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- [atmospheric music playing]
- [insects trilling]
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[man] The Blue Angel Creed!
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[group] As a Blue Angel,
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I will dedicate all my efforts to pride,
professionalism and perfection.
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I will strive to honor the crest I earned
and the flag I wear,
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but I will never forget from where I came.
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Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
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[dramatic music playing]
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♪ ♪
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[quiet chatter]
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{\an8}[Chris "Cheese" Kapuschansky] First day
that I drove up to the hangar
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{\an8}in El Centro and,
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{\an8}you know, saw my name on a parking sign,
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{\an8}saw my name on the door,
saw my name on the side of a jet already,
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{\an8}and it was like, "Man, this is...
this is real."
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[Brian "Boss" Kesselring] I have
the blessing, the privilege,
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the honor to be
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boss of the Blue Angels right now,
and I've been so for a couple years.
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00:02:18,291 --> 00:02:20,708
But this is my last year.
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00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:24,250
Had a chance to be part
of seven deployments,
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served in a lot of different conflicts
around the world throughout the years.
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And... and naval aviation was a home
and was something that
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I feel like I was meant to do.
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[Cheese] It was something that
I wanted to do since I was a kid.
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Something that I never thought
was actually gonna happen.
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[Boss] Every year, about a third
of the entire squadron
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rotates back to the fleet.
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The challenge for every boss
is to get the newbies,
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their replacements,
up to speed for the coming season
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and integrated into
the Blue Angel way of life.
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[Cheese] All these thoughts
were going through my mind, like,
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"Oh, man, you know,
it's just... I don't...
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I don't know what I'm doing.
Do I even belong here?"
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But this is it. This is who I am
for the next two years,
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and this is my job for the next two years.
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I am now a Blue Angel.
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[jet engine whooshing]
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[energetic, intense music playing]
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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[music pauses]
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[music resumes
with dramatic ending flourish]
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[pneumatic tools whirring]
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[birds chirping]
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All right, welcome back, everybody. Evan.
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Yes, Boss, we'll debrief
our practice over El Centro.
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- Fired up, ready to go.
- All right.
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I'll take a safety for rolling up
to low brake cross at 450.
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[rapid technical chatter]
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Pay Doc ten dollars
for a zipper and a collar.
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I'll fix it all. I'm glad to be here.
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- Cheese.
- [Cheese] Yes, sir, Boss.
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I'll have it for safety, though,
but underline deep sag on the fan rollout.
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[Boss] Naval aviation is something
I fully dedicate myself,
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and I can look back in 20 years
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and say I gave every fiber of my being
to getting better at it.
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But you come to the Blue Angels,
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and that really happens
in that first season
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where you're trying
to figure this thing out.
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That can be scary.
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I'll fix it all.
I'm glad to be here, Boss.
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- All right, Whiskers.
- [Julius "Whiskers" Bratton] Yes, sir,
Boss,
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I'll take safeties for being 296 knots
out of the PUB.
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Pay Doc five dollars for pregame jitters.
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I'll fix it all. I'm glad to be here,
Boss.
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- Day taps, Boss.
- [Boss] Good jet.
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[others] Good jet.
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All right, roll it!
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There's a crucible
you have to go through together.
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[dramatic music playing]
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It has to be six pilots
totally synced up, flying as one.
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- Go! Let's go!
- [engines whirring]
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[air traffic controller] You are clear
to taxi via runway two-four-A.
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[Boss over radio] How's it going?
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[Boss] And it can be frustrating at times
to train brand-new guys from the fleet.
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One of the first things we go out and do
is just do basic turns.
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We turn left, we turn right.
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Three, two, nine, seven, four...
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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[Boss] And just do that
over and over again,
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because if you don't have the right
foundation, it's just not gonna work.
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[tense music playing]
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Rip it.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[Boss] As the boss,
you're the flight leader.
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You're the conductor.
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You're the lead goose
in the formation, right?
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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Ready? Hit it.
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These jets are max performing.
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At low altitudes, at high air speeds,
in close proximity to other aircraft.
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I have to be steady at the helm,
as they say.
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Ease in the power.
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Chomps flies in the four position.
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He's back there watching
and making sure that we're good.
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[Frank "Chomps" Zastoupil] The number four
pilot for the Blue Angels.
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{\an8}It's the best seat in the house.
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{\an8}You can see everything.
You can see what Boss is doing.
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You can see what
all the wingmen are doing.
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And you're kind of
the airborne safety observer
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because you have
that best seat in the house.
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[Monica "Doc" Borza] Yes.
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{\an8}As the flight surgeon on the team,
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{\an8}you're also the lead
ground safety officer.
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- Okay, rolling.
- Okay, rolling.
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[Doc] I study the demo
inside and out for every position.
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I know where they should be at all times:
their altitude, their air speeds.
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With two brand-new pilots
on the team this year,
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I am constantly watching them.
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Chewy, you kind of start a little flat,
and you're trying to hold it in there,
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and Jamammy actually goes deep.
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Is that kind of what you're seeing?
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[Scott "Jamammy" Goossens] Cheese and I
are 100% the newbies.
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Steep learning curve, for sure.
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Just feel deflated
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and like you're the worst pilot ever.
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How did I get here?
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It just rippled through the formation.
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So, like, Jamammy was first,
I was second, then Cheese was third,
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and just, like, the whole formation
shifted, then had to shift back into set.
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So, this year, we've had
a new two pilot, a new three pilot,
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I'm filling a new role as the slot pilot,
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a new six pilot in the demo,
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and then our number five pilot,
he was out half the year last year,
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not flying in the demo,
so we're getting him
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learning how to fly in formation again.
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We're bringing five new people
into this formation and making one demo.
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- [engines whirring]
- [indistinct shouting]
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Good work. See you in a little bit.
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- Yeah.
- Whoo!
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[engines roaring]
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[Jamammy] It's one team, six jets.
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00:09:26,208 --> 00:09:28,833
{\an8}We all do something
a little bit different.
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{\an8}We'll start the show with four jets,
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{\an8}the Diamond takeoff maneuver.
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00:09:35,541 --> 00:09:38,875
{\an8}And then you'll have the two
solo individual takeoff maneuvers.
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[dramatic music playing]
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Generally, our maneuvers alternate
between Diamond and solos.
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And by the end of the show, we'll get
the Delta together, all six jets.
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{\an8}The Delta Formation is the signature
formation of the Blue Angels.
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[Boss] Early on in winter training,
both Chomps and I
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are heads on a swivel, making sure
our new guys are learning that
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we've got enough space
to get out of the way.
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Cheese is a guy who's an aggressive guy.
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If you're riding a horse,
you got to pull back on the reins.
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He's a little more pull-back-on-the-reins
type of guy.
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We had to use a term called
"knock it off" a couple times,
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meaning we're stopping right now.
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Cheese was bringing in
a whole bag of knots.
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Coming in way too hot.
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I'm looking over my shoulder going,
"This ain't gonna work."
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[Jamammy] Three spot's
incredibly challenging.
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00:10:46,833 --> 00:10:50,000
A big departure from what you do
in terms of fleet flying.
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You're also on kind of
the more difficult side of the formation.
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We're all very used to looking left
when we fly,
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which is what Cheese gets to do
in the two spot.
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On the left side, in that three spot,
you're looking right the whole time.
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00:11:01,416 --> 00:11:04,250
All your controls are
right in front of you or to the left.
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And it's just sort of
an unnatural position to be in.
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[Doc] The very first time the Diamond
was practicing the Vertical Break...
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...Jamammy went the wrong way.
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[intense music playing]
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You think to yourself,
okay, as a safety officer,
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00:11:33,750 --> 00:11:35,458
is he safe? Number one.
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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
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00:11:39,375 --> 00:11:41,583
and watch what he does to recover?
169
00:11:46,875 --> 00:11:49,708
You have to make that decision,
and I decided:
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00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:51,666
Remain quiet. This is his first time.
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00:11:51,666 --> 00:11:53,125
He looks safe.
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00:11:53,125 --> 00:11:55,500
He may be going
the wrong direction. [laughs]
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It's not funny, but it doesn't look like
he's gonna hit anybody else.
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00:12:00,250 --> 00:12:02,250
[Boss] Kind of scared us.
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00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:05,791
It was like, how is he gonna
respond to this, right?
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00:12:05,791 --> 00:12:09,541
Did he rattle himself to the point
where he's not able to compartmentalize,
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00:12:09,541 --> 00:12:11,041
put that one in the past?
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00:12:12,125 --> 00:12:13,625
[tires squeal]
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00:12:16,083 --> 00:12:18,916
[Doc] Two flat on the in.
Little mismatch, break the seal.
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00:12:18,916 --> 00:12:22,208
Apex ten left, two wide
and five tight in the up.
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00:12:22,208 --> 00:12:24,208
Vertical up was three left.
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It's an incredible amount of stress
going in on the newbies.
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00:12:28,958 --> 00:12:31,791
You're constantly being told
what you did wrong.
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00:12:31,791 --> 00:12:34,000
So, Cheese, we actually overbanked,
it looked like.
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00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,375
Did you feel good about that one today?
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00:12:35,375 --> 00:12:36,708
Cheese, see how tight you look there?
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00:12:36,708 --> 00:12:38,666
- And, Cheese, you just
drifted forward again.
- [Cheese] Yep.
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00:12:38,666 --> 00:12:40,708
All of us are way fast,
and we're all idle/boards
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00:12:40,708 --> 00:12:43,625
trying to control everything
in close here.
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00:12:43,625 --> 00:12:47,375
[Jamammy] Everyone comes into this team
a relatively accomplished pilot, thinking,
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00:12:47,375 --> 00:12:49,250
"I feel comfortable flying an F-18,
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00:12:49,250 --> 00:12:52,041
I feel... I feel pretty good
about my abilities as a pilot,"
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00:12:52,041 --> 00:12:55,333
but this place is the...
it's the great equalizer.
194
00:12:57,958 --> 00:12:59,750
Time away from family is...
195
00:12:59,750 --> 00:13:02,916
is the most difficult part
of being on this team.
196
00:13:02,916 --> 00:13:06,291
Work in El Centro
for three months in a cocoon.
197
00:13:06,291 --> 00:13:08,791
Which we need to be--
you need that kind of safe place
198
00:13:08,791 --> 00:13:12,166
to get it to a point where
we can take it on the road.
199
00:13:13,333 --> 00:13:15,750
But it's just such a grind.
200
00:13:15,750 --> 00:13:18,291
It's monotonous. It's Groundhog Day.
201
00:13:18,291 --> 00:13:21,583
You're waking up in the desert
every day in the dark,
202
00:13:21,583 --> 00:13:24,208
going to work in the dark.
203
00:13:25,291 --> 00:13:28,041
Flying two or three times every day.
204
00:13:29,958 --> 00:13:31,958
Going home in the dark,
205
00:13:31,958 --> 00:13:35,083
and then you're studying
for your flight the next day.
206
00:13:37,208 --> 00:13:39,750
[Cheese] I'm not the most
academically sound person,
207
00:13:39,750 --> 00:13:41,833
and it's a struggle.
208
00:13:43,208 --> 00:13:46,041
So, flying two to three times a day,
that's what you need.
209
00:13:46,041 --> 00:13:48,375
I absolutely needed it.
210
00:13:48,375 --> 00:13:50,625
[crickets chirping]
211
00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:52,500
[Boss] This is how I typically do it.
212
00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:54,166
Bring it inboard a little bit,
213
00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:56,666
and I'll extend a little bit here,
and then that'll make
214
00:13:56,666 --> 00:13:58,666
the arc feel more normal
as we come in here.
215
00:13:58,666 --> 00:14:00,291
- Yes, sir, Boss.
- Questions?
216
00:14:00,291 --> 00:14:01,625
- None.
- All right, fired up, ready to go.
217
00:14:01,625 --> 00:14:03,541
Fired up, ready to go, Boss.
218
00:14:05,458 --> 00:14:10,083
[Boss] We're all responsible for our lives
with... in no uncertain terms.
219
00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:12,625
Everybody's lives are in
each other's hands,
220
00:14:12,625 --> 00:14:16,541
that they're not going to do something
that we don't expect.
221
00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,583
It's an unforgiving business.
222
00:14:21,583 --> 00:14:23,666
Rip it.
223
00:14:23,666 --> 00:14:26,208
[triumphant music playing]
224
00:14:31,250 --> 00:14:32,333
[indistinct radio chatter]
225
00:14:32,333 --> 00:14:33,833
Great job today.
226
00:14:33,833 --> 00:14:36,041
Thanks, Boss. It was amazing.
See you back at the ranch.
227
00:14:36,041 --> 00:14:37,333
[Boss over radio] You got it, Mo.
228
00:14:38,416 --> 00:14:41,500
- [insects trilling]
- [birds chirping]
229
00:14:41,500 --> 00:14:44,000
[Jamammy] You walk down the halls
in El Centro, and you see
230
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,166
all the faces that have made up
the past of this organization.
231
00:14:47,166 --> 00:14:49,375
Legendary figures who you hear about,
232
00:14:49,375 --> 00:14:51,250
you hear whispers about
throughout the fleet.
233
00:14:52,458 --> 00:14:54,291
Boss Wooldridge--
he's one of the first people
234
00:14:54,291 --> 00:14:55,958
I met after I made the team.
235
00:14:57,375 --> 00:14:59,375
He's a legend.
236
00:14:59,375 --> 00:15:01,291
[Lance "Bubb" Benson] One of
the unique things about him is
237
00:15:01,291 --> 00:15:02,541
he got called back
238
00:15:02,541 --> 00:15:04,875
to be the boss of the Blue Angels
three total times.
239
00:15:04,875 --> 00:15:06,875
He's the only guy
that's done it three times.
240
00:15:09,083 --> 00:15:10,375
He has spent so much time.
241
00:15:10,375 --> 00:15:14,208
{\an8}He's intimately familiar
with what goes on.
242
00:15:14,208 --> 00:15:16,958
{\an8}[Greg "Boss" Wooldridge] When I came
to the Blue Angels, I was amazed
243
00:15:16,958 --> 00:15:20,875
at how close the formations were
and-and the maneuvers.
244
00:15:22,333 --> 00:15:25,250
How can you do that?
245
00:15:25,250 --> 00:15:27,583
But as Vince Lombardi said,
246
00:15:27,583 --> 00:15:31,625
we're gonna go out there today,
and we're gonna "chase perfection."
247
00:15:31,625 --> 00:15:34,208
We'll never get perfection,
but along the way,
248
00:15:34,208 --> 00:15:36,791
we're going to realize excellence.
249
00:15:36,791 --> 00:15:39,833
[announcer] ...accelerate to
300 miles per hour.
250
00:15:39,833 --> 00:15:41,708
[Wooldridge] The markers toward
getting to excellence
251
00:15:41,708 --> 00:15:43,916
is when you're able to, as a formation,
252
00:15:43,916 --> 00:15:45,916
feel like you can move it in closer.
253
00:15:45,916 --> 00:15:48,000
[dramatic music playing]
254
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,833
[Boss] We define our season
by what we call our sets,
255
00:15:50,833 --> 00:15:53,083
which is how close we fly together.
256
00:15:55,291 --> 00:15:58,041
[Jamammy] At the beginning of the season,
we'll start in our furthest-out set,
257
00:15:58,041 --> 00:15:59,708
which we call the Fleet Parade.
258
00:15:59,708 --> 00:16:02,458
As close as you would ever fly
in the Navy.
259
00:16:02,458 --> 00:16:04,583
{\an8}And then as we start to progress,
260
00:16:04,583 --> 00:16:08,458
{\an8}we'll start to bring those sets in
a little bit tighter to Blue Gold.
261
00:16:08,458 --> 00:16:10,166
{\an8}[Cheese] When we say Blue Gold set,
262
00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,625
{\an8}it's where the line of the blue paint
263
00:16:12,625 --> 00:16:15,375
{\an8}and the gold paint actually meet.
264
00:16:15,375 --> 00:16:20,041
{\an8}That's where Jamammy's gonna
put in his head, is underneath that.
265
00:16:20,041 --> 00:16:22,541
{\an8}And that's about 18 inches apart.
266
00:16:22,541 --> 00:16:24,500
{\an8}[Wooldridge] If you raise your hands
above your head,
267
00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:27,125
it'd be from the top of your fingertips
to your top of your head
268
00:16:27,125 --> 00:16:29,583
is 18 inches away from each other.
269
00:16:29,583 --> 00:16:30,958
22-ton jets,
270
00:16:30,958 --> 00:16:33,250
400 miles an hour.
271
00:16:35,666 --> 00:16:38,333
The next step would be
our closest set, which is Yankee,
272
00:16:38,333 --> 00:16:40,333
meaning that he's
going to put his aircraft
273
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,833
underneath the "Y" on my left wing.
274
00:16:42,833 --> 00:16:46,291
{\an8}So, Jamammy, he's actually gonna
slide up underneath like that.
275
00:16:47,375 --> 00:16:50,833
{\an8}That creates that parallax that we're all
in that perfect Diamond Formation
276
00:16:50,833 --> 00:16:54,250
{\an8}and almost have our wingtips overlapping.
277
00:16:54,250 --> 00:16:56,541
{\an8}[tense music playing]
278
00:16:59,083 --> 00:17:02,208
As the new number two,
I set the formation.
279
00:17:03,250 --> 00:17:07,375
I need to be perfect in every way
because everybody looks at me
280
00:17:07,375 --> 00:17:09,000
to set the distance.
281
00:17:10,375 --> 00:17:12,083
If I'm off by a letter,
282
00:17:12,083 --> 00:17:14,291
Jamammy then looks at that
and he sets it off of me,
283
00:17:14,291 --> 00:17:16,875
and then Chomps sets that distance
off of both of us.
284
00:17:16,875 --> 00:17:20,375
So, if there's any mismatch down the line,
285
00:17:20,375 --> 00:17:22,583
essentially, it's probably caused by me.
286
00:17:30,583 --> 00:17:34,083
[Whiskers] People just don't realize
how physically demanding the flight is.
287
00:17:38,041 --> 00:17:39,541
I mean, the demo is
288
00:17:39,541 --> 00:17:42,958
45 minutes of, as Blue Angel eight
calls it, pure violence.
289
00:17:42,958 --> 00:17:45,041
[tense, dramatic music playing]
290
00:17:48,291 --> 00:17:51,500
[Wooldridge] We had, first of all,
a 45-pound spring
291
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:53,500
pulling the stick away from us.
292
00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:57,000
You couldn't get a good feel for it
unless it was pulling away from you
293
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,083
at about 45 pounds.
294
00:18:01,916 --> 00:18:05,791
[Doc] It is a full-body workout
when these aviators fly,
295
00:18:05,791 --> 00:18:08,083
from their feet to their hands
to their head.
296
00:18:10,083 --> 00:18:12,333
They use their entire body
297
00:18:12,333 --> 00:18:14,708
to combat g-forces.
298
00:18:14,708 --> 00:18:16,791
{\an8}[dramatic music playing]
299
00:18:19,166 --> 00:18:21,708
{\an8}[Jamammy] When you're pulling g's
in the aircraft, all your blood
300
00:18:21,708 --> 00:18:24,916
{\an8}is rushing down to your legs,
to your lower extremities.
301
00:18:24,916 --> 00:18:27,416
{\an8}And once that blood leaves your head,
302
00:18:27,416 --> 00:18:30,250
you're then at risk
of loss of consciousness.
303
00:18:33,041 --> 00:18:35,083
[Doc] First sign is
you're gonna lose your vision
304
00:18:35,083 --> 00:18:38,916
and start graying out-- tunnel vision.
305
00:18:38,916 --> 00:18:44,000
In order to combat that, we're gonna push
that blood back up with our muscles.
306
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,333
[Whiskers] Squeezing the legs,
the butt, the abs.
307
00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:50,958
And if it's a real heavy g pull,
then making sure I lock down
308
00:18:50,958 --> 00:18:52,541
a three-quarter-lung-capacity breath.
309
00:19:06,291 --> 00:19:10,708
As a pilot, you understand the risk.
310
00:19:10,708 --> 00:19:13,250
You do a job where,
at practice, in training,
311
00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:15,375
you can end it all in an accident.
312
00:19:18,250 --> 00:19:20,458
So it's just... it's a mix of emotions.
313
00:19:20,458 --> 00:19:22,541
[majestic music playing]
314
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,000
[Cary "Chewy" Rickoff] What we do
is very dangerous.
315
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,041
First couple times you take off,
you got to push the "I believe" button.
316
00:19:34,041 --> 00:19:36,333
{\an8}But one of the things we learn
in flight school
317
00:19:36,333 --> 00:19:38,416
{\an8}very early on is it's a team sport.
318
00:19:38,416 --> 00:19:40,541
{\an8}We're all the same,
cut from the same cloth.
319
00:19:42,708 --> 00:19:47,125
[Jamammy] The risk is never any lower
when we go out and practice
320
00:19:47,125 --> 00:19:50,125
as it is when we're doing the actual show,
so we take
321
00:19:50,125 --> 00:19:51,833
a fine-tooth comb to everything.
322
00:19:53,375 --> 00:19:54,791
[engines whooshing]
323
00:20:02,958 --> 00:20:05,583
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
324
00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:08,875
[Jamammy] It looked like
we were good, and--
325
00:20:08,875 --> 00:20:10,833
[Cheese] We were good until a half mile.
326
00:20:10,833 --> 00:20:13,125
[Chomps] That's gonna be your focus
for tomorrow, is that arc.
327
00:20:13,125 --> 00:20:15,166
So let's take a hammer down
to that one tomorrow.
328
00:20:15,166 --> 00:20:16,708
Really try to fine-tune that.
329
00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,166
[Jamammy] During the debrief,
we dissect everything.
330
00:20:21,166 --> 00:20:23,458
There's definitely times
at the end of days
331
00:20:23,458 --> 00:20:25,875
where you're frustrated
'cause you can't get a maneuver right.
332
00:20:25,875 --> 00:20:29,333
And not only do you know
that you did it incorrectly in the air,
333
00:20:29,333 --> 00:20:32,750
but now you get to watch it
frame by frame on a TV screen,
334
00:20:32,750 --> 00:20:34,833
like, zoomed in with an HD camera,
335
00:20:34,833 --> 00:20:37,708
so you can really see
how bad you were, you know.
336
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.
337
00:20:41,208 --> 00:20:44,833
Every single person does that,
including Boss.
338
00:20:44,833 --> 00:20:47,416
That's, like... that's a tendency for me,
probably a tendency for somebody else,
339
00:20:47,416 --> 00:20:48,958
is you're trying to get down this much...
340
00:20:48,958 --> 00:20:51,458
You should be your own worst critic.
341
00:20:51,458 --> 00:20:52,916
That's a commitment we have.
342
00:20:52,916 --> 00:20:55,000
It's easy to say, tough to do.
343
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:56,791
Be a better version of yourself.
Be a better teammate.
344
00:20:56,791 --> 00:20:58,416
Help the team get better every day.
345
00:20:58,416 --> 00:21:00,833
[♪ Buzzcocks: "Why Can't I Touch It?"]
346
00:21:00,833 --> 00:21:03,916
- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
- [cheering, laughing]
347
00:21:03,916 --> 00:21:06,666
-"Diamond" on three. One, two, three.
- [group] Diamond!
348
00:21:08,666 --> 00:21:11,041
[Cheese] Failing together.
349
00:21:11,041 --> 00:21:12,958
The "failing together" mindset
350
00:21:12,958 --> 00:21:14,458
really gets people close.
351
00:21:17,166 --> 00:21:19,875
[Chomps] Everything is trust,
352
00:21:19,875 --> 00:21:22,875
and so far, over El Centro,
that's where we really build that trust.
353
00:21:22,875 --> 00:21:26,375
[rapid technical chatter]
354
00:21:27,458 --> 00:21:30,000
[Chomps] What you're seeing now
in this final week is this teamwork,
355
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,666
this focus point, this foundation
356
00:21:31,666 --> 00:21:35,083
to try to reach for that perfection
every single day.
357
00:21:35,083 --> 00:21:37,166
But the closer you get to that pinnacle,
358
00:21:37,166 --> 00:21:39,166
the further away
you realize you actually are.
359
00:21:39,166 --> 00:21:42,625
♪ Well, it seems so real ♪
360
00:21:42,625 --> 00:21:45,333
♪ I can see it ♪
361
00:21:45,333 --> 00:21:48,208
♪ And it seems so real ♪
362
00:21:48,208 --> 00:21:50,916
♪ I can feel it ♪
363
00:21:50,916 --> 00:21:53,916
♪ And it seems so real ♪
364
00:21:53,916 --> 00:21:56,875
♪ I can taste it ♪
365
00:21:56,875 --> 00:21:59,666
♪ And it seems so real ♪
366
00:21:59,666 --> 00:22:02,458
♪ I can hear it ♪
367
00:22:02,458 --> 00:22:07,708
♪ So why ♪
368
00:22:07,708 --> 00:22:10,625
♪ Can't I touch it? ♪
369
00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:18,541
♪ So why ♪
370
00:22:18,541 --> 00:22:21,541
♪ Can't I touch it? ♪
371
00:22:31,541 --> 00:22:33,541
[crickets chirping]
372
00:22:33,541 --> 00:22:35,625
[song ends]
373
00:22:40,375 --> 00:22:42,375
[quiet, atmospheric music playing]
374
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,500
[clears throat]
375
00:22:49,208 --> 00:22:52,291
All right. It's Friday, March 11, 2022
376
00:22:52,291 --> 00:22:54,375
over Naval Air Facility El Centro,
California,
377
00:22:54,375 --> 00:22:57,583
where the winds are three-three-zero
at nine, ten miles vis, sky clear.
378
00:22:57,583 --> 00:23:01,625
Forecast for the winds: three-four-zero
at six, unlimited vis, sky clear.
379
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.
380
00:23:04,166 --> 00:23:07,958
Check your parking brake off.
Maneuver: Diamond Half Squirrel Cage.
381
00:23:07,958 --> 00:23:09,833
Left turnout
followed by the solo section...
382
00:23:09,833 --> 00:23:13,708
[Whiskers] During the briefs,
we will follow around our ground track
383
00:23:13,708 --> 00:23:16,083
with our pens
as Boss is talking through the sequence.
384
00:23:16,083 --> 00:23:19,333
[Boss] Whiskers will be in from behind
the crowd to Sneak to Vertical Rolls,
385
00:23:19,333 --> 00:23:22,500
and the five ship will be in from
the right for the Line Abreast Loop.
386
00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:25,166
[Whiskers] Once we get
to a certain maneuver,
387
00:23:25,166 --> 00:23:26,583
we will chair-fly.
388
00:23:26,583 --> 00:23:28,125
Around the crowd for the Delta Roll.
389
00:23:28,125 --> 00:23:29,291
- Ball, say five.
- [Cheese] Cheese.
390
00:23:29,291 --> 00:23:30,375
- [Jamammy] Jamammy.
- [Chomps] Chomps.
391
00:23:30,375 --> 00:23:31,458
- [Chewy] Chewy.
- [Whiskers] Whiskers.
392
00:23:31,458 --> 00:23:33,541
[Cheese] After you do it so much,
393
00:23:33,541 --> 00:23:36,625
you know exactly where you're going,
what you're doing, how it's gonna feel,
394
00:23:36,625 --> 00:23:39,375
and you can actually, like,
visualize yourself doing it,
395
00:23:39,375 --> 00:23:44,416
getting a-a practice in on that maneuver
before you go out and do it.
396
00:23:44,416 --> 00:23:46,916
Airspeed call. Come left.
397
00:23:46,916 --> 00:23:48,166
[Whiskers] Got six, Boss.
398
00:23:48,166 --> 00:23:50,166
Boss.
399
00:23:50,166 --> 00:23:51,666
Come in for left.
400
00:23:53,666 --> 00:23:55,291
We're left turn for the Delta Roll.
401
00:23:55,291 --> 00:23:58,666
A little more pull.
402
00:23:58,666 --> 00:24:01,500
Horizon seven-five, easing power idle.
403
00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:03,291
Ready? Roll hat.
404
00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:06,166
- We're left turn for the Fleur De Lis.
- [Cheese] Cheese.
405
00:24:06,166 --> 00:24:07,250
- [Jamammy] Jamammy.
- [Chomps] Chomps.
406
00:24:07,250 --> 00:24:08,625
- [Chewy] Chewy.
- [Whiskers] Whiskers.
407
00:24:12,333 --> 00:24:14,541
[Boss] Distractions, we talked about it,
are gonna be here.
408
00:24:14,541 --> 00:24:15,916
It's game-on time.
409
00:24:15,916 --> 00:24:18,708
And just keep in mind
you're gonna have jitters.
410
00:24:18,708 --> 00:24:21,833
You're gonna go out there,
and even though it's at El Centro,
411
00:24:21,833 --> 00:24:24,333
there's-there's gonna be
a few thousand people there
412
00:24:24,333 --> 00:24:27,625
that'll be saying something
that's gonna be looking to distract you.
413
00:24:27,625 --> 00:24:29,833
Think about that tonight,
and think about when you get in there,
414
00:24:29,833 --> 00:24:32,708
just like we talked about,
everything from the walk down,
415
00:24:32,708 --> 00:24:36,125
start talking the cadence,
thinking about it, hop in the jet,
416
00:24:36,125 --> 00:24:38,958
do everything and don't get distracted
by looking around.
417
00:24:38,958 --> 00:24:40,666
Stay focused inside the canopy.
418
00:24:40,666 --> 00:24:43,541
And then once we're on the runway,
it's same as it ever was.
419
00:24:43,541 --> 00:24:44,958
So, with that, I'm glad to be here.
420
00:24:44,958 --> 00:24:46,625
Rip it!
421
00:24:46,625 --> 00:24:48,708
[majestic music playing]
422
00:25:04,375 --> 00:25:07,500
- [sirens wailing]
- [pulsing, suspenseful music playing]
423
00:25:16,250 --> 00:25:18,250
[Boss] We're going to try to do
what we can to make the demo
424
00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:22,708
as tight, as low,
as entertaining as possible.
425
00:25:22,708 --> 00:25:24,416
But that's not my line.
426
00:25:24,416 --> 00:25:27,333
You know, this...
this-this tiger that I'm chasing.
427
00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:30,250
The most important thing is
428
00:25:30,250 --> 00:25:32,000
six jets up, six jets down.
429
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,083
♪ ♪
430
00:25:43,958 --> 00:25:45,958
[Cheese] First day of the show season,
431
00:25:45,958 --> 00:25:49,125
and I can't tell you
what it's gonna feel like.
432
00:25:49,125 --> 00:25:51,583
I have no idea what to expect.
433
00:25:51,583 --> 00:25:53,083
You know, it's another
one of those things.
434
00:25:53,083 --> 00:25:56,500
Like, man, am I... am I ready to do this?
435
00:25:56,500 --> 00:25:58,583
[dramatic music playing]
436
00:26:15,875 --> 00:26:18,666
♪ ♪
437
00:26:24,250 --> 00:26:27,250
[applause, whistling]
438
00:26:31,625 --> 00:26:34,541
[Griffin "Push Pop" Stangel] Ladies
and gentlemen, your United States Navy
439
00:26:34,541 --> 00:26:37,375
takes pleasure in performing for you this,
440
00:26:37,375 --> 00:26:39,416
our first flight demonstration
of the season.
441
00:26:39,416 --> 00:26:41,833
[engines whirring]
442
00:26:41,833 --> 00:26:44,791
Now, to the left,
Captain Kesselring calls:
443
00:26:44,791 --> 00:26:47,000
"Smoke on. Off brakes now.
444
00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,333
Burners ready now."
445
00:26:48,333 --> 00:26:50,041
And the Blue Angel Diamond is rolling.
446
00:26:51,041 --> 00:26:53,541
Burners ready now.
447
00:26:53,541 --> 00:26:56,083
[engines whooshing]
448
00:26:56,083 --> 00:26:59,250
[dramatic music continues]
449
00:27:13,416 --> 00:27:16,416
[speaking indistinctly
in chanting cadence]
450
00:27:19,458 --> 00:27:21,791
[Push Pop over speakers] The Diamond is
approaching for a maneuver that is likely
451
00:27:21,791 --> 00:27:25,458
familiar to those of you who have seen
the Blue Angels perform in the past.
452
00:27:25,458 --> 00:27:28,958
From the right, at 400 miles per hour,
the Diamond Roll.
453
00:27:31,833 --> 00:27:36,875
All four aircraft flying as one in this
graceful 360-degree rolling maneuver.
454
00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:39,666
♪ ♪
455
00:27:46,250 --> 00:27:47,958
[applause]
456
00:27:49,250 --> 00:27:51,291
The two solo pilots will next demonstrate
457
00:27:51,291 --> 00:27:55,250
the inverted flight capability
of the F-18.
458
00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:57,833
Approaching inverted from the left
and right, Lieutenant Commander Rickoff
459
00:27:57,833 --> 00:28:01,958
and Lieutenant Commander Bratton
will roll their aircraft 360 degrees.
460
00:28:01,958 --> 00:28:03,458
[Boss] Bratty, hit it.
461
00:28:09,416 --> 00:28:14,083
[Push Pop] Ladies and gentlemen,
the Opposing Inverted to Inverted Roll.
462
00:28:16,916 --> 00:28:19,958
As the four Diamond pilots approach,
you should notice
463
00:28:19,958 --> 00:28:23,583
the flight leader and slot pilot
are both in the inverted position.
464
00:28:23,583 --> 00:28:25,458
The Blue Angel Double Farvel.
465
00:28:25,458 --> 00:28:26,833
Ready? Hit it.
466
00:28:27,833 --> 00:28:29,833
[soaring, dramatic music playing]
467
00:28:40,583 --> 00:28:42,041
[Boss] Rip it.
468
00:28:43,125 --> 00:28:45,625
Pull. Pull it.
469
00:28:46,625 --> 00:28:48,500
[indistinct radio chatter]
470
00:28:52,541 --> 00:28:55,041
[Push Pop] The 2022 team
takes a great deal of pride
471
00:28:55,041 --> 00:28:57,625
in saluting Navy
and Marine Corps aviators,
472
00:28:57,625 --> 00:29:01,208
maintenance crews
and support personnel everywhere.
473
00:29:01,208 --> 00:29:04,541
From the left, your Blue Angels.
474
00:29:06,291 --> 00:29:08,291
[majestic music playing]
475
00:29:19,333 --> 00:29:22,375
It has been an honor and our pleasure
to perform for you
476
00:29:22,375 --> 00:29:25,583
our first flight demonstration
of the season.
477
00:29:25,583 --> 00:29:27,666
[cheering and applause]
478
00:29:29,125 --> 00:29:31,500
[Boss] The Blue Angels aren't about
just jet performance.
479
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,
480
00:29:35,041 --> 00:29:36,541
but to do it together,
481
00:29:36,541 --> 00:29:39,875
to make six jets fly as one,
that's the magic.
482
00:29:39,875 --> 00:29:41,291
That's the Blue Angel magic.
483
00:29:41,291 --> 00:29:42,625
[Push Pop] Ladies and gentlemen,
484
00:29:42,625 --> 00:29:45,666
representing your United States Navy
and Marine Corps,
485
00:29:45,666 --> 00:29:48,166
the Blue Angels 2022.
486
00:29:48,166 --> 00:29:50,958
[applause]
487
00:29:50,958 --> 00:29:54,208
[Whiskers] It was a little bumpy road,
but I made it.
488
00:29:54,208 --> 00:29:56,875
[Cheese] Once we finished crowd-lining,
you know, Chomps came up and said,
489
00:29:56,875 --> 00:29:59,833
"Hey, guys, congrats.
You're... you're demo pilots now."
490
00:30:00,833 --> 00:30:02,833
So it was pretty incredible.
491
00:30:05,750 --> 00:30:07,583
[Jamammy] You finish
that show in El Centro,
492
00:30:07,583 --> 00:30:10,458
that drop of salute happens,
you head back to your room,
493
00:30:10,458 --> 00:30:12,166
and you start packing it up.
494
00:30:12,166 --> 00:30:14,583
Then you see Fat Albert
getting loaded up with all of our gear,
495
00:30:14,583 --> 00:30:17,125
all of our personnel,
and you realize that,
496
00:30:17,125 --> 00:30:21,166
"Hey, I've got an eight-month season
staring me in the face right now."
497
00:30:22,833 --> 00:30:24,666
So it's daunting, to say the least.
498
00:30:24,666 --> 00:30:28,291
Not just that first week
but every week after that.
499
00:30:28,291 --> 00:30:31,708
Bert's rolling, and so are we,
to a... to a town near you.
500
00:30:33,625 --> 00:30:37,083
[Jon "XO" Fay] Fat Albert is
our C-130J Super Hercules asset,
501
00:30:37,083 --> 00:30:39,333
affectionately known as Bert.
502
00:30:39,333 --> 00:30:42,000
Those are our Marines, an all-Marine crew.
503
00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,083
They also provide logistics support.
504
00:30:45,791 --> 00:30:48,625
{\an8}Fat Albert is key in essentially
supporting the team
505
00:30:48,625 --> 00:30:50,541
{\an8}to and from every single air show site.
506
00:30:51,625 --> 00:30:55,750
It's about 30,000 pounds of cargo,
45 personnel.
507
00:30:57,041 --> 00:31:00,000
- Okay, you got all the newbies?
- Maybe.
508
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:01,333
- [laughter]
- Yeah.
509
00:31:01,333 --> 00:31:03,833
[Lauren Song] We have
six pallets worth of gear.
510
00:31:03,833 --> 00:31:06,291
{\an8}All of our friends are sitting
on the red seats or blue seats
511
00:31:06,291 --> 00:31:10,541
{\an8}on the sides, crammed in tight,
almost knee to pallet.
512
00:31:10,541 --> 00:31:13,625
- And about this close to your buddy.
- [both laugh]
513
00:31:20,791 --> 00:31:23,041
[Boss] We've just done
that first air show.
514
00:31:23,041 --> 00:31:25,250
Now we're off to New Orleans.
515
00:31:25,250 --> 00:31:27,500
We're gonna roll into town like a...
516
00:31:27,500 --> 00:31:28,708
like a circus, I guess.
517
00:31:28,708 --> 00:31:31,166
[dramatic music playing]
518
00:31:32,208 --> 00:31:34,416
[reporter] The U.S. Navy Blue Angels
returned to town this weekend.
519
00:31:34,416 --> 00:31:35,833
{\an8}[reporter 2] The Blue Angels
came into town,
520
00:31:35,833 --> 00:31:38,166
{\an8}landing at the Naval Air Station
in Belle Chasse.
521
00:31:42,875 --> 00:31:44,833
[William "B" Huckeba] Right when
we get there with Fat Albert,
522
00:31:44,833 --> 00:31:47,333
you know, we kind of, like, set the tone.
523
00:31:48,916 --> 00:31:53,333
When that crew entrance door opens,
everything is set up perfectly
524
00:31:53,333 --> 00:31:55,125
so that we're able to put on a great show.
525
00:31:56,708 --> 00:31:59,875
[Jamammy] It's definitely similar
to being on a sports team.
526
00:32:01,125 --> 00:32:02,958
The schedule is relentless.
527
00:32:04,250 --> 00:32:07,083
You are constantly on the road.
You're constantly traveling.
528
00:32:08,208 --> 00:32:10,833
Exact mesh of a sports team
529
00:32:10,833 --> 00:32:13,791
with the schedule of a touring
rock and roll band.
530
00:32:16,750 --> 00:32:18,750
[indistinct chatter, cheering]
531
00:32:18,750 --> 00:32:21,333
{\an8}I always say it's like
planning 30 weddings.
532
00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:24,875
{\an8}Thirty weddings and 30 places
you've never been to
533
00:32:24,875 --> 00:32:26,666
{\an8}with 30 families you've just met.
534
00:32:38,208 --> 00:32:40,208
[jet engines roaring]
535
00:32:42,458 --> 00:32:44,708
[indistinct radio chatter]
536
00:32:44,708 --> 00:32:46,875
[Boss] Great job today.
537
00:32:49,541 --> 00:32:51,375
Pitch-Up Break. Cheese, upper deck.
538
00:32:51,375 --> 00:32:52,541
And down.
539
00:33:00,125 --> 00:33:03,166
[majestic music playing]
540
00:33:03,166 --> 00:33:06,333
[yelling excitedly]
541
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,208
[Jamammy] Coming back home
at the end of those three months
542
00:33:27,208 --> 00:33:29,458
and-and seeing our families
on the flight line
543
00:33:29,458 --> 00:33:31,958
for the first time was incredible.
544
00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:41,041
It's so special to have this home base.
545
00:33:43,041 --> 00:33:45,708
This place that just loves us so much.
546
00:33:47,750 --> 00:33:49,166
Our families are here.
547
00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:51,625
Our families live here all the time.
548
00:33:55,041 --> 00:33:57,250
[excited chatter]
549
00:33:59,625 --> 00:34:05,250
[Jamammy] For me, when I found out
I made the team, that was on July 11th.
550
00:34:05,250 --> 00:34:06,541
One month later, Jo was born.
551
00:34:06,541 --> 00:34:09,666
And a month after that,
I left to go join the team.
552
00:34:09,666 --> 00:34:13,458
So, the fact that they take care
of our families so well, I think,
553
00:34:13,458 --> 00:34:16,708
is what really, uh,
endears this place to us.
554
00:34:20,166 --> 00:34:22,083
[tires squeal]
555
00:34:27,458 --> 00:34:29,458
♪ ♪
556
00:34:51,625 --> 00:34:53,833
[indistinct chatter]
557
00:34:55,958 --> 00:34:57,958
[insects trilling]
558
00:35:07,916 --> 00:35:09,333
[quiet chatter]
559
00:35:09,333 --> 00:35:10,666
[opens drawer]
560
00:35:10,666 --> 00:35:11,916
[rummaging]
561
00:35:11,916 --> 00:35:13,500
[closes drawer]
562
00:35:15,125 --> 00:35:17,875
[Boss] I never had any thought
that I would be on the team.
563
00:35:17,875 --> 00:35:20,333
You know, joining a team
where I'm gonna be gone for,
564
00:35:20,333 --> 00:35:22,541
you know, nearly 300 days a year,
565
00:35:22,541 --> 00:35:25,625
uh, with a brand-new little daughter
and having some tough conversations
566
00:35:25,625 --> 00:35:28,041
with my wife about:
"Do we want to do this?"
567
00:35:28,041 --> 00:35:30,083
And for me, it was... it was:
568
00:35:30,083 --> 00:35:33,250
This is a way I can, you know,
in a sense, kind of give back.
569
00:35:33,250 --> 00:35:35,333
[soft, wistful music playing]
570
00:35:36,708 --> 00:35:38,833
June 20, 1986.
571
00:35:38,833 --> 00:35:41,750
I'm, like, this nine-year-old boy
up in Fargo, North Dakota.
572
00:35:43,458 --> 00:35:47,541
My dream when I saw the Blue Angels
was to go serve my country.
573
00:35:48,625 --> 00:35:50,375
[children chattering]
574
00:35:50,375 --> 00:35:52,666
You know, I grew up
playing sports-- basketball--
575
00:35:52,666 --> 00:35:54,833
and finishing up college
and, you know, thinking like,
576
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.
577
00:35:57,541 --> 00:35:59,333
I can't fit in the cockpit."
578
00:35:59,333 --> 00:36:02,833
And sure enough, it turns out I fit
and they-they would have me,
579
00:36:02,833 --> 00:36:05,833
and kind of the rest is history,
as far as joining the Navy.
580
00:36:05,833 --> 00:36:07,791
[child laughing]
581
00:36:10,208 --> 00:36:11,833
[Ashley Kesselring] I'm currently
a major in the Marine Corps,
582
00:36:11,833 --> 00:36:14,291
managing aircraft maintenance.
583
00:36:15,375 --> 00:36:17,791
Brian told me, you know,
"One of the bucket things in my career
584
00:36:17,791 --> 00:36:19,583
is to maybe apply for the Blue Angels.
585
00:36:19,583 --> 00:36:21,666
It's one in a million.
One in a million, though.
586
00:36:21,666 --> 00:36:23,083
We're never gonna get it."
587
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.
588
00:36:28,625 --> 00:36:31,416
We're just super fortunate
to have been stationed together.
589
00:36:32,791 --> 00:36:34,833
For the next duty station,
he's got his orders.
590
00:36:34,833 --> 00:36:37,666
I do not have my orders yet,
so I'm still kind of knocking on wood,
591
00:36:37,666 --> 00:36:40,750
hoping everything kind of
comes in alignment for it.
592
00:36:40,750 --> 00:36:42,375
But again, it's not...
593
00:36:42,375 --> 00:36:44,583
Don't stress about something
you don't have the control over.
594
00:36:46,583 --> 00:36:49,666
It's definitely a bit of a jigsaw,
as far as trying to, you know,
595
00:36:49,666 --> 00:36:52,125
plan a family in the military.
596
00:36:52,125 --> 00:36:53,875
It's doable. I mean, we've got two.
597
00:36:53,875 --> 00:36:55,791
It's definitely doable, so...
598
00:36:55,791 --> 00:36:59,500
it'll be just one of those things
that you... that you work through.
599
00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:01,041
[Boss] Yeah, there you are.
600
00:37:01,041 --> 00:37:02,458
All right, Remy.
601
00:37:05,958 --> 00:37:08,791
There's not much flying tours left
for a guy like me.
602
00:37:08,791 --> 00:37:11,541
The mission was really what...
what I went back to.
603
00:37:13,458 --> 00:37:17,750
People's dreams, uh, dreams they never
thought they could possibly achieve,
604
00:37:17,750 --> 00:37:21,541
can come true, and that's the mentality
we want in the Blue Angels.
605
00:37:27,083 --> 00:37:28,875
What I never realized--
606
00:37:28,875 --> 00:37:32,250
and I've been on great teams before--
what I didn't realize is how attached
607
00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:33,541
I'd be to this team.
608
00:37:33,541 --> 00:37:35,875
[grunts] Bye-bye, Remy.
609
00:37:35,875 --> 00:37:38,166
[wistful music continues]
610
00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,875
There isn't a family
like a Blue Angel family.
611
00:37:49,875 --> 00:37:51,208
And I'll miss that.
612
00:37:51,208 --> 00:37:54,291
I'll miss that and...
and all that goes along with it.
613
00:37:56,083 --> 00:37:58,500
[Chomps] Everything here is about
being a member of the team.
614
00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:00,583
[♪ Fatboy Slim: "Praise You"]
615
00:38:00,583 --> 00:38:05,000
[Boss] It takes all 141 personnel
on our command doing their job,
616
00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:07,291
putting forth that maximum effort.
617
00:38:09,458 --> 00:38:10,916
[Chomps] It's constant.
618
00:38:10,916 --> 00:38:13,875
It's 18 hours a day
with the same people every day.
619
00:38:13,875 --> 00:38:16,083
So every single person in here--
every pilot,
620
00:38:16,083 --> 00:38:18,416
every officer, every teammate,
every enlisted maintainer--
621
00:38:18,416 --> 00:38:20,916
whatever position we have
on this team is family.
622
00:38:20,916 --> 00:38:23,291
♪ Through the hard times and the good...
623
00:38:23,291 --> 00:38:25,750
- [man] What's up? Mic check.
- [group] Hey!
624
00:38:25,750 --> 00:38:27,541
[James Hernandez] Like I said,
give it 100%.
625
00:38:27,541 --> 00:38:30,166
This is the time that I need y'all.
I'm glad to be here.
626
00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:32,166
[group] Whoo!
627
00:38:41,125 --> 00:38:43,375
♪ I have to praise you ♪
628
00:38:45,375 --> 00:38:46,583
♪ I have to praise you...
629
00:38:46,583 --> 00:38:49,500
Chief Mass Communication Specialist
Paul Archer.
630
00:38:50,583 --> 00:38:53,083
[Oyindamola Michael] My name
is Oyindamola Michael.
631
00:38:53,083 --> 00:38:54,958
I am the number six crew chief.
632
00:38:54,958 --> 00:38:57,208
[Push Pop] My name is
Lieutenant Griffin Stangel.
633
00:38:57,208 --> 00:38:58,833
Uh, call sign "Push Pop."
634
00:38:58,833 --> 00:39:01,458
Lieutenant Brian Abe. Uh, I go by Mo here.
635
00:39:01,458 --> 00:39:03,500
Lieutenant Paul Kruger, call sign "Suppo."
636
00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:05,083
I'm Lieutenant Henry Cedeño
637
00:39:05,083 --> 00:39:06,666
from Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico.
638
00:39:06,666 --> 00:39:08,958
♪ I have to praise you...
639
00:39:12,166 --> 00:39:14,458
[Push Pop] So, my role on the team
as Blue Angel number seven
640
00:39:14,458 --> 00:39:15,958
is I'm the narrator.
641
00:39:15,958 --> 00:39:17,458
♪ I have to praise you...
642
00:39:17,458 --> 00:39:20,083
My goal is to interact
with a crowd of tens of thousands,
643
00:39:20,083 --> 00:39:22,250
sometimes hundreds of thousands of people.
644
00:39:24,916 --> 00:39:27,250
[Cody Hendrix] I'm a mass
communication specialist.
645
00:39:27,250 --> 00:39:28,541
We're aerial photographers, right?
646
00:39:28,541 --> 00:39:30,083
We get to go up and fly in the jet
647
00:39:30,083 --> 00:39:32,791
and take all the pretty Blue Angel photos.
648
00:39:32,791 --> 00:39:34,250
[camera shutter clicking]
649
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:39,875
[Boss] I've got a female
front man right now.
650
00:39:39,875 --> 00:39:41,875
That's only happened,
I think, maybe once before.
651
00:39:41,875 --> 00:39:43,250
You know, running the entire crew.
652
00:39:43,250 --> 00:39:45,541
- [Keri "Front Ma'am" Kalmus] What's up,
guys?
- [group] Hey!
653
00:39:45,541 --> 00:39:47,791
[Front Ma'am] All right, all hands
tomorrow is gonna be 0800.
654
00:39:47,791 --> 00:39:50,000
I got a lot of information
to put out, so pay attention.
655
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,166
I need two volunteers.
656
00:39:51,166 --> 00:39:52,875
From '99 to 2000,
657
00:39:52,875 --> 00:39:55,208
Karen Marini was
the last female front man.
658
00:39:55,208 --> 00:39:56,625
They called her Frontchik.
659
00:39:56,625 --> 00:39:58,000
Now I go by Front Ma'am.
660
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:00,625
And then my bravo is a front man.
661
00:40:00,625 --> 00:40:03,833
Hot seat, Front Ma'am.
Flight walk complete. We have ATAF...
662
00:40:03,833 --> 00:40:07,041
Essentially, I'm walking
every single jet on the line,
663
00:40:07,041 --> 00:40:09,625
along with our crew chiefs.
664
00:40:09,625 --> 00:40:13,666
[Kevin "219" Hill] We have 12 crew chiefs,
and it's two crew chiefs per pilot.
665
00:40:16,083 --> 00:40:20,291
I'm the number one crew chief,
Boss Kesselring's crew chief.
666
00:40:20,291 --> 00:40:22,041
We go in the cockpit,
just check everything
667
00:40:22,041 --> 00:40:24,000
that the pilot would check
before they take off.
668
00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:27,541
Flight controls, you know,
the displays, everything.
669
00:40:27,541 --> 00:40:30,458
[Front Ma'am] And then I'm just
double-verifying, triple-verifying
670
00:40:30,458 --> 00:40:33,166
everything's good for that pilot to get
in the cockpit and go out and fly.
671
00:40:33,166 --> 00:40:34,416
[Front Ma'am hollers]
672
00:40:34,416 --> 00:40:37,333
As a pilot, I never
pre-flighted an airplane.
673
00:40:37,333 --> 00:40:40,916
I had so much trust in my crew chief.
674
00:40:40,916 --> 00:40:44,833
[Boss] All I do is get
in my aircraft and strap in.
675
00:40:44,833 --> 00:40:47,333
He'd tell me it's good to go,
and it's good to go.
676
00:40:47,333 --> 00:40:51,000
[219] When the jet's good to go,
we do a signature handshake.
677
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,833
- We do it and go, "Whoo!"
- [both] Whoo!
678
00:40:53,833 --> 00:40:56,333
♪ Praise you like I should ♪
679
00:40:56,333 --> 00:40:59,000
♪ I have to praise you ♪
680
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:00,708
[Boss] Uh, prepare to take off.
681
00:41:07,541 --> 00:41:10,166
[Chomps] When I was four years old,
my dad took me to an air show
682
00:41:10,166 --> 00:41:12,083
in Fort Worth, Texas,
683
00:41:12,083 --> 00:41:15,083
and I got to watch the Blue Angels fly
for the very first time.
684
00:41:15,083 --> 00:41:17,041
I thought that they were awesome.
685
00:41:17,041 --> 00:41:18,875
To the point where I, like,
ran away from my parents
686
00:41:18,875 --> 00:41:20,791
to go try to find the jets,
wherever they were parked.
687
00:41:20,791 --> 00:41:22,333
And they had to come up
over the loudspeaker:
688
00:41:22,333 --> 00:41:23,916
"If you've lost a little
four-year-old son,
689
00:41:23,916 --> 00:41:25,708
can you come to the announcer booth
690
00:41:25,708 --> 00:41:28,416
and we'll give your son
back to you" type of thing.
691
00:41:28,416 --> 00:41:32,208
I found 'em. I fell in love
with aviation at four years old.
692
00:41:33,291 --> 00:41:36,291
[indistinct radio chatter]
693
00:41:36,291 --> 00:41:38,583
I wanted to do something like that.
694
00:41:38,583 --> 00:41:41,000
Right when Cheese's jet
kind of drifted deep,
695
00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:44,708
your jet looked like it just twitched
and kind of almost did the same thing.
696
00:41:44,708 --> 00:41:46,708
So we just need to focus on that set
down the line, especially...
697
00:41:46,708 --> 00:41:48,416
[Boss] Chomps is a big softie.
698
00:41:48,416 --> 00:41:50,625
He just understands the stakes at play.
699
00:41:50,625 --> 00:41:53,500
I mean, he's the guy
that has the best vantage point
700
00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:57,166
of the entire formation
every second, every day.
701
00:41:58,750 --> 00:42:03,625
That's a heavy weight, and Boss kind of
owns that as the commanding officer.
702
00:42:03,625 --> 00:42:05,416
But there are things I just can't see.
703
00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:08,250
And back there, we had some depth...
704
00:42:08,250 --> 00:42:12,250
[Jamammy] Chomps is, uh,
our lone Marine Corps pilot.
705
00:42:12,250 --> 00:42:14,166
We make fun of him,
call him General Zastoupil,
706
00:42:14,166 --> 00:42:16,666
because he kind of gives off that persona
707
00:42:16,666 --> 00:42:19,125
when he... when he goes
and talks to people.
708
00:42:19,125 --> 00:42:21,041
[Chomps] All right, so big take away
is now gonna be reducing
709
00:42:21,041 --> 00:42:23,541
the overreaction for the flat there.
710
00:42:24,416 --> 00:42:25,666
[Chewy] Yeah, I was trying not to hit him.
711
00:42:25,666 --> 00:42:29,791
[Chomps] I know, but that's a huge, huge
dump on the nose.
712
00:42:29,791 --> 00:42:33,083
That's correct. It's also the closest
I've ever been to a jet.
713
00:42:33,083 --> 00:42:35,666
- [Chomps] So...
- I can freeze it and hold it, but...
714
00:42:37,291 --> 00:42:38,958
There's gotta be some sort of compromise.
715
00:42:38,958 --> 00:42:42,083
Like you just have to keep driving more
to just kinda get away,
716
00:42:42,083 --> 00:42:45,166
but not that huge just dumping
of the nose away from the formation.
717
00:42:45,166 --> 00:42:46,833
Looked pretty gross up there.
718
00:42:46,833 --> 00:42:49,208
Uh, Delta Roll will be a focus
into tomorrow as well.
719
00:42:49,208 --> 00:42:51,041
Bearing lines, matching of the rate.
720
00:42:52,583 --> 00:42:55,458
There's one Marine option
in the Blue Angels
721
00:42:55,458 --> 00:42:57,625
at any given time, so we can only have one
722
00:42:57,625 --> 00:43:01,041
jet demonstration pilot
on any particular year.
723
00:43:01,041 --> 00:43:02,500
So this year is my final year.
724
00:43:04,291 --> 00:43:07,875
My job is to try to bring everyone
together on the same page
725
00:43:07,875 --> 00:43:10,750
so there's never any, like,
lingering questions between the elements.
726
00:43:10,750 --> 00:43:13,291
And so that's why it kind of rests
on the number four spot,
727
00:43:13,291 --> 00:43:16,208
always a second-year guy,
to do the debrief.
728
00:43:19,583 --> 00:43:21,375
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
729
00:43:21,375 --> 00:43:23,458
We're gonna be on the road
quite a bit coming up.
730
00:43:23,458 --> 00:43:26,750
Quite a... quite a bit.
And it's a lot of time away from family.
731
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.
732
00:43:32,458 --> 00:43:36,166
So, when we come here,
we try to spend as much time as we can.
733
00:43:36,166 --> 00:43:38,250
And when I walked out
of the house this morning,
734
00:43:38,250 --> 00:43:40,333
I had one daughter attached
to my left leg, saying,
735
00:43:40,333 --> 00:43:42,583
"Daddy, don't go.
Just stay here this weekend."
736
00:43:44,291 --> 00:43:48,083
And my little son is just literally,
like, rock climbing up my right leg
737
00:43:48,083 --> 00:43:50,666
as I'm walking to the truck this morning.
738
00:43:52,333 --> 00:43:55,500
[tense, dramatic music playing]
739
00:44:05,375 --> 00:44:07,000
[engines roaring]
740
00:44:10,625 --> 00:44:13,500
It is so cool to see
the reactions of the public.
741
00:44:13,500 --> 00:44:17,958
They think, you know, oh, you're a
rock star with this high-paced lifestyle.
742
00:44:17,958 --> 00:44:20,666
Yeah? Uh, a lot of practice.
743
00:44:20,666 --> 00:44:23,541
[Doc] And then in the evenings,
we attend commits
744
00:44:23,541 --> 00:44:26,125
where we'll go to a local outreach event.
745
00:44:26,125 --> 00:44:29,041
- [applause]
- The pilots will go to schools.
746
00:44:29,041 --> 00:44:33,791
So, our mission is to showcase
the teamwork and professionalism
747
00:44:33,791 --> 00:44:35,875
of the United States Navy
and Marine Corps.
748
00:44:35,875 --> 00:44:39,875
{\an8}[Doc] I was with Boss
at the Blue Angel Foundation.
749
00:44:39,875 --> 00:44:42,125
{\an8}- Thanks so much for coming out today.
- Awesome to meet you.
750
00:44:42,125 --> 00:44:43,458
{\an8}[Gil Rud] The Blue Angel Foundation
751
00:44:43,458 --> 00:44:46,833
{\an8}is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization
752
00:44:46,833 --> 00:44:50,083
{\an8}to help wounded veterans,
753
00:44:50,083 --> 00:44:53,166
{\an8}and Freedom Station is part of that.
754
00:44:53,166 --> 00:44:57,041
[Doc] It was truly special to spend
some time with those wounded warriors.
755
00:44:58,416 --> 00:45:01,625
{\an8}We also get to go to the hospitals.
756
00:45:01,625 --> 00:45:04,791
I'm Monica.
I am the doctor for the Blue Angels.
757
00:45:04,791 --> 00:45:07,166
We get to interact with each child
758
00:45:07,166 --> 00:45:09,416
and just spend a little time with them.
759
00:45:13,750 --> 00:45:15,875
- [Boss] All right!
- [applause]
760
00:45:18,625 --> 00:45:24,000
The first time you put this suit on,
you feel kind of like an imposter.
761
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:27,000
And I remember that
every time I wear the uniform.
762
00:45:28,208 --> 00:45:30,000
I think a good feeling to have is
763
00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,625
you should never feel
too comfortable in this suit.
764
00:45:34,666 --> 00:45:37,083
You're representing
a whole bunch of folks.
765
00:45:37,083 --> 00:45:39,125
You're not just representing yourself.
766
00:45:39,125 --> 00:45:41,208
[wistful music playing]
767
00:45:45,750 --> 00:45:50,166
For me, that's... that's looking
at the 28 faces on the wall every day.
768
00:45:53,250 --> 00:45:56,708
The 28 men that we've lost in this job.
769
00:45:59,833 --> 00:46:01,458
{\an8}[reporter] Breaking news tonight:
770
00:46:01,458 --> 00:46:04,291
{\an8}A Blue Angels jet went down
in Smyrna, Tennessee,
771
00:46:04,291 --> 00:46:05,958
{\an8}which is just outside of Nashville.
772
00:46:05,958 --> 00:46:08,750
{\an8}[Bubb] We were right there
when it happened.
773
00:46:08,750 --> 00:46:11,125
Several of the guys, you know,
saw it happening in real time.
774
00:46:13,916 --> 00:46:16,750
{\an8}[reporter 2] Captain Jeff Kuss
was killed when he went down in Smyrna
775
00:46:16,750 --> 00:46:20,083
{\an8}practicing at the Great American Air Show.
776
00:46:21,250 --> 00:46:26,083
[Bubb] He was just one of the most upbeat
and professional guys you've ever met.
777
00:46:27,208 --> 00:46:31,125
I mean, you get into this mindset
on this team
778
00:46:31,125 --> 00:46:33,916
that every day is gonna be the exact same.
779
00:46:33,916 --> 00:46:36,833
Right? We get into the routine,
and the routine is kind of set.
780
00:46:38,208 --> 00:46:40,125
{\an8}And then, when a massive event
like that happens,
781
00:46:40,125 --> 00:46:43,916
{\an8}everybody's just like,
"What are we gonna do right now?"
782
00:46:49,708 --> 00:46:52,291
It's a different type of flying.
783
00:46:52,291 --> 00:46:54,708
Those maneuvers are low
and fast to the ground.
784
00:46:54,708 --> 00:46:57,500
Right?
There's very little room for mistakes.
785
00:47:04,208 --> 00:47:06,791
[Boss] We owe it to them
to think about their memory.
786
00:47:08,416 --> 00:47:10,833
And I ask myself every day, "Who am I?"
787
00:47:20,375 --> 00:47:23,166
Who am I, right, to sit here?
788
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:27,416
Tough to have an ego
when you look at those guys up there
789
00:47:27,416 --> 00:47:28,916
and go, "Okay, who am I?"
790
00:47:33,666 --> 00:47:35,875
It's a humbling experience.
It's still humbling.
791
00:47:35,875 --> 00:47:37,958
[indistinct radio chatter]
792
00:47:43,500 --> 00:47:48,166
I'm in my last year,
and I'm turning it over.
793
00:47:48,166 --> 00:47:51,958
It's a unique process,
picking my replacement.
794
00:47:51,958 --> 00:47:54,041
♪ ♪
795
00:48:05,041 --> 00:48:08,041
There's only a handful of people
who ever experience this.
796
00:48:10,958 --> 00:48:13,708
The boss application--
there is no other time that you can apply
797
00:48:13,708 --> 00:48:15,250
for the Blue Angels, right?
798
00:48:15,250 --> 00:48:17,583
So it's a very final thing.
799
00:48:18,583 --> 00:48:22,125
They've flown down here
from all corners of the world.
800
00:48:23,208 --> 00:48:25,000
And this is some life-changing news.
801
00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:26,458
Maybe a lifelong dream.
802
00:48:30,625 --> 00:48:32,875
[Wooldridge] For me, back in the '90s,
803
00:48:32,875 --> 00:48:36,375
I was just an average
squadron commanding officer.
804
00:48:36,375 --> 00:48:38,666
You know, they would never pick me.
805
00:48:38,666 --> 00:48:40,875
Why even try?
806
00:48:40,875 --> 00:48:43,291
So I was relaxed and honest.
807
00:48:43,291 --> 00:48:45,750
You know, "I'm just gonna be me."
808
00:48:45,750 --> 00:48:49,666
And I was shocked when they pulled me out,
809
00:48:49,666 --> 00:48:52,333
outside the room, said, "You're the guy."
810
00:48:52,333 --> 00:48:54,541
[chuckling] Oh, boy. Whew.
811
00:48:54,541 --> 00:48:56,708
[clears throat]
812
00:48:56,708 --> 00:48:58,041
[sniffles]
813
00:49:03,791 --> 00:49:05,958
[inhales deeply, clears throat]
814
00:49:05,958 --> 00:49:08,791
And that was a life changer.
I was real surprised.
815
00:49:13,416 --> 00:49:17,166
[Boss] It's a tough decision.
I mean, these folks are all Olympians.
816
00:49:18,250 --> 00:49:21,041
These folks work their entire life.
817
00:49:21,041 --> 00:49:24,708
You've heard of the gold medalist,
maybe the silver or even the bronze,
818
00:49:24,708 --> 00:49:29,083
but someone comes in fourth
and no one knows their name.
819
00:49:32,666 --> 00:49:35,750
[man inside room] First off, thank you,
everyone. Very, very well done.
820
00:49:35,750 --> 00:49:37,333
- Please hold your heads high.
- [candidates chattering]
821
00:49:37,333 --> 00:49:39,041
- Very well done. Very well done.
- [candidates] Thank you.
822
00:49:39,041 --> 00:49:40,333
Very well done.
823
00:49:40,333 --> 00:49:41,875
- Okay.
- [Boss] We'll come on out here.
824
00:49:41,875 --> 00:49:43,125
Awesome.
825
00:49:44,833 --> 00:49:46,333
[whispers] All right.
826
00:49:47,625 --> 00:49:49,583
[man] You won't start getting
your PAO training right away,
827
00:49:49,583 --> 00:49:52,041
but you'll be expected to say
a few things, uh, to the press.
828
00:49:52,041 --> 00:49:55,000
Right, your-your most important thing
to do right now is
829
00:49:55,000 --> 00:49:56,333
- you're gonna call your wife.
- Mm-hmm.
830
00:49:56,333 --> 00:49:57,916
Give her a call-- make it a quick one--
831
00:49:57,916 --> 00:49:59,708
- and call your... call your mom and dad.
- Yeah. Yeah.
832
00:49:59,708 --> 00:50:02,166
Okay, then let me know.
Just give them a couple of minutes...
833
00:50:02,166 --> 00:50:04,208
That was, uh,
extremely emotional, for sure.
834
00:50:04,208 --> 00:50:06,833
Uh, surprising to start,
and then a... and then a...
835
00:50:06,833 --> 00:50:08,666
just a flood of different emotions.
836
00:50:09,916 --> 00:50:12,708
My name's Commander Alex Armatas.
Call sign is "Scribe."
837
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.
838
00:50:16,541 --> 00:50:17,958
Press conference one.
839
00:50:17,958 --> 00:50:19,916
[Scribe] I've been in the Navy
for quite a while now.
840
00:50:19,916 --> 00:50:22,041
A little over 20 years.
841
00:50:23,041 --> 00:50:24,916
I kind of prepared myself
to not be the one,
842
00:50:24,916 --> 00:50:27,208
so now I'm very quickly
having to come to terms
843
00:50:27,208 --> 00:50:29,875
with the fact that this will be, uh...
this will be my role next, and, uh...
844
00:50:29,875 --> 00:50:31,541
and I need to get ready for that, so...
845
00:50:31,541 --> 00:50:33,958
[Boss] So, what do you think?
Shock? Shock and awe?
846
00:50:33,958 --> 00:50:36,083
- Yeah, big-time.
- Yeah. Yeah, me, too.
847
00:50:36,083 --> 00:50:37,875
I think, uh...
848
00:50:37,875 --> 00:50:40,666
- Job's gonna be different than you think.
- [chuckles] Yeah?
849
00:50:40,666 --> 00:50:43,500
[Boss] It's gonna be challenging
in aspects you don't know.
850
00:50:43,500 --> 00:50:45,041
- I wouldn't trade it for the world.
- Yeah.
851
00:50:45,041 --> 00:50:46,791
[Boss] It's been fantastic.
852
00:50:48,166 --> 00:50:50,208
- [applause]
- [indistinct chatter]
853
00:50:50,208 --> 00:50:51,708
I appreciate it. Thank you.
854
00:50:51,708 --> 00:50:53,625
[Scribe clears throat]
855
00:50:54,958 --> 00:50:56,375
[Scribe] Uh, good afternoon, everyone.
856
00:50:56,375 --> 00:50:58,041
As mentioned, my name's
Commander Alex Armatas.
857
00:50:58,041 --> 00:50:59,916
Uh, it is an absolute honor to be here.
858
00:50:59,916 --> 00:51:03,166
It's, uh, very humbling, very emotional,
as Captain Kesselring mentioned.
859
00:51:03,166 --> 00:51:04,750
Admiral, thank you as well, sir.
860
00:51:04,750 --> 00:51:06,500
Uh, and, uh, just...
861
00:51:06,500 --> 00:51:08,166
[Boss] Even though
he's a very skilled leader
862
00:51:08,166 --> 00:51:09,625
and very skilled aviator,
863
00:51:09,625 --> 00:51:12,500
he's gonna go through that same crucible,
that same learning curve.
864
00:51:12,500 --> 00:51:15,458
As I look back, oh, boy.
865
00:51:15,458 --> 00:51:17,416
There's just... he doesn't know
what he doesn't know yet.
866
00:51:17,416 --> 00:51:18,500
[applause]
867
00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:20,333
- Does this get easier with time? This--
- Yeah.
868
00:51:20,333 --> 00:51:21,583
Does it get easier? I hope so.
869
00:51:21,583 --> 00:51:23,291
- How you doing? Outstanding job. Yeah.
- Thanks, Admiral. I appreciate it.
870
00:51:23,291 --> 00:51:25,000
- Outstanding.
- Yeah, this is, uh...
871
00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:27,333
I hope it gets easier the more you do it.
872
00:51:29,375 --> 00:51:33,666
{\an8}[Wooldridge] The Blue Angels were
the brainchild of Admiral Chester Nimitz.
873
00:51:33,666 --> 00:51:35,583
{\an8}In 1946,
874
00:51:35,583 --> 00:51:37,958
Admiral Nimitz said,
"We've got to make sure
875
00:51:37,958 --> 00:51:40,833
the American public doesn't forget
about Navy planes."
876
00:51:44,500 --> 00:51:49,000
{\an8}He pulled a fellow that had
five aerial victories during the war,
877
00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:52,583
{\an8}a young 26-year-old lieutenant commander
named Butch Voris.
878
00:51:53,666 --> 00:51:58,000
And so, Butch grabbed
about four of his best friends, they...
879
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:02,000
created a team, created a few maneuvers
880
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:04,625
and took it right to the American public.
881
00:52:04,625 --> 00:52:06,916
[engine chugging]
882
00:52:09,916 --> 00:52:11,916
[excited chatter]
883
00:52:11,916 --> 00:52:14,666
[upbeat music playing]
884
00:52:20,250 --> 00:52:22,125
[announcer] The Blue Angels fly
885
00:52:22,125 --> 00:52:26,625
the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II,
a single-seat light attack jet,
886
00:52:26,625 --> 00:52:30,875
versions of which have been operational
in the fleet since 1956.
887
00:52:30,875 --> 00:52:32,958
♪ ♪
888
00:52:37,958 --> 00:52:39,708
[engines roaring]
889
00:52:41,333 --> 00:52:43,708
[crowd whooping]
890
00:52:45,500 --> 00:52:49,375
[Wooldridge] Over the years, the team has
gone through many different airplanes--
891
00:52:49,375 --> 00:52:53,666
propeller-driven airplanes,
and then into the jet era.
892
00:52:56,416 --> 00:52:57,458
[pilot] Ready?
893
00:52:57,458 --> 00:52:59,416
Hit it.
894
00:52:59,416 --> 00:53:00,750
[pilot 2] Take it in!
895
00:53:00,750 --> 00:53:02,375
[Wooldridge] We didn't see it as a risk.
896
00:53:02,375 --> 00:53:05,708
We saw taking this job
as a Blue Angel as a privilege.
897
00:53:07,458 --> 00:53:09,458
[straining]
898
00:53:10,708 --> 00:53:13,166
[engines roaring]
899
00:53:13,166 --> 00:53:15,250
[majestic music playing]
900
00:53:31,916 --> 00:53:33,916
[indistinct radio chatter]
901
00:53:37,708 --> 00:53:41,666
[Wooldridge] It's so highly sought-after
to be part of the Blue Angels.
902
00:53:42,750 --> 00:53:47,458
And it's a...
it's a very distinct privilege
903
00:53:47,458 --> 00:53:49,625
to be selected to the Blues.
904
00:53:51,250 --> 00:53:53,708
And we got to pick our own.
How about that?
905
00:53:53,708 --> 00:53:56,791
Nobody from above was saying,
"You're gonna take this person,
906
00:53:56,791 --> 00:54:00,083
teach him how to fly,
teach him how to be a Blue Angel."
907
00:54:00,083 --> 00:54:03,375
Which was really unusual in the military.
908
00:54:03,375 --> 00:54:05,458
[quiet chatter]
909
00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:12,208
[man] All right.
910
00:54:12,208 --> 00:54:15,375
[Whiskers] This day is gonna be
very busy, very tight on timelines.
911
00:54:15,375 --> 00:54:18,041
If you're next, be on deck
outside the room.
912
00:54:18,041 --> 00:54:20,541
Everybody else can relax in here,
do your thing.
913
00:54:20,541 --> 00:54:21,708
[woman] Thanks.
914
00:54:21,708 --> 00:54:23,875
[Boss] There's the robust
interview process.
915
00:54:23,875 --> 00:54:27,541
We get medical. We take a look
at the backgrounds and all that.
916
00:54:27,541 --> 00:54:30,000
But really, what it comes down to
is three things:
917
00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:31,833
talent, passion and personality.
918
00:54:31,833 --> 00:54:34,083
Questions for me? Awesome.
919
00:54:34,083 --> 00:54:36,666
- You stand right here.
- Oh.
920
00:54:36,666 --> 00:54:40,916
[Whiskers] My first introduction
to aviation was when my dad took
921
00:54:40,916 --> 00:54:42,833
my family to Tuskegee,
922
00:54:42,833 --> 00:54:47,875
where we got to ride in a small,
single-engine aircraft.
923
00:54:47,875 --> 00:54:51,916
Up until that point, I wanted to be
a train conductor and a police officer.
924
00:54:51,916 --> 00:54:54,125
But after that flight,
I wanted to be a pilot.
925
00:54:57,875 --> 00:54:59,750
The interview matters.
926
00:54:59,750 --> 00:55:03,291
We are picking the best-fit person
for this job.
927
00:55:03,291 --> 00:55:05,083
And by "best-fit," I mean,
928
00:55:05,083 --> 00:55:06,250
that's hugely important.
929
00:55:06,250 --> 00:55:08,166
We're spending a lot of time
with each other.
930
00:55:08,166 --> 00:55:12,250
We know each other so well.
931
00:55:12,250 --> 00:55:14,458
[Boss] They're certainly
a bit on the nervous side.
932
00:55:14,458 --> 00:55:15,666
Got the nerves going.
933
00:55:15,666 --> 00:55:18,291
You see their excitement.
You see the desire.
934
00:55:18,291 --> 00:55:20,625
They're so close
they can darn near taste it.
935
00:55:20,625 --> 00:55:23,625
[intriguing music playing]
936
00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:32,000
[Chomps] We try to learn
everything about that individual
937
00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:34,083
before they get here
so that when they do get here
938
00:55:34,083 --> 00:55:36,083
we know exactly what
their personality is going to be
939
00:55:36,083 --> 00:55:38,708
and where they're going to fit in
in their part of this team.
940
00:55:43,541 --> 00:55:45,375
[Whiskers] We'll start
during the interview process,
941
00:55:45,375 --> 00:55:49,916
you know, dig a little deeper,
but it literally is
942
00:55:49,916 --> 00:55:52,500
a unanimous decision
amongst 17 people in the room
943
00:55:52,500 --> 00:55:57,333
that requires hours of deliberation
and discussion to reach that consensus.
944
00:55:58,791 --> 00:56:00,458
[Chewy] Obviously,
you're gonna pick the people
945
00:56:00,458 --> 00:56:02,333
you think will be the absolute best.
946
00:56:02,333 --> 00:56:04,291
Sometimes that takes five minutes.
947
00:56:04,291 --> 00:56:06,791
Sometimes that takes four hours.
You never know.
948
00:56:08,416 --> 00:56:10,416
[Chomps] These are all
very personal conversations
949
00:56:10,416 --> 00:56:13,333
with personal details
about this individual's life
950
00:56:13,333 --> 00:56:16,083
that the general public
doesn't need to ever know.
951
00:56:16,083 --> 00:56:18,208
And it's certain things
that we'll talk about in there,
952
00:56:18,208 --> 00:56:21,375
and at the end of the night,
we all slap the table and say,
953
00:56:21,375 --> 00:56:23,583
"What happened here stays here."
954
00:56:23,583 --> 00:56:25,833
And then it's never
to be talked about again.
955
00:56:26,833 --> 00:56:29,500
'Cause at the end of the day, guess what--
those are your new people.
956
00:56:33,875 --> 00:56:35,791
There has to be a unanimous decision.
957
00:56:35,791 --> 00:56:38,500
But if we don't pick the right people
to carry on that legacy,
958
00:56:38,500 --> 00:56:40,208
then what we've done is just a failure.
959
00:56:42,166 --> 00:56:44,916
[Cheese] If you're a finalist, you're
kind of waiting on pins and needles.
960
00:56:44,916 --> 00:56:46,000
[camera shutter clicks]
961
00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:48,083
Saturday after
the Pensacola Beach Air Show,
962
00:56:48,083 --> 00:56:49,750
you call in, they tell you whether or not,
963
00:56:49,750 --> 00:56:52,125
you know, either "Welcome to the team,"
or, you know,
964
00:56:52,125 --> 00:56:53,625
"Hey, sorry. Try again next year."
965
00:56:56,416 --> 00:56:58,708
For me, took me three tries.
966
00:56:58,708 --> 00:57:00,916
I got... you know,
I got lucky along the way.
967
00:57:00,916 --> 00:57:04,375
Did a couple deployments,
and then I ended up here on the team.
968
00:57:07,208 --> 00:57:10,791
That was... that was a huge,
huge success... [chuckles]
969
00:57:10,791 --> 00:57:11,875
...in my book.
970
00:57:12,958 --> 00:57:14,375
[Boss] Let's go.
971
00:57:17,125 --> 00:57:19,125
You know, we owe it to all those folks,
972
00:57:19,125 --> 00:57:23,791
the majority of folks who have rushed
the team that didn't make it.
973
00:57:23,791 --> 00:57:26,083
Some miss out by just one vote.
974
00:57:27,500 --> 00:57:32,791
We are four months, 16 shows away
from the end of the season,
975
00:57:32,791 --> 00:57:34,958
so make sure you appreciate it
while you're here.
976
00:57:37,041 --> 00:57:39,666
- [engine buzzing]
- [crowd cheering]
977
00:57:48,583 --> 00:57:51,416
[triumphant music playing]
978
00:58:01,708 --> 00:58:04,916
[Jamammy] This city definitely has
a special place for us.
979
00:58:06,708 --> 00:58:12,250
These people who have been coming
to these shows, you know, since the '60s,
980
00:58:12,250 --> 00:58:15,791
they still welcome us as if we're family.
981
00:58:27,458 --> 00:58:29,500
We're moments in time on this team.
982
00:58:30,791 --> 00:58:33,333
I've been watching
the Blue Angels since 1982.
983
00:58:33,333 --> 00:58:34,916
It's my 40th summer.
984
00:58:34,916 --> 00:58:36,791
I've been around them my entire life.
985
00:58:36,791 --> 00:58:38,333
Twenty-plus.
986
00:58:38,333 --> 00:58:42,208
The adrenaline, the rush,
and honestly, like, seeing it in person
987
00:58:42,208 --> 00:58:44,250
just makes it that much more real.
988
00:58:48,291 --> 00:58:51,125
Okay, winds are two-zero-zero-eight.
We own the airspace.
989
00:58:51,125 --> 00:58:53,666
- Have a good one.
- [engines whooshing]
990
00:58:53,666 --> 00:58:55,208
[Boss] We're cleared for takeoff.
991
00:59:06,833 --> 00:59:08,333
[indistinct radio chatter]
992
00:59:11,416 --> 00:59:13,208
[majestic music playing]
993
00:59:13,208 --> 00:59:14,875
[indistinct radio chatter]
994
00:59:17,750 --> 00:59:20,875
[engines whooshing]
995
00:59:27,583 --> 00:59:30,208
[Push Pop over speakers] In relatively
slow speed flight, they will give you
996
00:59:30,208 --> 00:59:33,083
an opportunity to get a close look
at the precision flying
997
00:59:33,083 --> 00:59:36,083
that produces the 18-inch
wingtip-to-canopy separation
998
00:59:36,083 --> 00:59:38,125
between these four aircraft.
999
00:59:38,125 --> 00:59:41,166
From the right, the Blue Angel Diamond.
1000
00:59:45,583 --> 00:59:47,958
[Cheese] Looking at it,
the start of the season,
1001
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."
1002
00:59:53,125 --> 00:59:55,500
Especially for the Diamond 360,
which is what we consider
1003
00:59:55,500 --> 00:59:57,416
one of our hardest maneuvers.
1004
00:59:57,416 --> 00:59:59,541
[man over radio] They're at 360.
1005
01:00:04,958 --> 01:00:07,666
[Cheese] We just bumped it
into Blue Gold set.
1006
01:00:08,750 --> 01:00:12,750
Scott-- Jamammy-- he's currently
up under, you know, Boss's wing.
1007
01:00:13,750 --> 01:00:16,416
Now, me on the other side,
because of parallax,
1008
01:00:16,416 --> 01:00:18,125
I'm not actually sliding myself
up underneath.
1009
01:00:18,125 --> 01:00:21,583
{\an8}What I'm actually doing is I'm sliding
outboard and forward.
1010
01:00:24,208 --> 01:00:25,958
You have Frank underneath my wing
1011
01:00:25,958 --> 01:00:28,458
doing almost the exact same thing
that Scott is doing,
1012
01:00:28,458 --> 01:00:30,666
just a little bit more aft.
1013
01:00:31,666 --> 01:00:33,291
It's kind of getting
not so much comfortable,
1014
01:00:33,291 --> 01:00:35,666
but it's getting familiar, uh,
to the point where it's like,
1015
01:00:35,666 --> 01:00:37,208
"Man, we're actually really doing this."
1016
01:00:37,208 --> 01:00:39,750
You know, this is...
this is the aspect of the Blue Angels
1017
01:00:39,750 --> 01:00:43,166
that no other demonstration team
really reaches.
1018
01:00:43,166 --> 01:00:45,250
[dramatic music playing]
1019
01:00:50,833 --> 01:00:53,208
But the Yankee set
at the start of the season
1020
01:00:53,208 --> 01:00:55,625
is something you really want to get
1021
01:00:55,625 --> 01:00:59,500
and you don't completely know
if maybe you'll actually get there, but...
1022
01:00:59,500 --> 01:01:01,333
There's teams that have done this
in the past,
1023
01:01:01,333 --> 01:01:02,916
and then there's teams that haven't.
1024
01:01:04,625 --> 01:01:08,041
Now that we're starting to get
in that regime of flight,
1025
01:01:08,041 --> 01:01:10,125
will we get there?
1026
01:01:10,125 --> 01:01:11,583
Hopefully, yes.
1027
01:01:11,583 --> 01:01:13,666
[majestic music playing]
1028
01:01:27,708 --> 01:01:29,708
♪ ♪
1029
01:01:39,875 --> 01:01:42,000
[explosive whooshing]
1030
01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:45,083
[energetic music playing]
1031
01:02:04,791 --> 01:02:07,625
Of course, the crowd favorite
is the Sneak.
1032
01:02:15,708 --> 01:02:17,541
[Jamammy] The Diamond
will execute their maneuver,
1033
01:02:17,541 --> 01:02:20,083
showcasing the precision flying,
uh, that is required
1034
01:02:20,083 --> 01:02:22,125
of all Navy and Marine Corps pilots.
1035
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,
1036
01:02:26,083 --> 01:02:28,958
who just pull on the stick a lot
and provide the filler.
1037
01:02:28,958 --> 01:02:31,041
[explosive whooshing]
1038
01:02:34,875 --> 01:02:37,083
♪ ♪
1039
01:02:44,625 --> 01:02:45,916
[Chewy] The Diamond's
favorite maneuvers are when
1040
01:02:45,916 --> 01:02:47,250
they get to break apart from Boss,
1041
01:02:47,250 --> 01:02:49,750
act like a solo,
and then once that's over,
1042
01:02:49,750 --> 01:02:51,833
they're back to being the Diamond.
1043
01:02:51,833 --> 01:02:54,041
I mean, the Diamond, everybody knows
they're-they're the better pilots here.
1044
01:02:54,041 --> 01:02:55,250
Every... Literally everybody knows.
1045
01:02:55,250 --> 01:02:58,333
You know that you actually have to think
about those around you,
1046
01:02:58,333 --> 01:02:59,791
like, be a team player.
1047
01:02:59,791 --> 01:03:01,083
They just don't get that yet.
1048
01:03:01,083 --> 01:03:03,125
So, maybe one day,
they'll understand that, but...
1049
01:03:03,125 --> 01:03:04,291
[Whiskers] Fun and excitement.
1050
01:03:04,291 --> 01:03:06,875
Definitely, the solos use a lot more
than Diamond.
1051
01:03:06,875 --> 01:03:08,833
They're all flying off of Boss, so...
1052
01:03:08,833 --> 01:03:11,541
Healthy competition--
that's exactly what it is.
1053
01:03:11,541 --> 01:03:13,625
[engine roaring]
1054
01:03:28,041 --> 01:03:31,000
[Amanda "Stalin" Lee] After I left
Pensacola for finalist week,
1055
01:03:31,000 --> 01:03:32,875
it was just me and my husband
at the house.
1056
01:03:32,875 --> 01:03:35,041
We were kind of waiting
and anticipating this phone call.
1057
01:03:36,208 --> 01:03:39,125
I was the very first person
to call in, uh, so I called in
1058
01:03:39,125 --> 01:03:41,750
and, uh, they kind of joked around
with me and they said,
1059
01:03:41,750 --> 01:03:44,416
"Hey, you have the wrong number.
Try calling this number back."
1060
01:03:44,416 --> 01:03:47,333
So I am in panic mode immediately.
[laughs]
1061
01:03:47,333 --> 01:03:49,583
We tend to mess with them a little bit...
[clears throat]
1062
01:03:49,583 --> 01:03:51,416
when they, uh...
when they call in for the selectees, so...
1063
01:03:51,416 --> 01:03:52,583
[laughs]
1064
01:03:52,583 --> 01:03:54,916
We have a five-minute window to call in,
1065
01:03:54,916 --> 01:03:56,500
so I'm-I'm going through my messages,
1066
01:03:56,500 --> 01:03:59,041
making sure I have the right...
the right number.
1067
01:03:59,041 --> 01:04:01,125
I call back. They're like,
"Still the wrong number."
1068
01:04:01,125 --> 01:04:05,166
We're listening in as Cody has got some
rock music playing in the background.
1069
01:04:05,166 --> 01:04:06,916
I get a call from Boss.
1070
01:04:06,916 --> 01:04:10,041
- He's like...
- Amanda, weren't you supposed
to call in a couple minutes ago?
1071
01:04:10,041 --> 01:04:12,500
I-I was like, "I have done
something terribly wrong.
1072
01:04:12,500 --> 01:04:14,291
[laughing] I'm in trouble."
1073
01:04:14,291 --> 01:04:16,583
He's like, "Hey, next year, when you...
when you're on the team,
1074
01:04:16,583 --> 01:04:18,458
maybe we'll get your timeline
a little bit better."
1075
01:04:18,458 --> 01:04:20,583
And then everybody said,
"Welcome to the team."
1076
01:04:20,583 --> 01:04:22,958
But they had me super frazzled.
1077
01:04:22,958 --> 01:04:25,500
[reporter] A history-making day
for the legendary Blue Angels.
1078
01:04:25,500 --> 01:04:28,458
{\an8}The Navy's elite flight squadron
has selected its first
1079
01:04:28,458 --> 01:04:31,291
{\an8}female fighter jet demonstration pilot,
1080
01:04:31,291 --> 01:04:34,250
{\an8}Lieutenant Amanda Lee from Minnesota.
1081
01:04:34,250 --> 01:04:37,625
{\an8}She is soon going to be flying high
with the Blue Angels.
1082
01:04:37,625 --> 01:04:41,416
{\an8}She will need to complete an intensive
five-month training program
1083
01:04:41,416 --> 01:04:44,500
{\an8}with other new members of the team
beginning in September.
1084
01:04:46,833 --> 01:04:49,708
[Amanda] I enlisted in the Navy in 2007.
1085
01:04:49,708 --> 01:04:52,666
I ended up enlisting as
an aviation electronics technician,
1086
01:04:52,666 --> 01:04:54,583
and I started working on the F-18.
1087
01:04:55,666 --> 01:04:58,625
I get to my first squadron,
and my division chief said,
1088
01:04:58,625 --> 01:05:01,791
"You don't belong here. I don't feel like
you're challenged enough."
1089
01:05:01,791 --> 01:05:03,708
And the only thing I knew in the Navy
1090
01:05:03,708 --> 01:05:05,875
was aviation, so I was like,
"Let's try to fly."
1091
01:05:05,875 --> 01:05:09,000
Once you wear this crest,
it's a life-changing journey
1092
01:05:09,000 --> 01:05:12,708
and you have an opportunity to represent
those over 800,000 active duty reserve
1093
01:05:12,708 --> 01:05:15,041
and civilian support personnel
by wearing it.
1094
01:05:15,041 --> 01:05:19,041
[Amanda] Having the whole team there
greeting you, really excited for you,
1095
01:05:19,041 --> 01:05:20,958
it was absolutely an unforgettable day.
1096
01:05:20,958 --> 01:05:24,333
So remember today is the day
that you became a Blue Angel.
1097
01:05:24,333 --> 01:05:26,208
Look around at your teammates.
1098
01:05:26,208 --> 01:05:28,750
Commit this special bond to memory.
1099
01:05:28,750 --> 01:05:31,458
Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
1100
01:05:35,208 --> 01:05:37,000
Welcome to the team.
1101
01:05:37,000 --> 01:05:39,708
- [applause]
- [triumphant music playing]
1102
01:05:42,208 --> 01:05:45,750
I think the media likes
to make a big deal out of firsts,
1103
01:05:45,750 --> 01:05:49,166
but, you know, I always feel
we give short shrift
1104
01:05:49,166 --> 01:05:51,958
to why they actually made it, right?
1105
01:05:53,791 --> 01:05:57,916
We have a fantastic officer
and a fantastic pilot.
1106
01:05:59,000 --> 01:06:01,208
The end of the day,
when you're flying 12 inches apart,
1107
01:06:01,208 --> 01:06:02,708
what really matters
1108
01:06:02,708 --> 01:06:03,958
is that you can trust 'em.
1109
01:06:03,958 --> 01:06:06,041
[atmospheric music playing]
1110
01:06:27,541 --> 01:06:29,833
[Cheese] I think the progression
with the team is going really well,
1111
01:06:29,833 --> 01:06:32,875
and I'm really, really excited to see
when we can bring this in
1112
01:06:32,875 --> 01:06:34,875
and how tight we can actually
get that formation.
1113
01:06:36,125 --> 01:06:38,125
[dramatic music playing]
1114
01:06:46,916 --> 01:06:50,083
[Boss] In terms of being a newbie
on the Blue Angels,
1115
01:06:50,083 --> 01:06:52,083
it feels like an eternity.
1116
01:06:52,083 --> 01:06:56,041
We are entering a phase of the season
where a new team is selected
1117
01:06:56,041 --> 01:06:58,791
and it's the official "you are no longer
a newbie on the team."
1118
01:06:58,791 --> 01:07:02,000
[cheering]
1119
01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:04,666
You finally kind of know
what you're doing.
1120
01:07:07,375 --> 01:07:09,083
[engines whooshing]
1121
01:07:09,083 --> 01:07:11,750
[energetic music playing]
1122
01:07:26,833 --> 01:07:28,833
[engines roaring]
1123
01:07:35,583 --> 01:07:37,458
Rip it.
1124
01:07:39,916 --> 01:07:42,875
It's kind of fun watching
the folks who just learned.
1125
01:07:43,958 --> 01:07:49,333
It's cool seeing Cheese go from
not knowing anything but fleet flying
1126
01:07:49,333 --> 01:07:54,625
to feeling 110% confident.
1127
01:07:54,625 --> 01:07:57,458
But he has another enormous role
that he's got to learn.
1128
01:07:58,541 --> 01:08:00,208
[Jamammy] Cheese next year in the two jet
1129
01:08:00,208 --> 01:08:02,041
is gonna have
the incredible responsibility
1130
01:08:02,041 --> 01:08:04,000
of training a new boss.
1131
01:08:14,541 --> 01:08:16,666
[Doc] Good morning, Mike. How are you?
1132
01:08:16,666 --> 01:08:18,041
- [Mike] Thanks. Good. And yourself?
- Hi.
1133
01:08:18,041 --> 01:08:19,625
- Doc, nice to see you again.
- Good to be back.
1134
01:08:19,625 --> 01:08:20,958
- Hi. Mike.
- Alex Armatas.
1135
01:08:20,958 --> 01:08:26,625
[Doc] We are in San Antonio, Texas,
at the Wyle KBR centrifuge center.
1136
01:08:26,625 --> 01:08:28,208
[Mike] You guys ready for this?
1137
01:08:29,375 --> 01:08:32,875
[Doc] This is the first day
for the incoming pilots
1138
01:08:32,875 --> 01:08:35,708
to be on the job as Blue Angels.
1139
01:08:37,166 --> 01:08:41,125
This is a g tolerance
improvement training program,
1140
01:08:41,125 --> 01:08:44,250
and it is a very demanding
and rigorous program.
1141
01:08:44,250 --> 01:08:48,375
[Boss] People who've been flying F-18s
for 20 years go to the centrifuge
1142
01:08:48,375 --> 01:08:50,000
if they get selected.
1143
01:08:50,000 --> 01:08:54,125
And it can be challenging at times and
sometimes have to learn new techniques
1144
01:08:54,125 --> 01:08:56,125
to make sure they can perform
at the highest levels
1145
01:08:56,125 --> 01:08:58,291
before they can be on the team.
1146
01:08:59,791 --> 01:09:01,500
[Doc] When you increase g-forces,
1147
01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:05,500
gravity is gonna pull
the blood in your head down to your feet,
1148
01:09:05,500 --> 01:09:07,458
so you're gonna pass out.
1149
01:09:07,458 --> 01:09:09,125
Go ahead and put your g-suits on.
1150
01:09:09,125 --> 01:09:11,250
I want to check them just to make sure.
1151
01:09:11,250 --> 01:09:14,875
[Doc] The first day,
incoming aviators wear their g-suits,
1152
01:09:14,875 --> 01:09:16,416
which they're used to wearing
out in the fleet.
1153
01:09:16,416 --> 01:09:19,166
[Mike] Go ahead and climb on in
and sit down as best
1154
01:09:19,166 --> 01:09:21,250
or as easy as possible.
1155
01:09:21,250 --> 01:09:25,083
[Doc] A g-suit is something
that we strap on, and they will inflate
1156
01:09:25,083 --> 01:09:27,625
and deflate, depending on
the amount of g's you're pulling,
1157
01:09:27,625 --> 01:09:30,458
to help you sustain g's
so you don't have to strain as hard.
1158
01:09:30,458 --> 01:09:32,208
[man] Harness.
1159
01:09:32,208 --> 01:09:34,166
[Mike over radio] Harness locked.
Zippers are up.
1160
01:09:34,166 --> 01:09:37,916
[man over radio] G-suit pressure
one-five-five.
1161
01:09:37,916 --> 01:09:39,375
[Mike] There it is.
1162
01:09:43,583 --> 01:09:46,250
[buzzer blares]
1163
01:09:48,250 --> 01:09:50,250
Okay, we're just gonna
get you up to idle speed.
1164
01:09:50,250 --> 01:09:52,791
In three, two, one. Engage.
1165
01:09:52,791 --> 01:09:55,833
[tense music playing]
1166
01:09:58,333 --> 01:10:01,416
[Mike] All right, should feel like you're
going straight up in a rocket right now.
1167
01:10:01,416 --> 01:10:02,791
Yeah.
1168
01:10:02,791 --> 01:10:04,416
{\an8}[Mike] Pull back.
1169
01:10:05,958 --> 01:10:07,958
{\an8}[man] Up top. Breathe.
1170
01:10:07,958 --> 01:10:09,708
{\an8}Bring those knees in.
Dig with those heels.
1171
01:10:09,708 --> 01:10:11,666
{\an8}Breathe. Drop the shoulders.
1172
01:10:11,666 --> 01:10:13,541
{\an8}Plank the abs. Down to five and a half.
1173
01:10:13,541 --> 01:10:14,958
{\an8}Keep it going.
1174
01:10:14,958 --> 01:10:17,166
{\an8}[Mike] Squeeze that butt.
Get those abs tight.
1175
01:10:17,166 --> 01:10:18,291
{\an8}Keep them tight.
1176
01:10:18,291 --> 01:10:19,916
{\an8}You're letting these g's control you.
1177
01:10:19,916 --> 01:10:21,916
{\an8}Come on. I want you to control them.
1178
01:10:21,916 --> 01:10:24,041
[buzzer blares]
1179
01:10:25,125 --> 01:10:26,458
{\an8}You're on top. Breathe.
1180
01:10:26,458 --> 01:10:28,375
{\an8}Squeeze the knees. Squeeze that butt.
1181
01:10:28,375 --> 01:10:30,833
{\an8}Breathe. Keep those abs tight.
Keep them tight.
1182
01:10:30,833 --> 01:10:33,083
{\an8}[man] Work. Bring those knees in.
Squeeze that butt!
1183
01:10:33,083 --> 01:10:34,541
{\an8}Come on, breathe.
1184
01:10:34,541 --> 01:10:36,291
{\an8}[Mike] Come on, dig the heels.
You got this.
1185
01:10:36,291 --> 01:10:38,708
{\an8}Keep squeezing. Come on.
1186
01:10:38,708 --> 01:10:41,333
{\an8}Squeeze the knees. Nicely done.
1187
01:10:41,333 --> 01:10:43,041
[man] I got to tell you, Alex, that may be
1188
01:10:43,041 --> 01:10:46,500
the best I've ever seen
anybody do on their first ride.
1189
01:10:46,500 --> 01:10:48,833
I'm sure. I'm not just blowing smoke, man.
1190
01:10:48,833 --> 01:10:51,208
I don't say that to people.
That was awesome.
1191
01:10:54,291 --> 01:10:56,750
{\an8}[Doc] Today, there are no g-suits.
1192
01:10:57,916 --> 01:11:00,250
And the reason we require that is because
1193
01:11:00,250 --> 01:11:03,458
we do not fly with g-suits
in the Blue Angels.
1194
01:11:03,458 --> 01:11:05,375
[rumbling]
1195
01:11:05,375 --> 01:11:07,458
- [Mike] Welcome back.
- Yeah.
1196
01:11:07,458 --> 01:11:09,041
[Cheese] The g-suit fills up with air,
1197
01:11:09,041 --> 01:11:12,250
so the way we fulcrum
with our-our arm on our leg,
1198
01:11:12,250 --> 01:11:15,250
if that were to inflate,
it would move our arm
1199
01:11:15,250 --> 01:11:17,750
and inherently just move the aircraft,
so we don't do that.
1200
01:11:17,750 --> 01:11:21,250
[man] Okay, we're gonna
start the profile now.
1201
01:11:21,250 --> 01:11:24,500
We have five profiles
that every Blue Angel aviator
1202
01:11:24,500 --> 01:11:27,791
will go through in the centrifuge
which represent
1203
01:11:27,791 --> 01:11:29,750
what they experience
when flying in the jet.
1204
01:11:30,833 --> 01:11:32,833
{\an8}[engines whooshing]
1205
01:11:38,000 --> 01:11:41,166
And those are the high-g profiles,
and one of which is
1206
01:11:41,166 --> 01:11:44,166
the PUB, the Pitch-Up Break,
which is our very last maneuver,
1207
01:11:44,166 --> 01:11:47,166
{\an8}where the pilots will pull
seven and a half g's
1208
01:11:47,166 --> 01:11:49,416
{\an8}to break around the airfield
before landing.
1209
01:11:51,041 --> 01:11:54,791
{\an8}[chuckling] But it's critical that
they stay awake during that maneuver.
1210
01:11:56,708 --> 01:11:59,208
So we've taken that demonstration profile
1211
01:11:59,208 --> 01:12:01,625
and simulated it in the centrifuge
1212
01:12:01,625 --> 01:12:04,083
so that we can train to it
before getting into the jet.
1213
01:12:04,083 --> 01:12:05,416
All right, I have controls.
1214
01:12:05,416 --> 01:12:07,125
[man] Going to seven g's, five seconds.
1215
01:12:07,125 --> 01:12:09,208
[tense music playing]
1216
01:12:11,250 --> 01:12:13,375
{\an8}[man] Okay, legs tight. Breath.
1217
01:12:14,416 --> 01:12:15,583
{\an8}On top. Breathe.
1218
01:12:15,583 --> 01:12:17,750
{\an8}Dig with the heels. Plank the abs.
1219
01:12:17,750 --> 01:12:20,250
{\an8}Breathe. We're-we're down
to five and a half. Keep it going.
1220
01:12:20,250 --> 01:12:23,083
{\an8}Stay with the strain. Come on.
1221
01:12:23,083 --> 01:12:25,625
{\an8}-Stay with it. Stay with it. Stay with it.
- [Scribe groaning]
1222
01:12:29,583 --> 01:12:32,458
[man] It gets people
when it drops off like that.
1223
01:12:33,541 --> 01:12:36,458
[Wooldridge] It's the weirdest thing
to have a g-induced loss of consciousness.
1224
01:12:36,458 --> 01:12:39,250
You don't even know
where you are or what you are.
1225
01:12:39,250 --> 01:12:44,208
I mean, it's just like
your whole conscious self is gone.
1226
01:12:44,208 --> 01:12:46,541
[man] Alex, you okay?
1227
01:12:46,541 --> 01:12:48,541
- Yeah.
- All right.
1228
01:12:48,541 --> 01:12:53,000
[Doc] I called Boss about this and said,
"Hey, Boss, the new boss just passed out."
1229
01:12:53,000 --> 01:12:54,458
And he said, "Good.
1230
01:12:54,458 --> 01:12:57,583
Good, because that's a wake-up call
that he needs."
1231
01:12:57,583 --> 01:13:00,958
You know, "Let's get to work.
This is not gonna be easy."
1232
01:13:04,583 --> 01:13:07,208
{\an8}[Mike] You're on top. Breathe.
1233
01:13:07,208 --> 01:13:09,875
{\an8}Come on, dig the heels.
You got this. Keep squeezing.
1234
01:13:09,875 --> 01:13:11,708
{\an8}Breathe. Squeeze those knees.
Get that butt tight.
1235
01:13:11,708 --> 01:13:13,250
{\an8}Yes. Abs tight. Hold them tight.
1236
01:13:13,250 --> 01:13:14,541
{\an8}Come on, legs.
1237
01:13:14,541 --> 01:13:17,250
{\an8}One, two. Breathe. You got this.
And you're coming down.
1238
01:13:17,250 --> 01:13:18,583
{\an8}You're coming all the way home.
1239
01:13:18,583 --> 01:13:20,375
{\an8}Keep the strain. Legs, butt, heels.
1240
01:13:20,375 --> 01:13:22,083
{\an8}Oh, you're coming down.
1241
01:13:24,875 --> 01:13:26,625
Yep, there we go.
1242
01:13:29,791 --> 01:13:31,208
I got you, Amanda.
1243
01:13:31,208 --> 01:13:33,708
Go ahead and put your head back. Amanda?
1244
01:13:33,708 --> 01:13:36,666
[Amanda] I had never g-LOC'd before.
1245
01:13:36,666 --> 01:13:39,708
And whatever your mind goes through
at that point, you know,
1246
01:13:39,708 --> 01:13:41,666
who knows, but I was in outer space.
1247
01:13:41,666 --> 01:13:44,625
[Mike] Take a breath. [clears throat]
1248
01:13:44,625 --> 01:13:50,041
It's, like, a... an eye-opener
for how inherently dangerous this job is.
1249
01:13:50,041 --> 01:13:52,333
We're just getting everything
back to normal.
1250
01:13:52,333 --> 01:13:53,958
- [Amanda] Okay.
- Head back in the headrest.
1251
01:13:53,958 --> 01:13:55,041
There you go.
1252
01:13:55,041 --> 01:13:56,666
[Scribe] There was certainly
a point today where I was...
1253
01:13:56,666 --> 01:13:59,125
I was frustrated, and it was a...
it was a difficult profile,
1254
01:13:59,125 --> 01:14:02,625
and I just kind of sat down and...
and just-just wanted to...
1255
01:14:02,625 --> 01:14:04,958
just wanted to relax
and do nothing for a few minutes.
1256
01:14:04,958 --> 01:14:06,583
But like most things in this business,
1257
01:14:06,583 --> 01:14:08,625
you-you get over it and you...
and you move on.
1258
01:14:08,625 --> 01:14:11,250
{\an8}Breath up.
1259
01:14:11,250 --> 01:14:13,333
{\an8}On top. Breathe. Drop those shoulders.
1260
01:14:13,333 --> 01:14:15,416
{\an8}Bring the knees in.
Squeeze the butt. Breathe.
1261
01:14:15,416 --> 01:14:19,000
{\an8}[Doc] A lot of today
is building confidence,
1262
01:14:19,000 --> 01:14:23,166
{\an8}knowing that you can physically do this.
1263
01:14:23,166 --> 01:14:26,125
{\an8}[Mike] Breathe. Good.
Terminate, terminate, terminate.
1264
01:14:27,416 --> 01:14:29,583
{\an8}[Doc] Got to get your mind right,
your body right.
1265
01:14:29,583 --> 01:14:33,375
But without that mind being 100% invested
that you can do this,
1266
01:14:33,375 --> 01:14:34,750
{\an8}you're not gonna be able to do it.
1267
01:14:34,750 --> 01:14:37,083
{\an8}[Mike] You're on top. Breathe here.
Squeeze those knees together.
1268
01:14:37,083 --> 01:14:39,833
{\an8}Squeeze that butt. Keep it tight.
Breathe. Good.
1269
01:14:39,833 --> 01:14:42,708
{\an8}Breathe. Squeeze those knees.
Get that butt tight. Breathe. Good.
1270
01:14:42,708 --> 01:14:45,041
{\an8}Come on, now. There you go.
Looking good. You got it.
1271
01:14:45,041 --> 01:14:48,250
{\an8}One, two, and you're coming down
all the way home.
1272
01:14:48,250 --> 01:14:49,958
{\an8}- [applause]
- [exhales]
1273
01:14:51,583 --> 01:14:53,541
Nicely done.
1274
01:14:57,458 --> 01:14:59,083
- [Doc] All right.
- [Mike] Hey!
1275
01:14:59,083 --> 01:15:00,333
- [man] Nice job.
- [applause]
1276
01:15:00,333 --> 01:15:04,500
[Doc] That's what this whole training
is about-- to let them know
1277
01:15:04,500 --> 01:15:07,458
we are in the big leagues now
and it's time to step it up.
1278
01:15:07,458 --> 01:15:09,166
Nice job, man.
1279
01:15:09,166 --> 01:15:10,833
[Scribe] We've got a lot to learn.
1280
01:15:10,833 --> 01:15:14,583
Starting next month, we'll start traveling
with the team, and pretty much
1281
01:15:14,583 --> 01:15:17,875
from the moment we start traveling
until the change of command in November,
1282
01:15:17,875 --> 01:15:21,458
we are joined at the hip
with whoever we're replacing.
1283
01:15:21,458 --> 01:15:23,833
We'll all be doing that
all the way through the fall.
1284
01:15:23,833 --> 01:15:25,083
- Hey, Boss.
- New boss!
1285
01:15:25,083 --> 01:15:26,791
- Hey.
- All right, cheers.
1286
01:15:26,791 --> 01:15:28,875
[cheering]
1287
01:15:28,875 --> 01:15:30,958
[majestic music playing]
1288
01:15:39,000 --> 01:15:41,375
[Scribe] Right now, it's the
khaki newbie phase, as we refer to it.
1289
01:15:41,375 --> 01:15:43,458
It's a good chance for all of us
to kind of feel
1290
01:15:43,458 --> 01:15:45,916
what it's like to be on the road.
1291
01:15:45,916 --> 01:15:49,083
The best way to describe it is "surreal."
1292
01:15:52,125 --> 01:15:53,750
[dramatic music playing]
1293
01:15:53,750 --> 01:15:55,708
[woman over radio] First jumper.
1294
01:15:55,708 --> 01:15:58,000
First jumper. Two jumps away.
1295
01:15:59,083 --> 01:16:01,375
[Thomas "Franz" Zimmerman] Not until
you live it, boy, do you understand
1296
01:16:01,375 --> 01:16:03,000
what it's like to be a Blue Angel.
1297
01:16:05,500 --> 01:16:08,333
[Boss] It's actually a bit comical
at the start because you have a bunch
1298
01:16:08,333 --> 01:16:10,583
of highly trained, skilled folks who...
1299
01:16:10,583 --> 01:16:12,375
don't really know what to do anymore.
1300
01:16:12,375 --> 01:16:15,833
You can... But you can stand just--
yeah, either way.
1301
01:16:15,833 --> 01:16:17,833
You can dance around. Thanks.
1302
01:16:17,833 --> 01:16:22,083
[Amanda] Being a newbie,
there's a very delicate balance.
1303
01:16:22,083 --> 01:16:24,583
You're basically there to be a sponge.
1304
01:16:24,583 --> 01:16:26,208
That's crowd right. Intro to crowd.
1305
01:16:26,208 --> 01:16:29,166
{\an8}[Franz] We account for
every single minute of the day.
1306
01:16:29,166 --> 01:16:31,250
{\an8}By the time you get back to the hotel,
1307
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.
1308
01:16:34,375 --> 01:16:36,250
[laughter]
1309
01:16:36,250 --> 01:16:38,916
[Amanda] I wanted to start off
with the narrator spot,
1310
01:16:38,916 --> 01:16:41,000
and then when I found out
that I was gonna be
1311
01:16:41,000 --> 01:16:43,333
in the Diamond, it's just
one of those things where you're like,
1312
01:16:43,333 --> 01:16:44,750
"I'm just happy to be here."
1313
01:16:44,750 --> 01:16:46,791
Um, as we say, "I'm glad to be here."
1314
01:16:46,791 --> 01:16:48,958
[man over radio] Set your flaps.
1315
01:16:48,958 --> 01:16:51,083
[Wooldridge] "Glad to be here."
1316
01:16:51,083 --> 01:16:56,041
The perfect expression of the gratitude
we have from the top down, the bottom up.
1317
01:16:56,041 --> 01:16:58,125
[gentle music playing]
1318
01:16:59,875 --> 01:17:03,583
Whoever is around you, and-and you say,
"I'm just glad to be here."
1319
01:17:04,583 --> 01:17:06,708
It's a reset.
1320
01:17:06,708 --> 01:17:09,750
It lets people know that
no matter what kind of day you had,
1321
01:17:09,750 --> 01:17:12,458
you're glad you are with
the people you're with,
1322
01:17:12,458 --> 01:17:15,958
because they'll understand
and they'll trust you
1323
01:17:15,958 --> 01:17:18,375
because you won't hold anything back.
1324
01:17:18,375 --> 01:17:20,041
And when you have that kind of effort,
1325
01:17:20,041 --> 01:17:22,458
it raises the outcomes
for each and every person.
1326
01:17:24,458 --> 01:17:27,125
"Glad to be here."
1327
01:17:27,125 --> 01:17:28,708
That was foundational.
1328
01:17:28,708 --> 01:17:30,166
[all grunt, laugh]
1329
01:17:30,166 --> 01:17:31,250
All right!
1330
01:17:36,541 --> 01:17:40,041
[Boss] Th-There's a kind of a saying
from deploying sailors
1331
01:17:40,041 --> 01:17:43,333
where the days are long
but the weeks are short.
1332
01:17:44,875 --> 01:17:47,666
Kind of living in the moment.
You're tired a lot of times.
1333
01:17:48,875 --> 01:17:51,958
All of a sudden, you wake up
and it's, you know, September,
1334
01:17:51,958 --> 01:17:53,500
and then it's end of season week.
1335
01:17:53,500 --> 01:17:55,750
[engines roaring]
1336
01:17:55,750 --> 01:17:57,416
Rip it.
1337
01:17:57,416 --> 01:17:59,333
[triumphant music playing]
1338
01:18:17,500 --> 01:18:20,583
You spend the entire 365 previous days
1339
01:18:20,583 --> 01:18:23,250
with your team, getting better
and better and better, and then...
1340
01:18:23,250 --> 01:18:24,333
Let's get rolling.
1341
01:18:24,333 --> 01:18:25,833
Here it is.
1342
01:18:25,833 --> 01:18:28,000
I'll never do this again.
1343
01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:31,541
My replacement has been picked,
and this is our last ride.
1344
01:18:31,541 --> 01:18:33,666
[chuckling] It's definitely
an emotional moment, you know?
1345
01:18:33,666 --> 01:18:35,250
Yeah.
1346
01:18:46,708 --> 01:18:49,958
[Chomps] For the Diamond 360,
we've talked at length over the last...
1347
01:18:49,958 --> 01:18:53,166
I-I would say each one of us
has had hours conversations
1348
01:18:53,166 --> 01:18:57,625
with each other about the Diamond 360,
kind of preparing our fulcrum...
1349
01:18:57,625 --> 01:19:00,291
[Boss] Our goal at the beginning
of the season is
1350
01:19:00,291 --> 01:19:02,041
the tireless pursuit of perfection.
1351
01:19:02,041 --> 01:19:05,750
And I think a lot of it comes down
to just not being satisfied,
1352
01:19:05,750 --> 01:19:07,791
knowing that there's a next level.
1353
01:19:07,791 --> 01:19:09,875
[engines roaring]
1354
01:19:12,083 --> 01:19:14,083
[dramatic music playing]
1355
01:19:15,541 --> 01:19:17,291
There's tension in it. There's, one,
1356
01:19:17,291 --> 01:19:20,041
you got to be safe,
you got to be professional.
1357
01:19:22,041 --> 01:19:24,041
But there's another side to that:
1358
01:19:24,041 --> 01:19:28,000
"Gosh, man, I want to make sure
that we get to the tightest sets."
1359
01:19:31,000 --> 01:19:33,583
The Blue Angel hallmark of precision.
1360
01:19:35,041 --> 01:19:38,083
That tension, it's good,
but you got to keep it in check.
1361
01:19:38,083 --> 01:19:39,958
[Chomps] All right, for the Diamond Roll.
1362
01:19:39,958 --> 01:19:41,958
Hold to deep. Hold to deep...
1363
01:19:41,958 --> 01:19:45,750
[Boss] The way I chose to lead was
1364
01:19:45,750 --> 01:19:47,375
I wanted Chomps to be empowered.
1365
01:19:49,416 --> 01:19:52,333
'Cause I have that much trust in-in Frank.
1366
01:19:56,416 --> 01:19:59,125
During that final week,
Frank came into my office and said,
1367
01:19:59,125 --> 01:20:01,000
"We can do it."
1368
01:20:02,083 --> 01:20:04,500
The Diamond 360 and Yankee set.
1369
01:20:06,250 --> 01:20:09,583
[stirring music playing]
1370
01:20:09,583 --> 01:20:12,791
From the right, the Blue Angel Diamond.
1371
01:20:14,708 --> 01:20:16,125
[indistinct radio chatter]
1372
01:20:21,125 --> 01:20:23,125
♪ ♪
1373
01:20:48,125 --> 01:20:51,083
To be able to do that safely...
1374
01:20:52,583 --> 01:20:57,791
...flying just inches apart,
that's-that's a grand slam.
1375
01:20:57,791 --> 01:20:59,875
That's the Blue Angel magic.
1376
01:21:11,333 --> 01:21:14,208
[woman] Departing team members,
last three ranks, anyone want to talk?
1377
01:21:14,208 --> 01:21:16,375
- Destiny, you crying yet?
- [Destiny] I'm not crying.
1378
01:21:16,375 --> 01:21:18,125
- You good?
- [man] Come on, Kev.
1379
01:21:18,125 --> 01:21:19,958
- [woman] Come on, Kev!
- [man 2] This is it.
1380
01:21:19,958 --> 01:21:23,041
- [encouraging chatter]
- Come on, Kev.
1381
01:21:23,041 --> 01:21:25,625
- Come on, Kev!
- [cheering]
1382
01:21:29,666 --> 01:21:31,666
[rapping indistinctly]
1383
01:21:31,666 --> 01:21:33,791
♪ Put your hands in the air
if you heard me ♪
1384
01:21:33,791 --> 01:21:35,666
- ♪ Wash your hands, wash your feet ♪
- [laughter, encouraging shouts]
1385
01:21:35,666 --> 01:21:37,125
♪ Brush your teeth, wash your back...
1386
01:21:37,125 --> 01:21:39,208
[rap continues indistinctly]
1387
01:21:40,625 --> 01:21:43,458
♪ Put your arms in the air
if you heard me ♪
1388
01:21:43,458 --> 01:21:46,125
♪ Wash your hands, wash your feet,
wash your back, wash your back...
1389
01:21:46,125 --> 01:21:47,833
[rap continues indistinctly]
1390
01:21:47,833 --> 01:21:49,916
[man over radio] Good afternoon, Bert.
1391
01:21:49,916 --> 01:21:52,000
[cheering]
1392
01:21:55,750 --> 01:21:58,000
I've never been in
a command like this before,
1393
01:21:58,000 --> 01:22:02,250
and, uh, you guys treat me like family,
and I really appreciate that.
1394
01:22:02,250 --> 01:22:04,208
Thank you so much. I will miss it.
1395
01:22:04,208 --> 01:22:06,875
- I will miss it.
- [encouraging chatter, applause]
1396
01:22:06,875 --> 01:22:09,208
[♪ The Killers:
"All These Things That I've Done"]
1397
01:22:09,208 --> 01:22:14,458
♪ When there's nowhere else to run ♪
1398
01:22:14,458 --> 01:22:19,041
♪ Is there room for one more son...
1399
01:22:19,041 --> 01:22:21,291
You know, to everyone leaving,
you will be missed.
1400
01:22:21,291 --> 01:22:22,958
We'll talk about it more tonight.
1401
01:22:22,958 --> 01:22:25,916
For the newbies in the back, soak it in.
1402
01:22:25,916 --> 01:22:27,750
Talk to these people
before they leave today.
1403
01:22:27,750 --> 01:22:29,166
[group] Whoo!
1404
01:22:29,166 --> 01:22:30,625
♪ Hold on ♪
1405
01:22:32,791 --> 01:22:34,625
♪ If you can, hold on ♪
1406
01:22:34,625 --> 01:22:36,500
- All right!
- [applause]
1407
01:22:36,500 --> 01:22:38,166
- ♪ Hold on ♪
- Hit it.
1408
01:22:38,166 --> 01:22:41,375
- One more time.
- Three, four, five.
1409
01:22:41,375 --> 01:22:44,041
[chatter continues indistinctly]
1410
01:22:55,833 --> 01:22:57,500
[Boss] Expo is clear to taxi.
1411
01:22:57,500 --> 01:22:59,541
Line up on runway two-five-right.
1412
01:23:01,541 --> 01:23:02,541
Now.
1413
01:23:02,541 --> 01:23:05,750
♪ I wanna stand up, I wanna let go ♪
1414
01:23:05,750 --> 01:23:08,000
- ♪ You know, you know ♪
- [indistinct radio chatter]
1415
01:23:08,000 --> 01:23:11,000
♪ No, you don't, you don't ♪
1416
01:23:11,000 --> 01:23:14,875
♪ I wanna shine on in the hearts of man ♪
1417
01:23:14,875 --> 01:23:18,208
♪ I want a meaning from the back
of my broken hand ♪
1418
01:23:18,208 --> 01:23:20,625
- [Boss speaking indistinctly
in chanting cadence]
- ♪ Another head aches ♪
1419
01:23:20,625 --> 01:23:23,416
♪ Another heart breaks ♪
1420
01:23:23,416 --> 01:23:26,083
♪ I'm so much older than I can take ♪
1421
01:23:26,083 --> 01:23:31,166
♪ And my affection,
well, it comes and goes ♪
1422
01:23:31,166 --> 01:23:34,666
♪ I need direction to perfection,
no, no, no, no ♪
1423
01:23:34,666 --> 01:23:37,083
♪ Help me out, yeah ♪
1424
01:23:37,083 --> 01:23:41,250
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1425
01:23:41,250 --> 01:23:44,791
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1426
01:23:44,791 --> 01:23:49,125
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1427
01:23:49,125 --> 01:23:51,875
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1428
01:23:51,875 --> 01:23:53,291
♪ Yeah ♪
1429
01:23:53,291 --> 01:23:57,416
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah ♪
1430
01:23:57,416 --> 01:24:00,541
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1431
01:24:00,541 --> 01:24:03,041
[Chewy] I don't think
you remember shows or weekends.
1432
01:24:05,541 --> 01:24:09,541
The level of perfection that we seek,
I see it in moments.
1433
01:24:11,208 --> 01:24:14,333
Every once in a while,
you're in a roll or a rollout,
1434
01:24:14,333 --> 01:24:16,750
the jets just kind of freeze,
1435
01:24:16,750 --> 01:24:19,500
and the world around you
seems to kind of spin, so...
1436
01:24:19,500 --> 01:24:21,625
And those are kind of the moments
that I'll remember
1437
01:24:21,625 --> 01:24:23,541
that kind of stick with me.
1438
01:24:23,541 --> 01:24:26,666
[Push Pop] The four Diamond pilots
are rolling out in trail formation
1439
01:24:26,666 --> 01:24:29,208
for a dynamic separation maneuver.
1440
01:24:29,208 --> 01:24:31,541
The Blue Angel Vertical Break.
1441
01:24:31,541 --> 01:24:32,875
Rip it.
1442
01:24:32,875 --> 01:24:35,750
♪ I got soul, but I'm not a soldier ♪
1443
01:24:35,750 --> 01:24:42,666
♪ I got soul,
but I'm not a soldier ♪
1444
01:24:48,541 --> 01:24:50,541
♪ Yeah ♪
1445
01:24:50,541 --> 01:24:54,458
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1446
01:24:54,458 --> 01:24:58,458
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1447
01:24:58,458 --> 01:25:02,625
♪ You know you gotta help me out, yeah ♪
1448
01:25:02,625 --> 01:25:04,708
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1449
01:25:04,708 --> 01:25:08,875
♪ Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1450
01:25:08,875 --> 01:25:10,583
♪ Yeah ♪
1451
01:25:10,583 --> 01:25:14,541
♪ Oh, don't you put me
on the back burner ♪
1452
01:25:14,541 --> 01:25:17,750
♪ You're gonna bring yourself down ♪
1453
01:25:17,750 --> 01:25:19,875
♪ Yeah, you're gonna
bring yourself down...
1454
01:25:19,875 --> 01:25:24,833
[Doc] I walked away thinking, "This is
exactly what we worked for all year,"
1455
01:25:24,833 --> 01:25:26,875
and it was incredible to see.
1456
01:25:26,875 --> 01:25:28,833
♪ Last call for sin ♪
1457
01:25:28,833 --> 01:25:30,750
- ♪ While everyone's lost ♪
- [indistinct radio chatter]
1458
01:25:30,750 --> 01:25:32,666
♪ The battle is won...
1459
01:25:32,666 --> 01:25:34,625
Great job. Great tour.
1460
01:25:34,625 --> 01:25:36,875
[Chomps] Ah, good deal, Boss.
Welcome back.
1461
01:25:36,875 --> 01:25:38,458
Great.
1462
01:25:38,458 --> 01:25:42,708
[Boss] No kidding-- during the show,
the parking spots are all changed over,
1463
01:25:42,708 --> 01:25:44,208
and that is how the Blue Angels do it.
1464
01:25:44,208 --> 01:25:45,541
♪ Things that I've done ♪
1465
01:25:45,541 --> 01:25:47,500
♪ Time, truth and hearts ♪
1466
01:25:49,250 --> 01:25:52,500
All the old guys' names
have been scraped off.
1467
01:25:52,500 --> 01:25:54,291
♪ If you can, hold on ♪
1468
01:25:54,291 --> 01:25:56,750
You know, when you walk out
of this hangar that final time, that's it.
1469
01:25:56,750 --> 01:25:58,708
- ♪ If you can, hold on ♪
- [indistinct chatter]
1470
01:25:58,708 --> 01:26:00,125
There's no coming back.
1471
01:26:10,333 --> 01:26:13,208
Just started prepping my cadence
for that final walk back,
1472
01:26:13,208 --> 01:26:15,125
when it's that final drop of salute.
1473
01:26:15,125 --> 01:26:17,416
That's right, and left.
1474
01:26:17,416 --> 01:26:19,500
Left, left.
1475
01:26:19,500 --> 01:26:21,791
How long I might wait
for that final drop of salute.
1476
01:26:21,791 --> 01:26:24,541
Left, left.
1477
01:26:24,541 --> 01:26:26,250
Left, right, left.
1478
01:26:26,250 --> 01:26:27,958
- Right, right.
- Hut!
1479
01:26:27,958 --> 01:26:31,333
[Boss] We drop salute,
and we know that the next day,
1480
01:26:31,333 --> 01:26:34,625
personnel are gonna go
all across the world
1481
01:26:34,625 --> 01:26:37,375
to the next tour of duty.
1482
01:26:38,791 --> 01:26:42,708
That's the last moment
that our family's gonna be together.
1483
01:26:42,708 --> 01:26:44,208
You know?
1484
01:26:44,208 --> 01:26:46,500
Uh... yeah.
1485
01:26:46,500 --> 01:26:48,083
[chuckles softly]
1486
01:26:49,166 --> 01:26:50,916
And salute.
1487
01:26:53,333 --> 01:26:54,833
Ready? Two.
1488
01:26:54,833 --> 01:26:57,541
- [wistful music playing]
- [crowd cheering]
1489
01:27:12,208 --> 01:27:14,458
[jovial chatter, laughter]
1490
01:27:19,958 --> 01:27:22,250
[cheering]
1491
01:27:22,250 --> 01:27:24,541
[Chomps] The flying is cool,
but it's not the same
1492
01:27:24,541 --> 01:27:28,208
as being around Jamammy or Cheese
or Chewy or Whiskers or Boss
1493
01:27:28,208 --> 01:27:31,250
or any of the supply officers
to maintainers downstairs.
1494
01:27:31,250 --> 01:27:33,791
It's that one-on-one connection
you have with your crew chiefs--
1495
01:27:33,791 --> 01:27:36,125
Joe and Alan for me--
so that's gonna truly,
1496
01:27:36,125 --> 01:27:38,250
truly be the thing
that I'm gonna miss the most.
1497
01:27:38,250 --> 01:27:40,666
♪ ♪
1498
01:27:51,625 --> 01:27:53,500
[indistinct chatter]
1499
01:27:58,750 --> 01:28:01,041
[Boss] It's all the parts.
It's not just five people.
1500
01:28:01,041 --> 01:28:04,208
It's 141 personnel
that put this thing together.
1501
01:28:04,208 --> 01:28:06,458
[man] Ready? One, two and three.
1502
01:28:06,458 --> 01:28:08,541
- All right!
- [cheering]
1503
01:28:11,416 --> 01:28:13,875
[Jamammy] The people change.
The suits stay the same.
1504
01:28:13,875 --> 01:28:16,541
What this team means stays the same.
1505
01:28:16,541 --> 01:28:19,625
And what this team means to the country
has stayed the same
1506
01:28:19,625 --> 01:28:21,750
and has lasted the test of time.
1507
01:28:23,958 --> 01:28:27,416
And then-- poof, you know?-- it's gone.
1508
01:28:32,208 --> 01:28:35,166
I pinch myself
I get a chance to be part of it.
1509
01:28:35,166 --> 01:28:37,541
[engines whooshing]
1510
01:28:47,916 --> 01:28:50,583
[soft, atmospheric music playing]
1511
01:28:50,583 --> 01:28:53,375
- [insects trilling]
- [coyotes yelping]
1512
01:28:55,041 --> 01:28:58,333
[man] The Blue Angel Creed!
1513
01:28:58,333 --> 01:28:59,958
[group] As a Blue Angel,
1514
01:28:59,958 --> 01:29:05,000
I will dedicate all my efforts to pride,
professionalism and perfection.
1515
01:29:05,000 --> 01:29:07,958
I will strive to honor the crest I earned,
1516
01:29:07,958 --> 01:29:10,166
and I will never forget from where I came.
1517
01:29:10,166 --> 01:29:13,000
Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.
1518
01:29:14,000 --> 01:29:16,958
[energetic music playing]
1519
01:29:28,416 --> 01:29:30,416
♪ ♪
1520
01:29:53,750 --> 01:29:55,750
♪ ♪
1521
01:30:17,833 --> 01:30:19,833
♪ ♪
1522
01:30:45,000 --> 01:30:47,000
[dramatic music playing]
1523
01:31:17,000 --> 01:31:19,000
♪ ♪
1524
01:31:49,000 --> 01:31:51,000
♪ ♪
1525
01:32:21,000 --> 01:32:23,000
♪ ♪
1526
01:32:25,000 --> 01:32:27,000
- [music fades]
- [radio static droning]
1527
01:32:27,000 --> 01:32:29,083
[Boss over radio] Great job. Great tour.