gives off that persona
627
00:42:16,666 --> 00:42:19,125
when he... when he goes
and talks to people.
628
00:42:19,125 --> 00:42:21,041
All right, so big take away
is now gonna be reducing
629
00:42:21,041 --> 00:42:23,541
the overreaction for the flat there.
630
00:42:24,416 --> 00:42:25,666
Yeah, I was trying not to hit him.
631
00:42:25,666 --> 00:42:29,791
I know, but that's a huge, huge
dump on the nose.
632
00:42:29,791 --> 00:42:33,083
That's correct. It's also the closest
I've ever been to a jet.
633
00:42:33,083 --> 00:42:35,666
So...
- I can freeze it and hold it, but...
634
00:42:37,291 --> 00:42:38,958
There's gotta be some sort of compromise.
635
00:42:38,958 --> 00:42:42,083
Like you just have to keep driving more
to just kinda get away,
636
00:42:42,083 --> 00:42:45,166
but not that huge just dumping
of the nose away from the formation.
637
00:42:45,166 --> 00:42:46,833
Looked pretty gross up there.
638
00:42:46,833 --> 00:42:49,208
Uh, Delta Roll will be a focus
into tomorrow as well.
639
00:42:49,208 --> 00:42:51,041
Bearing lines, matching of the rate.
640
00:42:52,583 --> 00:42:55,458
There's one Marine option
in the Blue Angels
641
00:42:55,458 --> 00:42:57,625
at any given time, so we can only have one
642
00:42:57,625 --> 00:43:01,041
jet demonstration pilot
on any particular year.
643
00:43:01,041 --> 00:43:02,500
So this year is my final year.
644
00:43:04,291 --> 00:43:07,875
My job is to try to bring everyone
together on the same page
645
00:43:07,875 --> 00:43:10,750
so there's never any, like,
lingering questions between the elements.
646
00:43:10,750 --> 00:43:13,291
And so that's why it kind of rests
on the number four spot,
647
00:43:13,291 --> 00:43:16,208
always a second-year guy,
to do the debrief.
648
00:43:21,375 --> 00:43:23,458
We're gonna be on the road
quite a bit coming up.
649
00:43:23,458 --> 00:43:26,750
Quite a... quite a bit.
And it's a lot of time away from family.
650
00:43:26,750 --> 00:43:31,333
That's something that we also don't get
that much of, is time with our families.
651
00:43:32,458 --> 00:43:36,166
So, when we come here,
we try to spend as much time as we can.
652
00:43:36,166 --> 00:43:38,250
And when I walked out
of the house this morning,
653
00:43:38,250 --> 00:43:40,333
I had one daughter attached
to my left leg, saying,
654
00:43:40,333 --> 00:43:42,583
"Daddy, don't go.
Just stay here this weekend."
655
00:43:44,291 --> 00:43:48,083
And my little son is just literally,
like, rock climbing up my right leg
656
00:43:48,083 --> 00:43:50,666
as I'm walking to the truck this morning.
657
00:44:10,625 --> 00:44:13,500
It is so cool to see
the reactions of the public.
658
00:44:13,500 --> 00:44:17,958
They think, you know, oh, you're a
rock star with this high-paced lifestyle.
659
00:44:17,958 --> 00:44:20,666
Yeah? Uh, a lot of practice.
660
00:44:20,666 --> 00:44:23,541
And then in the evenings,
we attend commits
661
00:44:23,541 --> 00:44:26,125
where we'll go to a local outreach event.
662
00:44:26,125 --> 00:44:29,041
- The pilots will go to schools.
663
00:44:29,041 --> 00:44:33,791
So, our mission is to showcase
the teamwork and professionalism
664
00:44:33,791 --> 00:44:35,875
of the United States Navy
and Marine Corps.
665
00:44:35,875 --> 00:44:39,875
I was with Boss
at the Blue Angel Foundation.
666
00:44:39,875 --> 00:44:42,125
{\an8}- Thanks so much for coming out today.
- Awesome to meet you.
667
00:44:42,125 --> 00:44:43,458
The Blue Angel Foundation
668
00:44:43,458 --> 00:44:46,833
{\an8}is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization
669
00:44:46,833 --> 00:44:50,083
{\an8}to help wounded veterans,
670
00:44:50,083 --> 00:44:53,166
{\an8}and Freedom Station is part of that.
671
00:44:53,166 --> 00:44:57,041
It was truly special to spend
some time with those wounded warriors.
672
00:44:58,416 --> 00:45:01,625
{\an8}We also get to go to the hospitals.
673
00:45:01,625 --> 00:45:04,791
I'm Monica.
I am the doctor for the Blue Angels.
674
00:45:04,791 --> 00:45:07,166
We get to interact with each child
675
00:45:07,166 --> 00:45:09,416
and just spend a little time with them.
676
00:45:13,750 --> 00:45:15,875
All right!
677
00:45:18,625 --> 00:45:24,000
The first time you put this suit on,
you feel kind of like an imposter.
678
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:27,000
And I remember that
every time I wear the uniform.
679
00:45:28,208 --> 00:45:30,000
I think a good feeling to have is
680
00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,625
you should never feel
too comfortable in this suit.
681
00:45:34,666 --> 00:45:37,083
You're representing
a whole bunch of folks.
682
00:45:37,083 --> 00:45:39,125
You're not just representing yourself.
683
00:45:45,750 --> 00:45:50,166
For me, that's... that's looking
at the 28 faces on the wall every day.
684
00:45:53,250 --> 00:45:56,708
The 28 men that we've lost in this job.
685
00:45:59,833 --> 00:46:01,458
Breaking news tonight:
686
00:46:01,458 --> 00:46:04,291
{\an8}A Blue Angels jet went down
in Smyrna, Tennessee,
687
00:46:04,291 --> 00:46:05,958
{\an8}which is just outside of Nashville.
688
00:46:05,958 --> 00:46:08,750
We were right there
when it happened.
689
00:46:08,750 --> 00:46:11,125
Several of the guys, you know,
saw it happening in real time.
690
00:46:13,916 --> 00:46:16,750
Captain Jeff Kuss
was killed when he went down in Smyrna
691
00:46:16,750 --> 00:46:20,083
{\an8}practicing at the Great American Air Show.
692
00:46:21,250 --> 00:46:26,083
He was just one of the most upbeat
and professional guys you've ever met.
693
00:46:27,208 --> 00:46:31,125
I mean, you get into this mindset
on this team
694
00:46:31,125 --> 00:46:33,916
that every day is gonna be the exact same.
695
00:46:33,916 --> 00:46:36,833
Right? We get into the routine,
and the routine is kind of set.
696
00:46:38,208 --> 00:46:40,125
{\an8}And then, when a massive event
like that happens,
697
00:46:40,125 --> 00:46:43,916
{\an8}everybody's just like,
"What are we gonna do right now?"
698
00:46:49,708 --> 00:46:52,291
It's a different type of flying.
699
00:46:52,291 --> 00:46:54,708
Those maneuvers are low
and fast to the ground.
700
00:46:54,708 --> 00:46:57,500
Right?
There's very little room for mistakes.
701
00:47:04,208 --> 00:47:06,791
We owe it to them
to think about their memory.
702
00:47:08,416 --> 00:47:10,833
And I ask myself every day, "Who am I?"
703
00:47:20,375 --> 00:47:23,166
Who am I, right, to sit here?
704
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,416
Tough to have an ego
when you look at those guys up there
705
00:47:27,416 --> 00:47:28,916
and go, "Okay, who am I?"
706
00:47:33,666 --> 00:47:35,875
It's a humbling experience.
It's still humbling.
707
00:47:43,500 --> 00:47:48,166
I'm in my last year,
and I'm turning it over.
708
00:47:48,166 --> 00:47:51,958
It's a unique process,
picking my replacement.
709
00:48:05,041 --> 00:48:08,041
There's only a handful of people
who ever experience this.
710
00:48:10,958 --> 00:48:13,708
The boss application--
there is no other time that you can apply
711
00:48:13,708 --> 00:48:15,250
for the Blue Angels, right?
712
00:48:15,250 --> 00:48:17,583
So it's a very final thing.
713
00:48:18,583 --> 00:48:22,125
They've flown down here
from all corners of the world.
714
00:48:23,208 --> 00:48:25,000
And this is some life-changing news.
715
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:26,458
Maybe a lifelong dream.
716
00:48:30,625 --> 00:48:32,875
For me, back in the '90s,
717
00:48:32,875 --> 00:48:36,375
I was just an average
squadron commanding officer.
718
00:48:36,375 --> 00:48:38,666
You know, they would never pick me.
719
00:48:38,666 --> 00:48:40,875
Why even try?
720
00:48:40,875 --> 00:48:43,291
So I was relaxed and honest.
721
00:48:43,291 --> 00:48:45,750
You know, "I'm just gonna be me."
722
00:48:45,750 --> 00:48:49,666
And I was shocked when they pulled me out,
723
00:48:49,666 --> 00:48:52,333
outside the room, said, "You're the guy."
724
00:48:52,333 --> 00:48:54,541
Oh, boy. Whew.
725
00:49:05,958 --> 00:49:08,791
And that was a life changer.
I was real surprised.
726
00:49:13,416 --> 00:49:17,166
It's a tough decision.
I mean, these folks are all Olympians.
727
00:49:18,250 --> 00:49:21,041
These folks work their entire life.
728
00:49:21,041 --> 00:49:24,708
You've heard of the gold medalist,
maybe the silver or even the bronze,
729
00:49:24,708 --> 00:49:29,083
but someone comes in fourth
and no one knows their name.
730
00:49:32,666 --> 00:49:35,750
First off, thank you,
everyone. Very, very well done.
731
00:49:35,750 --> 00:49:37,333
- Please hold your heads high.
732
00:49:37,333 --> 00:49:39,041
- Very well done. Very well done.
Thank you.
733
00:49:39,041 --> 00:49:40,333
Very well done.
734
00:49:40,333 --> 00:49:41,875
- Okay.
We'll come on out here.
735
00:49:41,875 --> 00:49:43,125
Awesome.
736
00:49:44,833 --> 00:49:46,333
All right.
737
00:49:47,625 --> 00:49:49,583
You won't start getting
your PAO training right away,
738
00:49:49,583 --> 00:49:52,041
but you'll be expected to say
a few things, uh, to the press.
739
00:49:52,041 --> 00:49:55,000
Right, your-your most important thing
to do right now is
740
00:49:55,000 --> 00:49:56,333
- you're gonna call your wife.
- Mm-hmm.
741
00:49:56,333 --> 00:49:57,916
Give her a call-- make it a quick one--
742
00:49:57,916 --> 00:49:59,708
- and call your... call your mom and dad.
- Yeah. Yeah.
743
00:49:59,708 --> 00:50:02,166
Okay, then let me know.
Just give them a couple of minutes...
744
00:50:02,166 --> 00:50:04,208
That was, uh,
extremely emotional, for sure.
745
00:50:04,208 --> 00:50:06,833
Uh, surprising to start,
and then a... and then a...
746
00:50:06,833 --> 00:50:08,666
just a flood of different emotions.
747
00:50:09,916 --> 00:50:12,708
My name's Commander Alex Armatas.
Call sign is "Scribe."
748
00:50:12,708 --> 00:50:16,541
I grew up in Central New York, and, uh,
very young I knew I wanted to fly.
749
00:50:16,541 --> 00:50:17,958
Press conference one.
750
00:50:17,958 --> 00:50:19,916
I've been in the Navy
for quite a while now.
751
00:50:19,916 --> 00:50:22,041
A little over 20 years.
752
00:50:23,041 --> 00:50:24,916
I kind of prepared myself
to not be the one,
753
00:50:24,916 --> 00:50:27,208
so now I'm very quickly
having to come to terms
754
00:50:27,208 --> 00:50:29,875
with the fact that this will be, uh...
this will be my role next, and, uh...
755
00:50:29,875 --> 00:50:31,541
and I need to get ready for that, so...
756
00:50:31,541 --> 00:50:33,958
So, what do you think?
Shock? Shock and awe?
757
00:50:33,958 --> 00:50:36,083
- Yeah, big-time.
- Yeah. Yeah, me, too.
758
00:50:36,083 --> 00:50:37,875
I think, uh...
759
00:50:37,875 --> 00:50:40,666
- Job's gonna be different than you think.
Yeah?
760
00:50:40,666 --> 00:50:43,500
It's gonna be challenging
in aspects you don't know.
761
00:50:43,500 --> 00:50:45,041
- I wouldn't trade it for the world.
- Yeah.
762
00:50:45,041 --> 00:50:46,791
It's been fantastic.
763
00:50:50,208 --> 00:50:51,708
I appreciate it. Thank you.
764
00:50:54,958 --> 00:50:56,375
Uh, good afternoon, everyone.
765
00:50:56,375 --> 00:50:58,041
As mentioned, my name's
Commander Alex Armatas.
766
00:50:58,041 --> 00:50:59,916
Uh, it is an absolute honor to be here.
767
00:50:59,916 --> 00:51:03,166
It's, uh, very humbling, very emotional,
as Captain Kesselring mentioned.
768
00:51:03,166 --> 00:51:04,750
Admiral, thank you as well, sir.
769
00:51:04,750 --> 00:51:06,500
Uh, and, uh, just...
770
00:51:06,500 --> 00:51:08,166
Even though
he's a very skilled leader
771
00:51:08,166 --> 00:51:09,625
and very skilled aviator,
772
00:51:09,625 --> 00:51:12,500
he's gonna go through that same crucible,
that same learning curve.
773
00:51:12,500 --> 00:51:15,458
As I look back, oh, boy.
774
00:51:15,458 --> 00:51:17,416
There's just... he doesn't know
what he doesn't know yet.
775
00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:20,333
- Does this get easier with time? This--
- Yeah.
776
00:51:20,333 --> 00:51:21,583
Does it get easier? I hope so.
777
00:51:21,583 --> 00:51:23,291
- How you doing? Outstanding job. Yeah.
- Thanks, Admiral. I appreciate it.
778
00:51:23,291 --> 00:51:25,000
- Outstanding.
- Yeah, this is, uh...
779
00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:27,333
I hope it gets easier the more you do it.
780
00:51:29,375 --> 00:51:33,666
The Blue Angels were
the brainchild of Admiral Chester Nimitz.
781
00:51:33,666 --> 00:51:35,583
{\an8}In 1946,
782
00:51:35,583 --> 00:51:37,958
Admiral Nimitz said,
"We've got to make sure
783
00:51:37,958 --> 00:51:40,833
the American public doesn't forget
about Navy planes."
784
00:51:44,500 --> 00:51:49,000
{\an8}He pulled a fellow that had
five aerial victories during the war,
785
00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:52,583
{\an8}a young 26-year-old lieutenant commander
named Butch Voris.
786
00:51:53,666 --> 00:51:58,000
And so, Butch grabbed
about four of his best friends, they...
787
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:02,000
created a team, created a few maneuvers
788
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:04,625
and took it right to the American public.
789
00:52:20,250 --> 00:52:22,125
The Blue Angels fly
790
00:52:22,125 --> 00:52:26,625
the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II,
a single-seat light attack jet,
791
00:52:26,625 --> 00:52:30,875
versions of which have been operational
in the fleet since 1956.
792
00:52:45,500 --> 00:52:49,375
Over the years, the team has
gone through many different airplanes--
793
00:52:49,375 --> 00:52:53,666
propeller-driven airplanes,
and then into the jet era.
794
00:52:56,416 --> 00:52:57,458
Ready?
795
00:52:57,458 --> 00:52:59,416
Hit it.
796
00:52:59,416 --> 00:53:00,750
Take it in!
797
00:53:00,750 --> 00:53:02,375
We didn't see it as a risk.
798
00:53:02,375 --> 00:53:05,708
We saw taking this job
as a Blue Angel as a privilege.
799
00:53:37,708 --> 00:53:41,666
It's so highly sought-after
to be part of the Blue Angels.
800
00:53:42,750 --> 00:53:47,458
And it's a...
it's a very distinct privilege
801
00:53:47,458 --> 00:53:49,625
to be selected to the Blues.
802
00:53:51,250 --> 00:53:53,708
And we got to pick our own.
How about that?
803
00:53:53,708 --> 00:53:56,791
Nobody from above was saying,
"You're gonna take this person,
804
00:53:56,791 --> 00:54:00,083
teach him how to fly,
teach him how to be a Blue Angel."
805
00:54:00,083 --> 00:54:03,375
Which was really unusual in the military.
806
00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:12,208
All right.
807
00:54:12,208 --> 00:54:15,375
This day is gonna be
very busy, very tight on timelines.
808
00:54:15,375 --> 00:54:18,041
If you're next, be on deck
outside the room.
809
00:54:18,041 --> 00:54:20,541
Everybody else can relax in here,
do your thing.
810
00:54:20,541 --> 00:54:21,708
Thanks.
811
00:54:21,708 --> 00:54:23,875
There's the robust
interview process.
812
00:54:23,875 --> 00:54:27,541
We get medical. We take a look
at the backgrounds and all that.
813
00:54:27,541 --> 00:54:30,000
But really, what it comes down to
is three things:
814
00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:31,833
talent, passion and personality.
815
00:54:31,833 --> 00:54:34,083
Questions for me? Awesome.
816
00:54:34,083 --> 00:54:36,666
- You stand right here.
- Oh.
817
00:54:36,666 --> 00:54:40,916
My first introduction
to aviation was when my dad took
818
00:54:40,916 --> 00:54:42,833
my family to Tuskegee,
819
00:54:42,833 --> 00:54:47,875
where we got to ride in a small,
single-engine aircraft.
820
00:54:47,875 --> 00:54:51,916
Up until that point, I wanted to be
a train conductor and a police officer.
821
00:54:51,916 --> 00:54:54,125
But after that flight,
I wanted to be a pilot.
822
00:54:57,875 --> 00:54:59,750
The interview matters.
823
00:54:59,750 --> 00:55:03,291
We are picking the best-fit person
for this job.
824
00:55:03,291 --> 00:55:05,083
And by "best-fit," I mean,
825
00:55:05,083 --> 00:55:06,250
that's hugely important.
826
00:55:06,250 --> 00:55:08,166
We're spending a lot of time
with each other.
827
00:55:08,166 --> 00:55:12,250
We know each other so well.
828
00:55:12,250 --> 00:55:14,458
They're certainly
a bit on the nervous side.
829
00:55:14,458 --> 00:55:15,666
Got the nerves going.
830
00:55:15,666 --> 00:55:18,291
You see their excitement.
You see the desire.
831
00:55:18,291 --> 00:55:20,625
They're so close
they can darn near taste it.
832
00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:32,000
We try to learn
everything about that individual
833
00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:34,083
before they get here
so that when they do get here
834
00:55:34,083 --> 00:55:36,083
we know exactly what
their personality is going to be
835
00:55:36,083 --> 00:55:38,708
and where they're going to fit in
in their part of this team.
836
00:55:43,541 --> 00:55:45,375
We'll start
during the interview process,
837
00:55:45,375 --> 00:55:49,916
you know, dig a little deeper,
but it literally is
838
00:55:49,916 --> 00:55:52,500
a unanimous decision
amongst 17 people in the room
839
00:55:52,500 --> 00:55:57,333
that requires hours of deliberation
and discussion to reach that consensus.
840
00:55:58,791 --> 00:56:00,458
Obviously,
you're gonna pick the people
841
00:56:00,458 --> 00:56:02,333
you think will be the absolute best.
842
00:56:02,333 --> 00:56:04,291
Sometimes that takes five minutes.
843
00:56:04,291 --> 00:56:06,791
Sometimes that takes four hours.
You never know.
844
00:56:08,416 --> 00:56:10,416
These are all
very personal conversations
845
00:56:10,416 --> 00:56:13,333
with personal details
about this individual's life
846
00:56:13,333 --> 00:56:16,083
that the general public
doesn't need to ever know.
847
00:56:16,083 --> 00:56:18,208
And it's certain things
that we'll talk about in there,
848
00:56:18,208 --> 00:56:21,375
and at the end of the night,
we all slap the table and say,
849
00:56:21,375 --> 00:56:23,583
"What happened here stays here."
850
00:56:23,583 --> 00:56:25,833
And then it's never
to be talked about again.
851
00:56:26,833 --> 00:56:29,500
'Cause at the end of the day, guess what--
those are your new people.
852
00:56:33,875 --> 00:56:35,791
There has to be a unanimous decision.
853
00:56:35,791 --> 00:56:38,500
But if we don't pick the right people
to carry on that legacy,
854
00:56:38,500 --> 00:56:40,208
then what we've done is just a failure.
855
00:56:42,166 --> 00:56:44,916
If you're a finalist, you're
kind of waiting on pins and needles.
856
00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:48,083
Saturday after
the Pensacola Beach Air Show,
857
00:56:48,083 --> 00:56:49,750
you call in, they tell you whether or not,
858
00:56:49,750 --> 00:56:52,125
you know, either "Welcome to the team,"
or, you know,
859
00:56:52,125 --> 00:56:53,625
"Hey, sorry. Try again next year."
860
00:56:56,416 --> 00:56:58,708
For me, took me three tries.
861
00:56:58,708 --> 00:57:00,916
I got... you know,
I got lucky along the way.
862
00:57:00,916 --> 00:57:04,375
Did a couple deployments,
and then I ended up here on the team.
863
00:57:07,208 --> 00:57:10,791
That was... that was a huge,
huge success... [chuckles]
864
00:57:10,791 --> 00:57:11,875
...in my book.
865
00:57:12,958 --> 00:57:14,375
Let's go.
866
00:57:17,125 --> 00:57:19,125
You know, we owe it to all those folks,
867
00:57:19,125 --> 00:57:23,791
the majority of folks who have rushed
the team that didn't make it.
868
00:57:23,791 --> 00:57:26,083
Some miss out by just one vote.
869
00:57:27,500 --> 00:57:32,791
We are four months, 16 shows away
from the end of the season,
870
00:57:32,791 --> 00:57:34,958
so make sure you appreciate it
while you're here.
871
00:58:01,708 --> 00:58:04,916
This city definitely has
a special place for us.
872
00:58:06,708 --> 00:58:12,250
These people who have been coming
to these shows, you know, since the '60s,
873
00:58:12,250 --> 00:58:15,791
they still welcome us as if we're family.
874
00:58:27,458 --> 00:58:29,500
We're moments in time on this team.
875
00:58:30,791 --> 00:58:33,333
I've been watching
the Blue Angels since 1982.
876
00:58:33,333 --> 00:58:34,916
It's my 40th summer.
877
00:58:34,916 --> 00:58:36,791
I've been around them my entire life.
878
00:58:36,791 --> 00:58:38,333
Twenty-plus.
879
00:58:38,333 --> 00:58:42,208
The adrenaline, the rush,
and honestly, like, seeing it in person
880
00:58:42,208 --> 00:58:44,250
just makes it that much more real.
881
00:58:48,291 --> 00:58:51,125
Okay, winds are two-zero-zero-eight.
We own the airspace.
882
00:58:51,125 --> 00:58:53,666
- Have a good one.
883
00:58:53,666 --> 00:58:55,208
We're cleared for takeoff.
884
00:59:27,583 --> 00:59:30,208
In relatively
slow speed flight, they will give you
885
00:59:30,208 --> 00:59:33,083
an opportunity to get a close look
at the precision flying
886
00:59:33,083 --> 00:59:36,083
that produces the 18-inch
wingtip-to-canopy separation
887
00:59:36,083 --> 00:59:38,125
between these four aircraft.
888
00:59:38,125 --> 00:59:41,166
From the right, the Blue Angel Diamond.
889
00:59:45,583 --> 00:59:47,958
Looking at it,
the start of the season,
890
00:59:47,958 --> 00:59:51,041
you know, I'd think, "Man, there's no way
I'm gonna get this close to a jet."
891
00:59:53,125 --> 00:59:55,500
Especially for the Diamond 360,
which is what we consider
892
00:59:55,500 --> 00:59:57,416
one of our hardest maneuvers.
893
00:59:57,416 --> 00:59:59,541
They're at 360.
894
01:00:04,958 --> 01:00:07,666
We just bumped it
into Blue Gold set.
895
01:00:08,750 --> 01:00:12,750
Scott-- Jamammy-- he's currently
up under, you know, Boss's wing.
896
01:00:13,750 --> 01:00:16,416
Now, me on the other side,
because of parallax,
897
01:00:16,416 --> 01:00:18,125
I'm not actually sliding myself
up underneath.
898
01:00:18,125 --> 01:00:21,583
{\an8}What I'm actually doing is I'm sliding
outboard and forward.
899
01:00:24,208 --> 01:00:25,958
You have Frank underneath my wing
900
01:00:25,958 --> 01:00:28,458
doing almost the exact same thing
that Scott is doing,
901
01:00:28,458 --> 01:00:30,666
just a little bit more aft.
902
01:00:31,666 --> 01:00:33,291
It's kind of getting
not so much comfortable,
903
01:00:33,291 --> 01:00:35,666
but it's getting familiar, uh,
to the point where it's like,
904
01:00:35,666 --> 01:00:37,208
"Man, we're actually really doing this."
905
01:00:37,208 --> 01:00:39,750
You know, this is...
this is the aspect of the Blue Angels
906
01:00:39,750 --> 01:00:43,166
that no other demonstration team
really reaches.
907
01:00:50,833 --> 01:00:53,208
But the Yankee set
at the start of the season
908
01:00:53,208 --> 01:00:55,625
is something you really want to get
909
01:00:55,625 --> 01:00:59,500
and you don't completely know
if maybe you'll actually get there, but...
910
01:00:59,500 --> 01:01:01,333
There's teams that have done this
in the past,
911
01:01:01,333 --> 01:01:02,916
and then there's teams that haven't.
912
01:01:04,625 --> 01:01:08,041
Now that we're starting to get
in that regime of flight,
913
01:01:08,041 --> 01:01:10,125
will we get there?
914
01:01:10,125 --> 01:01:11,583
Hopefully, yes.
915
01:02:04,791 --> 01:02:07,625
Of course, the crowd favorite
is the Sneak.
916
01:02:15,708 --> 01:02:17,541
The Diamond
will execute their maneuver,
917
01:02:17,541 --> 01:02:20,083
showcasing the precision flying,
uh, that is required
918
01:02:20,083 --> 01:02:22,125
of all Navy and Marine Corps pilots.
919
01:02:22,125 --> 01:02:26,083
And then as we're setting up for our
next maneuver, we get the solos in there,
920
01:02:26,083 --> 01:02:28,958
who just pull on the stick a lot
and provide the filler.
921
01:02:44,625 --> 01:02:45,916
The Diamond's
favorite maneuvers are when
922
01:02:45,916 --> 01:02:47,250
they get to break apart from Boss,
923
01:02:47,250 --> 01:02:49,750
act like a solo,
and then once that's over,
924
01:02:49,750 --> 01:02:51,833
they're back to being the Diamond.
925
01:02:51,833 --> 01:02:54,041
I mean, the Diamond, everybody knows
they're-they're the better pilots here.
926
01:02:54,041 --> 01:02:55,250
Every... Literally everybody knows.
927
01:02:55,250 --> 01:02:58,333
You know that you actually have to think
about those around you,
928
01:02:58,333 --> 01:02:59,791
like, be a team player.
929
01:02:59,791 --> 01:03:01,083
They just don't get that yet.
930
01:03:01,083 --> 01:03:03,125
So, maybe one day,
they'll understand that, but...
931
01:03:03,125 --> 01:03:04,291
Fun and excitement.
932
01:03:04,291 --> 01:03:06,875
Definitely, the solos use a lot more
than Diamond.
933
01:03:06,875 --> 01:03:08,833
They're all flying off of Boss, so...
934
01:03:08,833 --> 01:03:11,541
Healthy competition--
that's exactly what it is.
935
01:03:28,041 --> 01:03:31,000
After I left
Pensacola for finalist week,
936
01:03:31,000 --> 01:03:32,875
it was just me and my husband
at the house.
937
01:03:32,875 --> 01:03:35,041
We were kind of waiting
and anticipating this phone call.
938
01:03:36,208 --> 01:03:39,125
I was the very first person
to call in, uh, so I called in
939
01:03:39,125 --> 01:03:41,750
and, uh, they kind of joked around
with me and they said,
940
01:03:41,750 --> 01:03:44,416
"Hey, you have the wrong number.
Try calling this number back."
941
01:03:44,416 --> 01:03:47,333
So I am in panic mode immediately.
942
01:03:47,333 --> 01:03:49,583
We tend to mess with them a little bit...
943
01:03:49,583 --> 01:03:51,416
when they, uh...
when they call in for the selectees, so...
944
01:03:52,583 --> 01:03:54,916
We have a five-minute window to call in,
945
01:03:54,916 --> 01:03:56,500
so I'm-I'm going through my messages,
946
01:03:56,500 --> 01:03:59,041
making sure I have the right...
the right number.
947
01:03:59,041 --> 01:04:01,125
I call back. They're like,
"Still the wrong number."
948
01:04:01,125 --> 01:04:05,166
We're listening in as Cody has got some
rock music playing in the background.
949
01:04:05,166 --> 01:04:06,916
I get a call from Boss.
950
01:04:06,916 --> 01:04:10,041
- He's like...
- Amanda, weren't you supposed
to call in a couple minutes ago?
951
01:04:10,041 --> 01:04:12,500
I-I was like, "I have done
something terribly wrong.
952
01:04:12,500 --> 01:04:14,291
I'm in trouble."
953
01:04:14,291 --> 01:04:16,583
He's like, "Hey, next year, when you...
when you're on the team,
954
01:04:16,583 --> 01:04:18,458
maybe we'll get your timeline
a little bit better."
955
01:04:18,458 --> 01:04:20,583
And then everybody said,
"Welcome to the team."
956
01:04:20,583 --> 01:04:22,958
But they had me super frazzled.
957
01:04:22,958 --> 01:04:25,500
A history-making day
for the legendary Blue Angels.
958
01:04:25,500 --> 01:04:28,458
{\an8}The Navy's elite flight squadron
has selected its first
959
01:04:28,458 --> 01:04:31,291
{\an8}female fighter jet demonstration pilot,
960
01:04:31,291 --> 01:04:34,250
{\an8}Lieutenant Amanda Lee from Minnesota.
961
01:04:34,250 --> 01:04:37,625
{\an8}She is soon going to be flying high
with the Blue Angels.
962
01:04:37,625 --> 01:04:41,416
{\an8}She will need to complete an intensive
five-month training program
963
01:04:41,416 --> 01:04:44,500
{\an8}with other new members of the team
beginning in September.
964
01:04:46,833 --> 01:04:49,708
I enlisted in the Navy in 2007.
965
01:04:49,708 --> 01:04:52,666
I ended up enlisting as
an aviation electronics technician,
966
01:04:52,666 --> 01:04:54,583
and I started working on the F-18.
967
01:04:55,666 --> 01:04:58,625
I get to my first squadron,
and my division chief said,
968
01:04:58,625 --> 01:05:01,791
"You don't belong here. I don't feel like
you're challenged enough."
969
01:05:01,791 --> 01:05:03,708
And the only thing I knew in the Navy
970
01:05:03,708 --> 01:05:05,875
was aviation, so I was like,
"Let's try to fly."
971
01:05:05,875 --> 01:05:09,000
Once you wear this crest,
it's a life-changing journey
972
01:05:09,000 --> 01:05:12,708
and you have an opportunity to represent
those over 800,000 active duty reserve
973
01:05:12,708 --> 01:05:15,041
and civilian support personnel
by wearing it.
974
01:05:15,041 --> 01:05:19,041
Having the whole team there
greeting you, really excited for you,
975
01:05:19,041 --> 01:05:20,958
it was absolutely an unforgettable day.
976
01:05:20,958 --> 01:05:24,333
So remember today is the day
that you became a Blue Angel.
977
01:05:24,333 --> 01:05:26,208
Look around at your teammates.
978
01:05:26,208 --> 01:05:28,750
Commit this special bond to memory.
979
01:05:28,750 --> 01:05:31,458
Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
980
01:05:35,208 --> 01:05:37,000
Welcome to the team.
981
01:05:42,208 --> 01:05:45,750
I think the media likes
to make a big deal out of firsts,
982
01:05:45,750 --> 01:05:49,166
but, you know, I always feel
we give short shrift
983
01:05:49,166 --> 01:05:51,958
to why they actually made it, right?
984
01:05:53,791 --> 01:05:57,916
We have a fantastic officer
and a fantastic pilot.
985
01:05:59,000 --> 01:06:01,208
The end of the day,
when you're flying 12 inches apart,
986
01:06:01,208 --> 01:06:02,708
what really matters
987
01:06:02,708 --> 01:06:03,958
is that you can trust 'em.
988
01:06:27,541 --> 01:06:29,833
I think the progression
with the team is going really well,
989
01:06:29,833 --> 01:06:32,875
and I'm really, really excited to see
when we can bring this in
990
01:06:32,875 --> 01:06:34,875
and how tight we can actually
get that formation.
991
01:06:46,916 --> 01:06:50,083
In terms of being a newbie
on the Blue Angels,
992
01:06:50,083 --> 01:06:52,083
it feels like an eternity.
993
01:06:52,083 --> 01:06:56,041
We are entering a phase of the season
where a new team is selected
994
01:06:56,041 --> 01:06:58,791
and it's the official "you are no longer
a newbie on the team."
995
01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:04,666
You finally kind of know
what you're doing.
996
01:07:35,583 --> 01:07:37,458
Rip it.
997
01:07:39,916 --> 01:07:42,875
It's kind of fun watching
the folks who just learned.
998
01:07:43,958 --> 01:07:49,333
It's cool seeing Cheese go from
not knowing anything but fleet flying
999
01:07:49,333 --> 01:07:54,625
to feeling 110% confident.
1000
01:07:54,625 --> 01:07:57,458
But he has another enormous role
that he's got to learn.
1001
01:07:58,541 --> 01:08:00,208
Cheese next year in the two jet
1002
01:08:00,208 --> 01:08:02,041
is gonna have
the incredible responsibility
1003
01:08:02,041 --> 01:08:04,000
of training a new boss.
1004
01:08:14,541 --> 01:08:16,666
Good morning, Mike. How are you?
1005
01:08:16,666 --> 01:08:18,041
Thanks. Good. And yourself?
- Hi.
1006
01:08:18,041 --> 01:08:19,625
- Doc, nice to see you again.
- Good to be back.
1007
01:08:19,625 --> 01:08:20,958
- Hi. Mike.
- Alex Armatas.
1008
01:08:20,958 --> 01:08:26,625
We are in San Antonio, Texas,
at the Wyle KBR centrifuge center.
1009
01:08:26,625 --> 01:08:28,208
You guys ready for this?
1010
01:08:29,375 --> 01:08:32,875
This is the first day
for the incoming pilots
1011
01:08:32,875 --> 01:08:35,708
to be on the job as Blue Angels.
1012
01:08:37,166 --> 01:08:41,125
This is a g tolerance
improvement training program,
1013
01:08:41,125 --> 01:08:44,250
and it is a very demanding
and rigorous program.
1014
01:08:44,250 --> 01:08:48,375
People who've been flying F-18s
for 20 years go to the centrifuge
1015
01:08:48,375 --> 01:08:50,000
if they get selected.
1016
01:08:50,000 --> 01:08:54,125
And it can be challenging at times and
sometimes have to learn new techniques
1017
01:08:54,125 --> 01:08:56,125
to make sure they can perform
at the highest levels
1018
01:08:56,125 --> 01:08:58,291
before they can be on the team.
1019
01:08:59,791 --> 01:09:01,500
When you increase g-forces,
1020
01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:05,500
gravity is gonna pull
the blood in your head down to your feet,
1021
01:09:05,500 --> 01:09:07,458
so you're gonna pass out.
1022
01:09:07,458 --> 01:09:09,125
Go ahead and put your g-suits on.
1023
01:09:09,125 --> 01:09:11,250
I want to check them just to make sure.
1024
01:09:11,250 --> 01:09:14,875
The first day,
incoming aviators wear their g-suits,
1025
01:09:14,875 --> 01:09:16,416
which they're used to wearing
out in the fleet.
1026
01:09:16,416 --> 01:09:19,166
Go ahead and climb on in
and sit down as best
1027
01:09:19,166 --> 01:09:21,250
or as easy as possible.
1028
01:09:21,250 --> 01:09:25,083
A g-suit is something
that we strap on, and they will inflate
1029
01:09:25,083 --> 01:09:27,625
and deflate, depending on
the amount of g's you're pulling,
1030
01:09:27,625 --> 01:09:30,458
to help you sustain g's
so you don't have to strain as hard.
1031
01:09:30,458 --> 01:09:32,208
Harness.
1032
01:09:32,208 --> 01:09:34,166
Harness locked.
Zippers are up.
1033
01:09:34,166 --> 01:09:37,916
G-suit pressure
one-five-five.
1034
01:09:37,916 --> 01:09:39,375
There it is.
1035
01:09:48,250 --> 01:09:50,250
Okay, we're just gonna
get you up to idle speed.
1036
01:09:50,250 --> 01:09:52,791
In three, two, one. Engage.
1037
01:09:58,333 --> 01:10:01,416
All right, should feel like you're
going straight up in a rocket right now.
1038
01:10:01,416 --> 01:10:02,791
Yeah.
1039
01:10:02,791 --> 01:10:04,416
Pull back.
1040
01:10:05,958 --> 01:10:07,958
Up top. Breathe.
1041
01:10:07,958 --> 01:10:09,708
{\an8}Bring those knees in.
Dig with those heels.
1042
01:10:09,708 --> 01:10:11,666
{\an8}Breathe. Drop the shoulders.
1043
01:10:11,666 --> 01:10:13,541
{\an8}Plank the abs. Down to five and a half.
1044
01:10:13,541 --> 01:10:14,958
{\an8}Keep it going.
1045
01:10:14,958 --> 01:10:17,166
Squeeze that butt.
Get those abs tight.
1046
01:10:17,166 --> 01:10:18,291
{\an8}Keep them tight.
1047
01:10:18,291 --> 01:10:19,916
{\an8}You're letting these g's control you.
1048
01:10:19,916 --> 01:10:21,916
{\an8}Come on. I want you to control them.
1049
01:10:25,125 --> 01:10:26,458
{\an8}You're on top. Breathe.
1050
01:10:26,458 --> 01:10:28,375
{\an8}Squeeze the knees. Squeeze that butt.
1051
01:10:28,375 --> 01:10:30,833
{\an8}Breathe. Keep those abs tight.
Keep them tight.
1052
01:10:30,833 --> 01:10:33,083
Work. Bring those knees in.
Squeeze that butt!
1053
01:10:33,083 --> 01:10:34,541
{\an8}Come on, breathe.
1054
01:10:34,541 --> 01:10:36,291
Come on, dig the heels.
You got this.
1055
01:10:36,291 --> 01:10:38,708
{\an8}Keep squeezing. Come on.
1056
01:10:38,708 --> 01:10:41,333
{\an8}Squeeze the knees. Nicely done.
1057
01:10:41,333 --> 01:10:43,041
I got to tell you, Alex, that may be
1058
01:10:43,041 --> 01:10:46,500
the best I've ever seen
anybody do on their first ride.
1059
01:10:46,500 --> 01:10:48,833
I'm sure. I'm not just blowing smoke, man.
1060
01:10:48,833 --> 01:10:51,208
I don't say that to people.
That was awesome.
1061
01:10:54,291 --> 01:10:56,750
Today, there are no g-suits.
1062
01:10:57,916 --> 01:11:00,250
And the reason we require that is because
1063
01:11:00,250 --> 01:11:03,458
we do not fly with g-suits
in the Blue Angels.
1064
01:11:05,375 --> 01:11:07,458
Welcome back.
- Yeah.
1065
01:11:07,458 --> 01:11:09,041
The g-suit fills up with air,
1066
01:11:09,041 --> 01:11:12,250
so the way we fulcrum
with our-our arm on our leg,
1067
01:11:12,250 --> 01:11:15,250
if that were to inflate,
it would move our arm
1068
01:11:15,250 --> 01:11:17,750
and inherently just move the aircraft,
so we don't do that.
1069
01:11:17,750 --> 01:11:21,250
Okay, we're gonna
start the profile now.
1070
01:11:21,250 --> 01:11:24,500
We have five profiles
that every Blue Angel aviator
1071
01:11:24,500 --> 01:11:27,791
will go through in the centrifuge
which represent
1072
01:11:27,791 --> 01:11:29,750
what they experience
when flying in the jet.
1073
01:11:38,000 --> 01:11:41,166
And those are the high-g profiles,
and one of which is
1074
01:11:41,166 --> 01:11:44,166
the PUB, the Pitch-Up Break,
which is our very last maneuver,
1075
01:11:44,166 --> 01:11:47,166
{\an8}where the pilots will pull
seven and a half g's
1076
01:11:47,166 --> 01:11:49,416
{\an8}to break around the airfield
before landing.
1077
01:11:51,041 --> 01:11:54,791
But it's critical that
they stay awake during that maneuver.
1078
01:11:56,708 --> 01:11:59,208
So we've taken that demonstration profile
1079
01:11:59,208 --> 01:12:01,625
and simulated it in the centrifuge
1080
01:12:01,625 --> 01:12:04,083
so that we can train to it
before getting into the jet.
1081
01:12:04,083 --> 01:12:05,416
All right, I have controls.
1082
01:12:05,416 --> 01:12:07,125
Going to seven g's, five seconds.
1083
01:12:11,250 --> 01:12:13,375
Okay, legs tight. Breath.
1084
01:12:14,416 --> 01:12:15,583
{\an8}On top. Breathe.
1085
01:12:15,583 --> 01:12:17,750
{\an8}Dig with the heels. Plank the abs.
1086
01:12:17,750 --> 01:12:20,250
{\an8}Breathe. We're-we're down
to five and a half. Keep it going.
1087
01:12:20,250 --> 01:12:23,083
{\an8}Stay with the strain. Come on.
1088
01:12:23,083 --> 01:12:25,625
{\an8}-Stay with it. Stay with it. Stay with it.
1089
01:12:29,583 --> 01:12:32,458
It gets people
when it drops off like that.
1090
01:12:33,541 --> 01:12:36,458
It's the weirdest thing
to have a g-induced loss of consciousness.
1091
01:12:36,458 --> 01:12:39,250
You don't even know
where you are or what you are.
1092
01:12:39,250 --> 01:12:44,208
I mean, it's just like
your whole conscious self is gone.
1093
01:12:44,208 --> 01:12:46,541
Alex, you okay?
1094
01:12:46,541 --> 01:12:48,541
- Yeah.
- All right.
1095
01:12:48,541 --> 01:12:53,000
I called Boss about this and said,
"Hey, Boss, the new boss just passed out."
1096
01:12:53,000 --> 01:12:54,458
And he said, "Good.
1097
01:12:54,458 --> 01:12:57,583
Good, because that's a wake-up call
that he needs."
1098
01:12:57,583 --> 01:13:00,958
You know, "Let's get to work.
This is not gonna be easy."
1099
01:13:04,583 --> 01:13:07,208
You're on top. Breathe.
1100
01:13:07,208 --> 01:13:09,875
{\an8}Come on, dig the heels.
You got this. Keep squeezing.
1101
01:13:09,875 --> 01:13:11,708
{\an8}Breathe. Squeeze those knees.
Get that butt tight.
1102
01:13:11,708 --> 01:13:13,250
{\an8}Yes. Abs tight. Hold them tight.
1103
01:13:13,250 --> 01:13:14,541
{\an8}Come on, legs.
1104
01:13:14,541 --> 01:13:17,250
{\an8}One, two. Breathe. You got this.
And you're coming down.
1105
01:13:17,250 --> 01:13:18,583
{\an8}You're coming all the way home.
1106
01:13:18,583 --> 01:13:20,375
{\an8}Keep the strain. Legs, butt, heels.
1107
01:13:20,375 --> 01:13:22,083
{\an8}Oh, you're coming down.
1108
01:13:24,875 --> 01:13:26,625
Yep, there we go.
1109
01:13:29,791 --> 01:13:31,208
I got you, Amanda.
1110
01:13:31,208 --> 01:13:33,708
Go ahead and put your head back. Amanda?
1111
01:13:33,708 --> 01:13:36,666
I had never g-LOC'd before.
1112
01:13:36,666 --> 01:13:39,708
And whatever your mind goes through
at that point, you know,
1113
01:13:39,708 --> 01:13:41,666
who knows, but I was in outer space.
1114
01:13:41,666 --> 01:13:44,625
Take a breath.
1115
01:13:44,625 --> 01:13:50,041
It's, like, a... an eye-opener
for how inherently dangerous this job is.
1116
01:13:50,041 --> 01:13:52,333
We're just getting everything
back to normal.
1117
01:13:52,333 --> 01:13:53,958
Okay.
- Head back in the headrest.
1118
01:13:53,958 --> 01:13:55,041
There you go.
1119
01:13:55,041 --> 01:13:56,666
There was certainly
a point today where I was...
1120
01:13:56,666 --> 01:13:59,125
I was frustrated, and it was a...
it was a difficult profile,
1121
01:13:59,125 --> 01:14:02,625
and I just kind of sat down and...
and just-just wanted to...
1122
01:14:02,625 --> 01:14:04,958
just wanted to relax
and do nothing for a few minutes.
1123
01:14:04,958 --> 01:14:06,583
But like most things in this business,
1124
01:14:06,583 --> 01:14:08,625
you-you get over it and you...
and you move on.
1125
01:14:08,625 --> 01:14:11,250
{\an8}Breath up.
1126
01:14:11,250 --> 01:14:13,333
{\an8}On top. Breathe. Drop those shoulders.
1127
01:14:13,333 --> 01:14:15,416
{\an8}Bring the knees in.
Squeeze the butt. Breathe.
1128
01:14:15,416 --> 01:14:19,000
A lot of today
is building confidence,
1129
01:14:19,000 --> 01:14:23,166
{\an8}knowing that you can physically do this.
1130
01:14:23,166 --> 01:14:26,125
Breathe. Good.
Terminate, terminate, terminate.
1131
01:14:27,416 --> 01:14:29,583
Got to get your mind right,
your body right.
1132
01:14:29,583 --> 01:14:33,375
But without that mind being 100% invested
that you can do this,
1133
01:14:33,375 --> 01:14:34,750
{\an8}you're not gonna be able to do it.
1134
01:14:34,750 --> 01:14:37,083
You're on top. Breathe here.
Squeeze those knees together.
1135
01:14:37,083 --> 01:14:39,833
{\an8}Squeeze that butt. Keep it tight.
Breathe. Good.
1136
01:14:39,833 --> 01:14:42,708
{\an8}Breathe. Squeeze those knees.
Get that butt tight. Breathe. Good.
1137
01:14:42,708 --> 01:14:45,041
{\an8}Come on, now. There you go.
Looking good. You got it.
1138
01:14:45,041 --> 01:14:48,250
{\an8}One, two, and you're coming down
all the way home.
1139
01:14:48,250 --> 01:14:49,958
{\an8}
1140
01:14:51,583 --> 01:14:53,541
Nicely done.
1141
01:14:57,458 --> 01:14:59,083
All right.
Hey!
1142
01:14:59,083 --> 01:15:00,333
Nice job.
1143
01:15:00,333 --> 01:15:04,500
That's what this whole training
is about-- to let them know
1144
01:15:04,500 --> 01:15:07,458
we are in the big leagues now
and it's time to step it up.
1145
01:15:07,458 --> 01:15:09,166
Nice job, man.
1146
01:15:09,166 --> 01:15:10,833
We've got a lot to learn.
1147
01:15:10,833 --> 01:15:14,583
Starting next month, we'll start traveling
with the team, and pretty much
1148
01:15:14,583 --> 01:15:17,875
from the moment we start traveling
until the change of command in November,
1149
01:15:17,875 --> 01:15:21,458
we are joined at the hip
with whoever we're replacing.
1150
01:15:21,458 --> 01:15:23,833
We'll all be doing that
all the way through the fall.
1151
01:15:23,833 --> 01:15:25,083
- Hey, Boss.
- New boss!
1152
01:15:25,083 --> 01:15:26,791
- Hey.
- All right, cheers.
1153
01:15:39,000 --> 01:15:41,375
Right now, it's the
khaki newbie phase, as we refer to it.
1154
01:15:41,375 --> 01:15:43,458
It's a good chance for all of us
to kind of feel
1155
01:15:43,458 --> 01:15:45,916
what it's like to be on the road.
1156
01:15:45,916 --> 01:15:49,083
The best way to describe it is "surreal."
1157
01:15:53,750 --> 01:15:55,708
First jumper.
1158
01:15:55,708 --> 01:15:58,000
First jumper. Two jumps away.
1159
01:15:59,083 --> 01:16:01,375
Not until
you live it, boy, do you understand
1160
01:16:01,375 --> 01:16:03,000
what it's like to be a Blue Angel.
1161
01:16:05,500 --> 01:16:08,333
It's actually a bit comical
at the start because you have a bunch
1162
01:16:08,333 --> 01:16:10,583
of highly trained, skilled folks who...
1163
01:16:10,583 --> 01:16:12,375
don't really know what to do anymore.
1164
01:16:12,375 --> 01:16:15,833
You can... But you can stand just--
yeah, either way.
1165
01:16:15,833 --> 01:16:17,833
You can dance around. Thanks.
1166
01:16:17,833 --> 01:16:22,083
Being a newbie,
there's a very delicate balance.
1167
01:16:22,083 --> 01:16:24,583
You're basically there to be a sponge.
1168
01:16:24,583 --> 01:16:26,208
That's crowd right. Intro to crowd.
1169
01:16:26,208 --> 01:16:29,166
We account for
every single minute of the day.
1170
01:16:29,166 --> 01:16:31,250
{\an8}By the time you get back to the hotel,
1171
01:16:31,250 --> 01:16:34,375
{\an8}boy, you can't even remember what you ate
for lunch or if you even ate lunch.
1172
01:16:36,250 --> 01:16:38,916
I wanted to start off
with the narrator spot,
1173
01:16:38,916 --> 01:16:41,000
and then when I found out
that I was gonna be
1174
01:16:41,000 --> 01:16:43,333
in the Diamond, it's just
one of those things where you're like,
1175
01:16:43,333 --> 01:16:44,750
"I'm just happy to be here."
1176
01:16:44,750 --> 01:16:46,791
Um, as we say, "I'm glad to be here."
1177
01:16:46,791 --> 01:16:48,958
Set your flaps.
1178
01:16:48,958 --> 01:16:51,083
"Glad to be here."
1179
01:16:51,083 --> 01:16:56,041
The perfect expression of the gratitude
we have from the top down, the bottom up.
1180
01:16:59,875 --> 01:17:03,583
Whoever is around you, and-and you say,
"I'm just glad to be here."
1181
01:17:04,583 --> 01:17:06,708
It's a reset.
1182
01:17:06,708 --> 01:17:09,750
It lets people know that
no matter what kind of day you had,
1183
01:17:09,750 --> 01:17:12,458
you're glad you are with
the people you're with,
1184
01:17:12,458 --> 01:17:15,958
because they'll understand
and they'll trust you
1185
01:17:15,958 --> 01:17:18,375
because you won't hold anything back.
1186
01:17:18,375 --> 01:17:20,041
And when you have that kind of effort,
1187
01:17:20,041 --> 01:17:22,458
it raises the outcomes
for each and every person.
1188
01:17:24,458 --> 01:17:27,125
"Glad to be here."
1189
01:17:27,125 --> 01:17:28,708
That was foundational.
1190
01:17:30,166 --> 01:17:31,250
All right!
1191
01:17:36,541 --> 01:17:40,041
Th-There's a kind of a saying
from deploying sailors
1192
01:17:40,041 --> 01:17:43,333
where the days are long
but the weeks are short.
1193
01:17:44,875 --> 01:17:47,666
Kind of living in the moment.
You're tired a lot of times.
1194
01:17:48,875 --> 01:17:51,958
All of a sudden, you wake up
and it's, you know, September,
1195
01:17:51,958 --> 01:17:53,500
and then it's end of season week.
1196
01:17:55,750 --> 01:17:57,416
Rip it.
1197
01:18:17,500 --> 01:18:20,583
You spend the entire 365 previous days
1198
01:18:20,583 --> 01:18:23,250
with your team, getting better
and better and better, and then...
1199
01:18:23,250 --> 01:18:24,333
Let's get rolling.
1200
01:18:24,333 --> 01:18:25,833
Here it is.
1201
01:18:25,833 --> 01:18:28,000
I'll never do this again.
1202
01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:31,541
My replacement has been picked,
and this is our last ride.
1203
01:18:31,541 --> 01:18:33,666
It's definitely
an emotional moment, you know?
1204
01:18:33,666 --> 01:18:35,250
Yeah.
1205
01:18:46,708 --> 01:18:49,958
For the Diamond 360,
we've talked at length over the last...
1206
01:18:49,958 --> 01:18:53,166
I-I would say each one of us
has had hours conversations
1207
01:18:53,166 --> 01:18:57,625
with each other about the Diamond 360,
kind of preparing our fulcrum...
1208
01:18:57,625 --> 01:19:00,291
Our goal at the beginning
of the season is
1209
01:19:00,291 --> 01:19:02,041
the tireless pursuit of perfection.
1210
01:19:02,041 --> 01:19:05,750
And I think a lot of it comes down
to just not being satisfied,
1211
01:19:05,750 --> 01:19:07,791
knowing that there's a next level.
1212
01:19:15,541 --> 01:19:17,291
There's tension in it. There's, one,
1213
01:19:17,291 --> 01:19:20,041
you got to be safe,
you got to be professional.
1214
01:19:22,041 --> 01:19:24,041
But there's another side to that:
1215
01:19:24,041 --> 01:19:28,000
"Gosh, man, I want to make sure
that we get to the tightest sets."
1216
01:19:31,000 --> 01:19:33,583
The Blue Angel hallmark of precision.
1217
01:19:35,041 --> 01:19:38,083
That tension, it's good,
but you got to keep it in check.
1218
01:19:38,083 --> 01:19:39,958
All right, for the Diamond Roll.
1219
01:19:39,958 --> 01:19:41,958
Hold to deep. Hold to deep...
1220
01:19:41,958 --> 01:19:45,750
The way I chose to lead was
1221
01:19:45,750 --> 01:19:47,375
I wanted Chomps to be empowered.
1222
01:19:49,416 --> 01:19:52,333
'Cause I have that much trust in-in Frank.
1223
01:19:56,416 --> 01:19:59,125
During that final week,
Frank came into my office and said,
1224
01:19:59,125 --> 01:20:01,000
"We can do it."
1225
01:20:02,083 --> 01:20:04,500
The Diamond 360 and Yankee set.
1226
01:20:09,583 --> 01:20:12,791
From the right, the Blue Angel Diamond.
1227
01:20:48,125 --> 01:20:51,083
To be able to do that safely...
1228
01:20:52,583 --> 01:20:57,791
...flying just inches apart,
that's-that's a grand slam.
1229
01:20:57,791 --> 01:20:59,875
That's the Blue Angel magic.
1230
01:21:11,333 --> 01:21:14,208
Departing team members,
last three ranks, anyone want to talk?
1231
01:21:14,208 --> 01:21:16,375
- Destiny, you crying yet?
I'm not crying.
1232
01:21:16,375 --> 01:21:18,125
- You good?
Come on, Kev.
1233
01:21:18,125 --> 01:21:19,958
Come on, Kev!
This is it.
1234
01:21:19,958 --> 01:21:23,041
- Come on, Kev.
1235
01:21:23,041 --> 01:21:25,625
- Come on, Kev!
1236
01:21:31,666 --> 01:21:33,791
♪ Put your hands in the air
if you heard me ♪
1237
01:21:33,791 --> 01:21:35,666
- ♪ Wash your hands, wash your feet ♪
1238
01:21:35,666 --> 01:21:37,125
♪ Brush your teeth, wash your back...
1239
01:21:40,625 --> 01:21:43,458
♪ Put your arms in the air
if you heard me ♪
1240
01:21:43,458 --> 01:21:46,125
♪ Wash your hands, wash your feet,
wash your back, wash your back...
1241
01:21:47,833 --> 01:21:49,916
Good afternoon, Bert.
1242
01:21:55,750 --> 01:21:58,000
I've never been in
a command like this before,
1243
01:21:58,000 --> 01:22:02,250
and, uh, you guys treat me like family,
and I really appreciate that.
1244
01:22:02,250 --> 01:22:04,208
Thank you so much. I will miss it.
1245
01:22:04,208 --> 01:22:06,875
- I will miss it.
1246
01:22:09,208 --> 01:22:14,458
♪ When there's nowhere else to run ♪
1247
01:22:14,458 --> 01:22:19,041
♪ Is there room for one more son...
1248
01:22:19,041 --> 01:22:21,291
You know, to everyone leaving,
you will be missed.
1249
01:22:21,291 --> 01:22:22,958
We'll talk about it more tonight.
1250
01:22:22,958 --> 01:22:25,916
For the newbies in the back, soak it in.
1251
01:22:25,916 --> 01:22:27,750
Talk to these people
before they leave today.
1252
01:22:27,750 --> 01:22:29,166
Whoo!
1253
01:22:29,166 --> 01:22:30,625
♪ Hold on ♪
1254
01:22:32,791 --> 01:22:34,625
♪ If you can, hold on ♪
1255
01:22:34,625 --> 01:22:36,500
- All right!
1256
01:22:36,500 --> 01:22:38,166
- ♪ Hold on ♪
- Hit it.
1257
01:22:38,166 --> 01:22:41,375
- One more time.
- Three, four, five.
1258
01:22:55,833 --> 01:22:57,500
Expo is clear to taxi.
1259
01:22:57,500 --> 01:22:59,541
Line up on runway two-five-right.
1260
01:23:01,541 --> 01:23:02,541
Now.
1261
01:23:02,541 --> 01:23:05,750
♪ I wanna stand up, I wanna let go ♪
1262
01:23:05,750 --> 01:23:08,000
- ♪ You know, you know ♪
1263
01:23:08,000 --> 01:23:11,000
♪ No, you don't, you don't ♪
1264
01:23:11,000 --> 01:23:14,875
♪ I wanna shine on in the hearts of man ♪
1265
01:23:14,875 --> 01:23:18,208
♪ I want a meaning from the back
of my broken hand ♪
1266
01:23:18,208 --> 01:23:20,625
- ♪ Another head aches ♪
1267
01:23:20,625 --> 01:23:23,416
♪ Another heart breaks ♪
1268
01:23:23,416 --> 01:23:26,083
♪ I'm so much older than I can take ♪
1269
01:23:26,083 --> 01:23:31,166
♪ And my affection,
well, it comes and goes ♪
1270
01:23:31,166 --> 01:23:34,666
♪ I need direction to perfection,
no, no, no, no ♪
1271
01:23:34,666 --> 01:23:37,083
♪ Help me out, yeah ♪
1272
01:23:37,083 --> 01:23:41,250
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1273
01:23:41,250 --> 01:23:44,791
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1274
01:23:44,791 --> 01:23:49,125
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1275
01:23:49,125 --> 01:23:51,875
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1276
01:23:51,875 --> 01:23:53,291
♪ Yeah ♪
1277
01:23:53,291 --> 01:23:57,416
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah ♪
1278
01:23:57,416 --> 01:24:00,541
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1279
01:24:00,541 --> 01:24:03,041
I don't think
you remember shows or weekends.
1280
01:24:05,541 --> 01:24:09,541
The level of perfection that we seek,
I see it in moments.
1281
01:24:11,208 --> 01:24:14,333
Every once in a while,
you're in a roll or a rollout,
1282
01:24:14,333 --> 01:24:16,750
the jets just kind of freeze,
1283
01:24:16,750 --> 01:24:19,500
and the world around you
seems to kind of spin, so...
1284
01:24:19,500 --> 01:24:21,625
And those are kind of the moments
that I'll remember
1285
01:24:21,625 --> 01:24:23,541
that kind of stick with me.
1286
01:24:23,541 --> 01:24:26,666
The four Diamond pilots
are rolling out in trail formation
1287
01:24:26,666 --> 01:24:29,208
for a dynamic separation maneuver.
1288
01:24:29,208 --> 01:24:31,541
The Blue Angel Vertical Break.
1289
01:24:31,541 --> 01:24:32,875
Rip it.
1290
01:24:32,875 --> 01:24:35,750
♪ I got soul, but I'm not a soldier ♪
1291
01:24:35,750 --> 01:24:42,666
♪ I got soul,
but I'm not a soldier ♪
1292
01:24:48,541 --> 01:24:50,541
♪ Yeah ♪
1293
01:24:50,541 --> 01:24:54,458
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1294
01:24:54,458 --> 01:24:58,458
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1295
01:24:58,458 --> 01:25:02,625
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1296
01:25:02,625 --> 01:25:04,708
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1297
01:25:04,708 --> 01:25:08,875
♪ Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1298
01:25:08,875 --> 01:25:10,583
♪ Yeah ♪
1299
01:25:10,583 --> 01:25:14,541
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1300
01:25:14,541 --> 01:25:17,750
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1301
01:25:17,750 --> 01:25:19,875
♪ Yeah, you're gonna
bring yourself down...
1302
01:25:19,875 --> 01:25:24,833
I walked away thinking, "This is
exactly what we worked for all year,"
1303
01:25:24,833 --> 01:25:26,875
and it was incredible to see.
1304
01:25:26,875 --> 01:25:28,833
♪ Last call for sin ♪
1305
01:25:28,833 --> 01:25:30,750
- ♪ While everyone's lost ♪
1306
01:25:30,750 --> 01:25:32,666
♪ The battle is won...
1307
01:25:32,666 --> 01:25:34,625
Great job. Great tour.
1308
01:25:34,625 --> 01:25:36,875
Ah, good deal, Boss.
Welcome back.
1309
01:25:36,875 --> 01:25:38,458
Great.
1310
01:25:38,458 --> 01:25:42,708
No kidding-- during the show,
the parking spots are all changed over,
1311
01:25:42,708 --> 01:25:44,208
and that is how the Blue Angels do it.
1312
01:25:44,208 --> 01:25:45,541
♪ Things that I've done ♪
1313
01:25:45,541 --> 01:25:47,500
♪ Time, truth and hearts ♪
1314
01:25:49,250 --> 01:25:52,500
All the old guys' names
have been scraped off.
1315
01:25:52,500 --> 01:25:54,291
♪ If you can, hold on ♪
1316
01:25:54,291 --> 01:25:56,750
You know, when you walk out
of this hangar that final time, that's it.
1317
01:25:56,750 --> 01:25:58,708
- ♪ If you can, hold on ♪
1318
01:25:58,708 --> 01:26:00,125
There's no coming back.
1319
01:26:10,333 --> 01:26:13,208
Just started prepping my cadence
for that final walk back,
1320
01:26:13,208 --> 01:26:15,125
when it's that final drop of salute.
1321
01:26:15,125 --> 01:26:17,416
That's right, and left.
1322
01:26:17,416 --> 01:26:19,500
Left, left.
1323
01:26:19,500 --> 01:26:21,791
How long I might wait
for that final drop of salute.
1324
01:26:21,791 --> 01:26:24,541
Left, left.
1325
01:26:24,541 --> 01:26:26,250
Left, right, left.
1326
01:26:26,250 --> 01:26:27,958
- Right, right.
- Hut!
1327
01:26:27,958 --> 01:26:31,333
We drop salute,
and we know that the next day,
1328
01:26:31,333 --> 01:26:34,625
personnel are gonna go
all across the world
1329
01:26:34,625 --> 01:26:37,375
to the next tour of duty.
1330
01:26:38,791 --> 01:26:42,708
That's the last moment
that our family's gonna be together.
1331
01:26:42,708 --> 01:26:44,208
You know?
1332
01:26:44,208 --> 01:26:46,500
Uh... yeah.
1333
01:26:49,166 --> 01:26:50,916
And salute.
1334
01:26:53,333 --> 01:26:54,833
Ready? Two.
1335
01:27:22,250 --> 01:27:24,541
The flying is cool,
but it's not the same
1336
01:27:24,541 --> 01:27:28,208
as being around Jamammy or Cheese
or Chewy or Whiskers or Boss
1337
01:27:28,208 --> 01:27:31,250
or any of the supply officers
to maintainers downstairs.
1338
01:27:31,250 --> 01:27:33,791
It's that one-on-one connection
you have with your crew chiefs--
1339
01:27:33,791 --> 01:27:36,125
Joe and Alan for me--
so that's gonna truly,
1340
01:27:36,125 --> 01:27:38,250
truly be the thing
that I'm gonna miss the most.
1341
01:27:58,750 --> 01:28:01,041
It's all the parts.
It's not just five people.
1342
01:28:01,041 --> 01:28:04,208
It's 141 personnel
that put this thing together.
1343
01:28:04,208 --> 01:28:06,458
Ready? One, two and three.
1344
01:28:06,458 --> 01:28:08,541
- All right!
1345
01:28:11,416 --> 01:28:13,875
The people change.
The suits stay the same.
1346
01:28:13,875 --> 01:28:16,541
What this team means stays the same.
1347
01:28:16,541 --> 01:28:19,625
And what this team means to the country
has stayed the same
1348
01:28:19,625 --> 01:28:21,750
and has lasted the test of time.
1349
01:28:23,958 --> 01:28:27,416
And then-- poof, you know?-- it's gone.
1350
01:28:32,208 --> 01:28:35,166
I pinch myself
I get a chance to be part of it.
1351
01:28:55,041 --> 01:28:58,333
The Blue Angel Creed!
1352
01:28:58,333 --> 01:28:59,958
As a Blue Angel,
1353
01:28:59,958 --> 01:29:05,000
I will dedicate all my efforts to pride,
professionalism and perfection.
1354
01:29:05,000 --> 01:29:07,958
I will strive to honor the crest I earned,
1355
01:29:07,958 --> 01:29:10,166
and I will never forget from where I came.
1356
01:29:10,166 --> 01:29:13,000
Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
1357
01:32:27,000 --> 01:32:29,083
Great job. Great tour.