Original subtitles

NARRATOR: They fly inches apart.

Any little slip up could lead to an absolute disaster.

NARRATOR: Six men and 6 machines

must be perfectly synchronized.

The simple fact of the matter is what we do is dangerous.

NARRATOR: These F-18 Hornets are

the high-performance aircraft flown by the US

Navy's legendary Blue Angels.

What the fans can't see is how tough

it is to keep these decades-old aircraft safely in the skies.

The jets, they're the oldest ones we have in the fleet,

and we're getting the last bit out of them that we can.

NARRATOR: These pilots face real risk in order to make

every airshow a triumph.

Ready to go, Boss.

All right, guys, let's fire it up.

NARRATOR: These six blue uniforms

are the stuff of America's most prestigious flying

team, the Blue Angels.

See ya, fellas.

ALL: See ya, Boss.

NARRATOR: Boss is Captain Greg McWherter.

Appointed by the chief of Naval Air Training,

he and his five-man team perform 70 flight

demonstrations and entertain almost 11 million people

across North America every year.

Thanks, Ricky.

RICKY: Bye, Boss.

Someone took a leap of faith with me

as a young kid coming out of college

and said, boy, we trust you to not only be an officer,

but maybe to go into a branch like naval aviation.

So to be able to travel the country

and share that story of the Navy and the Marine Corps

and hopefully inspire some young men and women to pursue

a career in the military like I did,

it's really a fantastic job.

NARRATOR: Each pilot has at least 1,250

tactical jet flight hours.

Only the very best applicants managed to win

a post on this elite team.

[music playing]

Pensacola, Florida is home base to the Blue Angels,

and it has been for six decades.

The Blue Angels are supported by a huge team of over 130

US Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Echoes are minimal.

Dress right.

Dress.

NARRATOR: Their jobs include maintenance,

administration, public affairs, and ground support.

Come on, Eddie.

NARRATOR: This is Captain Greg McWherter's

final year as Boss.

And focus on making sure that we have safe airplanes.

We fly them safely.

We do everything from A to Z, just like we've trained to do.

NARRATOR: He's got two more air shows to go in the next couple

of weeks, and he's feeling the pressure to make them

nothing less than perfection.

It's much more work than people give us credit for.

I don't think the fleet understands how hard we work.

NARRATOR: Before they can perform to perfection,

they need to rehearse twice a day, six days a week.

We pride ourselves on being the best

in the world at what we do.

And it doesn't come easy.

It doesn't come without practice.

These men are trained to perform with the same level

of precision as the mechanics and instruments

on their Boeing F-18 Hornets.

They are as disciplined as they come.

I trust these guys every day to go on

and put on a great safe show.

You can never let your guard down.

Because the minute it becomes routine, it becomes unsafe.

And aviation is very unforgiving.

NARRATOR: The Boeing F-18 Hornet

is the longest-serving strike fighter in the US military.

BRENT STEVENS: The F-18, first and foremost,

is a very reliable aircraft.

We have a tremendous track record.

And that is the last almost 25 years or so

of flying the F-18, we've not lost

a show due to a maintenance.

NARRATOR: Known for its lightning

fast maneuverability, it's 56 feet long and over 15 feet

high with a wingspan of more than 40 feet.

The F-18's shape and size make it

one of the most aerodynamic fighters ever constructed.

Since the mid-1980s, the F-18 has been the sharp edge

of the US fighting force.

Bristling with bombs and missiles,

the carrier-ready jet was the primary strike

fighter in both Gulf Wars.

But these F-18S are now over 20 years

old and are being pushed to the limit.

The jets that they use are the oldest

ones we have in the fleet.

They're 24 years old.

We just paint them up in blue and yellow

and and make them run great, but they're

on their way to the boneyard or to be

put on a stick somewhere.

And we're getting the last bit out of them that we can.

NARRATOR: They have two shows left in the season, one

at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

in San Diego, the other for their hometown

crowd in Pensacola.

The aircraft run through the maneuvers

that have made them world famous

and that puts both pilots and planes at great risk.

This move pulls 6 Gs.

It's called the opposing minimum radius turn,

a tight banking circle that puts

the pilots under more than twice the Gs

as an astronaut at liftoff.

Extreme g-forces push the blood down

from the head and upper body, pulling it below the waist.

When this happens, the pilot's vision is instantly impaired.

And after a few seconds, he could become unconscious.

[radio chatter]

The pilots use breathing and muscle clenching techniques

to draw blood up to the brain.

This keeps them conscious during

their death-defying maneuvers.

[radio chatter]

And up.

NARRATOR: But the g-forces run the risk

of tearing the planes apart, putting every man at risk.

When I come into work, it's with the knowledge

that any little slip up from any of us

could potentially lead to an absolute disaster.

NARRATOR: In more than 60 years,

over 20 Blue Angels have died, several of them in front

of audiences at airshows.

But that's part of the risk these men take.

--we'll flow wings-- to the the delta--

A number of pilots have lost their lives on this team.

And that's not to say that those pilots were not

performing at their absolute best.

It's just that what we do is risky.

Even the smallest error can have just tragic consequences.

What we do is dangerous.

We can't get around the fact that we're

flying multiple aircraft very close to one another.

NARRATOR: The team has been on the road for eight months.

All are stretched and tired.

GREG MCWHERTER: I am mentally drained.

It is physically demanding, and it's mentally demanding.

NARRATOR: But Boss Greg McWherter

is determined to make these last two shows his best.

His first challenge is getting the planes,

pilots, and support team across the country to San Diego.

GREG MCWHERTER: I'm not thinking

about the destination or what's in store for us at Miramar.

I'm thinking, are the crew ready to go?

Are we mentally prepared?

Are we prepared from a flight planning standpoint?

Because quite honestly, one of the higher risk

evolutions we have is not even flying the demonstration.

It's transiting, getting all of our men

and women, tools and equipment to and from each show site.

NARRATOR: Transiting is straight up flying.

That can be tedious for the pilots,

and they can grow complacent.

That's when accidents can happen.

Planning against disaster falls on Blue Angel number seven,

Lieutenant Mark Tedrow He's in training

to fly formation next season.

This year, his job is to fly ahead and manage every detail,

so the rest can concentrate on flying.

Complacency is one of the most

deadly things in aviation.

As aviators, I think you kind of

have to recognize that and understand that that you can

never get complacent and take anything for granted

because it's that day that something's

going to come up and bite you.

NARRATOR: Mark Tedrow's F-18 makes

its way for the 2,000-mile journey to San Diego.

Ornament three right, two clears

on the up, a little outward cut, and then over the

top, OK?

NARRATOR: Despite the sameness of the routine,

the Blue Angels review every rehearsal and performance,

looking for ways to improve.

A pretty big gap between you and us there.

Keep your timing the same.

We'll bring in--

NARRATOR: The Blue Angels number four pilot, Major Brent

Stevens leads the review.

He's tried to work that.

That song's going to be a bear.

So as my job as the training officer,

I will run the debrief and look at the video.

And we record every show in HD so that we

can see in great detail any deviations

in the-- in the formation.

And 99% of the deviations that occur

in flight the public cannot perceive, but we perceive it.

- Ooh. - Ooh.

Yeah.

You'll see some wings on the out, out of my jet.

That'll be smoother-- smoother next time we do it.

But overall, wasn't bad.

NARRATOR: They brief over and over, day in and day out.

A six-decade-old ritual that keeps pilots alive.

We are the best at what we do,

and there's a reason for that.

And our briefing process, our training process

is the only reason we can fly the way we do and--

and put on the shows that we do.

All right. Ready, break.

[music playing]

[jet engines roaring]

NARRATOR: And the F-18s are pushed

as hard as their pilots.

The high-speed maneuvers test the old fighters

to their limit.

The weakness of the-- the aircraft is its age.

They are not making these aircraft anymore.

They haven't made them in over 10 years.

A lot of the parts are no longer manufactured.

So when parts break, we take them out

and we replace them with parts that have been

re-engineered or repaired.

NARRATOR: Maintenance is a constant concern.

Over time, more and more of these parts will-- will break.

So it takes a tremendous maintenance effort

to keep these aircraft flying.

NARRATOR: Each of the jets has its own maintenance crew

who go over the two-decade-old planes

with pinpoint precision.

And there are real problems right now with one of them--

an overheating engine.

James Cunningham is an aviation machinist

who's been with the Blue Angels for two years.

Well, we had a code for an engine over temp.

We can actually torch the motor and the pilot

would lose that one motor.

And then he would be flying on a single engine,

which is not good.

NARRATOR: An overheated engine during an air

show or rehearsal could take down six planes and six men.

If the problem can't be fixed within the next few hours,

this F-18 is not going to make it to the important air

show in San Diego.

We've never missed a public demonstration

due to maintenance.

So there's always been an air show,

100% maintenance availability.

Outboard!

NARRATOR: James's 10 years of experience on these planes

means he can troubleshoot quickly.

But to find the source of the problem,

he must first remove the massive engine.

We're going to undo the mounts, the F-mount pin--

it's just a pin that holds up the aft

section of the engine--

and then we'll be ready to drop it.

Not too fast, not too slow, and we'll be good.

NARRATOR: James is betting the problem is a false reading

coming off one of the cables which

measures exhaust temperature--

and he's right.

The show will go on, but only if the pilots

are as fit as the planes.

[knocks on door]

Hey, doc?

Hey Brandon.

So you're here for your short-form annual?

Yep.

We'll start out just with a quick blood pressure

here and get your temperature.

NARRATOR: Both men and machines must be in top condition.

Their enemy-- G-Forces that tear into the aircraft

and their pilots alike.

Go ahead and follow my fingers just with your

eyes here.

NARRATOR: Captain Brandon Cordill is the Blue

Angels' number three pilot.

What is happening when we pull G-Forces is--

so eight Gs is eight times the force of gravity.

So I'll-- my apparent weight will be

eight times what I'm feeling.

So what is physiologically happening

is all the blood is trying to be really sucked from my head

and being pulled down to my feet.

So if I did nothing and I just flew the aircraft

and I pulled a G-Force, what I start to see

is-- they call it tunnel vision.

All of a sudden, the lights just start to come in,

and the outer edges of my vision

are going to become very gray.

And before long, I'll be looking

through really a soda straw.

Everything else around it will be gray.

And then after that would be unconscious.

NARRATOR: Regular fighter pilots

wear G-suits that contain air pockets

in the legs which inflate and deflate to return

blood to the upper body.

But the G-suits are bulky and get

in the way of the Blue Angels' critically precise maneuvers.

The number one reason we don't fly

with a G-suit is it has to do with

how close we fly in formation.

So if I pulled six Gs, four Gs, they

would constantly be pumping up and deflating with air.

And I cannot have my arm move like that when you're flying

18-inches, because that would be enough movement for me

to move the jet and put somebody else

in the formation in danger.

300.

All right, watch your head right here.

NARRATOR: All fighter jet pilots

must submit to a training simulator such as this one.

[music playing]

Strapped inside, they are spun to a force of eight Gs

and monitored by video from a control room.

Here we go.

Simulating. Stick is hot.

Profile is running.

Legs, breath.

You're on top.

Breathe.

NARRATOR: The breathing and clenching techniques

help this pilot-in-training as the blood races

from his upper body and his weight increases to over half

a ton.

Am I swirling?

Watch your head.

NARRATOR: He's shaken and limp after this one brief test.

And it's this that every Blue Angel faces

on every punishing flight.

And if that's not risky enough, they

endure this agony wingtip-to-wingtip,

inches apart.

When we're combating the G-Forces,

we're doing what we call the anti-G strain maneuver.

So we're squeezing everything from our calves,

quads, glutes, the abs--

everything abs down.

You want to keep your shoulders relaxed.

Because if you're tense up here,

it's actually going to push the blood down.

Pull up all.

Here we go. I'm gonna squeeze my legs.

Take a deep breath.

[exhales and grunts repeatedly]

That's basically what we're doing in the jet.

305.

[radio chatter]

When I get done flying, I'm just a sweaty mess.

I mean, I'm like like what-- like I am

now after a 45-minute flight.

So it's-- it's very physically demanding.

I had no idea that it was going to be this tough.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: As the Blue Angels ready to leave Pensacola,

Lieutenant Mark Tedrow in San Diego

has a long list to get through before the rest

of the team touches down.

These are the to-do items for every show.

NARRATOR: Mark has two jobs--

logistics man and the narrator, who will live

host the show for the audience.

For Mark, the second job is more nerve-wracking

than flying aerobatics.

But Tedrow is also the Blue Angels' public relations man.

Part of that job includes taking

VIPs on flights in order to increase public awareness.

It begins with a briefing with a group of local media

and celebrities.

Today in the brief-o, we talk about safety.

That's our primary concern.

So we tell them what not to touch.

We also teach them what's called

the anti-G strain maneuver, also

known as the "hic" maneuver.

All right, go ahead and squeeze those legs.

Take a deep breath.

Ready, hit it.

Hic!

NARRATOR: Today, Mark's first guest

is Miles McPherson, a former defensive back

with the San Diego Chargers, now

a spiritual leader and author.

I was so excited about this flight, I can't take it.

I got a new girlfriend, and she's blue.

I hope I don't pass out.

And I hope I take all seven Gs, and I

hope I get scared to death.

[music playing]

The percentage of media riders that pass out or have

difficulty, I'd say is probably 50%

either pass out or have a little bit of sickness

into them.

Because it is a very different feel, and

people just aren't used to it.

NARRATOR: Miles McPherson is one of the lucky ones.

He comes back not only conscious, but elated.

- Welcome back. - Hey, man.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

That was fantastic. Fantastic.

Fantastic.

You know, it is amazing how precise

they handle that machine.

They're like one with the machine

and they can stop it on a dime, turn it

to a very specific point and come

right back to another point.

It's-- it's unbelievable.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: In Pensacola, the F-18s

are readied on the tarmac for their flight

to the air show in San Diego.

Meanwhile, their gigantic flying

toolbox is also gearing up.

[music playing]

It's a C-130 Hercules, acquired by the Blue Angels in 1970.

It's affectionately known as "Fat Albert."

[music playing]

Fat Albert's primary mission is

to support the logistical demands

behind the Blue Angels.

Our show season spans 35 weeks, 35 different cities.

And what we do is we ensure that the men and women that

fix the airplanes and put the show on behind the scenes

get where they need to go safely.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Fat Albert can carry up to 45,000 pounds

of personnel and equipment.

And the Blue Angels often reach the C-130's

impressive cargo limit.

[music playing]

That's our spare parts, our toolboxes--

everything that they need to keep

blue and gold jets in the air.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Fat Albert leads the way on every mission

so that it's there to service the jets that follow.

[music playing]

Two hours later, the F-18s take off.

[music playing]

In a car, it would take over 24 hours to drive

from Pensacola to San Diego.

For the F-18s at maximum speed, it's an hour and a half.

[music playing]

Their sturdy companion Fat Albert

arrives first, carrying enough spare parts to fill

a high school gymnasium.

[music playing]

We travel 100,000 miles every year.

We bring about 40 personnel and about 35,000

pounds of cargo and equipment.

You know, if we have to get an engine for an F-18,

we'll run somewhere to get it, but most of the time

we bring everything else with us.

So we're self-sufficient, pretty much.

NARRATOR: As the Blue Angels touch down in San Diego,

two tires blow on jet number four.

Peter Heinlein is the crew coordinator.

Upon landing the four jet, blew

both the main mount tires.

NARRATOR: The main mount tires are the ones bearing

the weight of the engines.

It's not too common.

So when it does happen, we try to make

sure we're ready for it and try to get it out there safely.

As you see, all the fire trucks and everybody's out there,

you know, safe as possible trying to get it back--

back over here, parked.

NARRATOR: The plane has to get off the runway in order

for the other F-18s to land.

We have to clear out that runway as quick as possible,

because we still have five jets flying in the air that

need to recover.

This is a safety concern.

Because, first and foremost, the jet

could veer off the runway, get stuck in the mud, tip over.

The brakes get very hot.

They could, you know, start a fire.

It's very important that we can get the jets off the runway

safely and back into service safely.

NARRATOR: The tires are replaced,

and the aircraft checks out.

But the blowout is on everyone's minds

as they prepare for tomorrow's performance.

[music playing]

Sleep for the pilots is as critical as maintenance

for the F-18s.

Both man and machine must work together perfectly--

their lives depend on it.

[music playing]

At dawn, the ground crew conducts a full sweep

of the apron, searching for foreign object

debris that could jeopardize the F-18s and their pilots.

They do this before every demonstration, without fail.

Now we're going to basically walk

our flight line to pick up any debris, rocks,

anything that fall down.

Basically anything that gets sucked into an intake, that'll

hurt one of the motors.

NARRATOR: Even more critical is a rigorous inspection

of the F-18s.

Our trust between our pilots is very unique.

They don't walk around their aircraft inspecting it.

They hop right into the seat and they take that aircraft.

They-- they know that we've looked at it,

that we're giving them 100% best aircraft

that we possibly can.

They put their lives in our hands,

basically, whenever we shake their hand.

I'm the one pilot on the planet that doesn't

preflight his own aircraft.

When I walk up to my jet and my crew chief says, "boss,

your jet's ready to go," I salute him.

There's no question that the jet's ready to go.

I climb up and I fire it up and go.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Crowds are now streaming into the largest

military air show in the United States,

and most are here to see the main attraction-- the

Blue Angels.

San Diego is a huge Metropolitan area.

And that's a great market for us,

as the Navy and the Marine Corps,

to show maybe some people that aren't

exposed on a daily basis to what

the sailors and Marines do.

It's a huge privilege, of course,

to have the Blue Angels come to the Miramar Airshow.

They make the show.

They close it on a high note that people don't forget.

They are a class act from start to finish--

the most professional you'll see.

My specific goal today is going to be the wings

on the line abreast loop.

I'm fired up and I'm ready to go.

NARRATOR: Before every show, the team

undergoes a routine pre-performance exercise

led by the boss.

--we really want to nail.

You know, we're still seeking that perfect show.

Every show site is unique.

Every flight has its unique challenges.

But the simple matter of the fact

is that-- is that we do do almost

the same thing every day.

And the hard thing is battling that complacency.

The way we combat that is-- is through practiced focus.

You know, the devil's in the details.

And all the attention to detail lends itself

to a much safer demonstration.

The solos will be in from the right with the Tuck Over Row.

NARRATOR: Part of that focus comes

from an unusual training exercise passed

down through generations.

Off we go.

NARRATOR: They perform a ritual that's

like a form of meditation.

It prepares the pilots for what's to come.

We're behind the crowd.

Set up the fan break.

Pumps off.

Pumps off.

Smoke off.

Push.

NARRATOR: They call it "chair flying," and it is just that.

Airspeed call, come in left.

BRENT STEVENS: The chair flying that we do in the brief,

it serves a number of purposes.

And for me, it allows me to-- to get my mind ready to go

out and do the air show.

It also allows the boss to get ready to kind

of get in his zone.

And we'll make all the same movements.

We'll make the same throttle corrections, stick inputs--

everything, you know, while visualizing

exactly what's going on.

To me, it's a great benefit and a really important part of me

getting ready to-- to go fly.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Close to the center of the airfield,

the Blue Angels' flight control center is set up.

It's called the "Comm Cart."

This is the lifeline between the pilots and the ground.

Well, we use this ground radios here

to have our support officers talk to the pilots in the air

during the flight demonstration.

NARRATOR: The team monitors the weather

to ensure the Blue Angels are safe

from sudden dangerous changes.

This right here houses all of our antennas

and our anemometer so that we can tell wind direction

and wind speed.

NARRATOR: They will also monitor the chatter.

Garbled communications could indicate

a pilot is in trouble.

And this is the three antenna setup for our three comms

that we use to talk to the pilots

with whenever they're in the air.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, show narrator Lieutenant Mark

Tedrow is coping with his nerves

as the countdown begins to show time.

I've done it so many times.

But every show I'm nervous, you know, kind of trying to think

through every-- every--

every maneuver, every-- every bit

of narration so that I don't make a fool of myself.

There's not much you can do about it.

NARRATOR: The Miramar Airshow is

a demonstration of the most advanced aircraft

the US military has to offer.

[music playing]

Support aircraft show off their operational capabilities.

Several aviation teams join in the display with a series

of stunts that wow the crowds.

[applause]

[music playing]

But most of the people here have come for the last act--

the legendary Blue Angels.

[music playing]

We represent 550,000 sailors and Marines worldwide.

And, you know, people look to us.

You know, towns like, you know, Mankato, Minnesota, or Fargo,

North Dakota, those that don't have

a large military influence.

So, you know, we shake a person's hand,

it might be the first time that they've ever

met anybody in the military.

It's a huge honor for us to represent those folks,

and we want to do it the best to our ability.

Ladies and gentlemen, your United States Navy flight

demonstration squadron represents a time honored

tradition of pride, professionalism,

and excellence spanning 101 years of Naval aviation.

NARRATOR: This is what the crowd has been waiting for.

First, Fat Albert makes his grand entrance.

[music playing]

Ladies and gentlemen, with the stars and stripes flying

proudly above the cockpit, the Blue Angels C-130, Fat Albert!

So we are known kind of as that silent support mechanism.

The flight demonstration is one little piece of that.

I think it gets plenty of recognition.

Fat Albert is very popular with kids

because it's a little bit larger.

It doesn't put off the same amount of jet noise.

It's a little less imposing.

So kids absolutely love Fat Albert.

[music playing]

The 2012 team takes a great deal of pride

in saluting Navy and Marine Corps

pilots, maintenance crews, and support personnel everywhere.

From the right, the Blue Angels 2012.

[music playing]

Thanks, MO.

We're cleared for takeoff.

NARRATOR: Making a strong first impression counts.

The big one for me is our very first

maneuver, the Diamond 360.

You know, if we can really hit that hard

and have very little movement and feel really good

about that maneuver, we know we have a good air show going

and everyone gets excited.

NARRATOR: What happened in the pre-flight visualization

now comes to life in the air.

Power set.

Now to the left, Captain McWherter calls smoke on!

Smoke on, pull.

All brakes now.

Burners ready now.

And the Blue Angel Diamond is rolling.

Vertical 60.

Burners ready now.

Easing power.

[music playing]

Do it!

Right on!

Go!

Come on!

--Captain Warner rolls the formation

180 degrees to the upright position,

completing the Half Cuban 8.

As the Diamond accelerates in the descent,

they acquire the necessary airspeed

for their next maneuver.

Just a second.

[grunts]

NARRATOR: They fly inches apart and approach each other

just under the speed of sound.

One slight deviation in their act could prove fatal.

One thing that the-- that the public

doesn't see is what's actually going on inside that cockpit.

When the pilots are turning and doing

sharp turns like they need to do for the demo,

they're pulling G-Forces.

And when you're pulling those Gs,

it is a lot of work to squeeze your legs, to squeeze

your abdominal muscles to keep that blood up in your head

so that you don't actually just pass out.

[engine roars overhead]

NARRATOR: A simple device on the ground

helps the planes in the air find their way

to the center of the airfield.

The mirror is to aid the pilots as they're

flying to locate center point.

NARRATOR: The pilots can see the mirror from 25 miles away.

If the sun isn't out, we will use

a spotlight that the MO has.

We have two spotlights at the comm cart in case

it's a cloudy day.

But the-- the pilots absolutely need a reference point

to locate center point to make sure all their hits are

on time and accurate, and the mirror is simply

the easiest thing to use.

NARRATOR: Lieutenant Commander Richard Mercado

has his own critical job at the comm cart--

making sure there are no collisions

with other aircraft.

I'm looking at the jets.

I'm looking all around them making

sure there's no other airplanes going into our airspace.

I have other people behind the comm car who

are on binoculars, too, that are also looking around,

making sure that we don't have any interlopers,

any other airplanes coming through.

NARRATOR: With jets flying around at up to 700mph,

any collision could be fatal.

[cheers, applause]

Once again, the Blue Angels' daring show

is a crowd pleaser.

I like traveling the country and seeing the people,

and seeing the kids' eyes when they see these airplanes fly.

And motivating them to one day maybe fill those steps

and fly just like these guys do.

140 all the way, head angle.

167.

186.

NARRATOR: But boss pilot Greg McWherter isn't satisfied.

It's his second last show as a Blue Angel,

and it isn't his best.

There was a comm call that wasn't perfectly

placed or perfectly set.

There wasn't a maneuver that had

the perfect place-- placement or the perfect formation.

So I think that one of the things that

keeps us so good and on our toes

is the fact that we're always striving for perfection.

NARRATOR: The boss is determined

to attain that perfection at his last show,

for the home crowd in Pensacola.

[music playing]

Doing our homecoming show in Pensacola is special for us.

This is where our kids go to school,

where our families live.

And there's just something special about flying

for your hometown crowd.

NARRATOR: The Miramar Airshow has gone off without a hitch.

[music playing]

The team makes the long cross-country return flight

from San Diego to Pensacola, Florida.

[music playing]

With all the planes safely on the tarmac,

the strained F-18s hit the shop.

This is actually the nerve center.

All maintenance, any type of transaction that goes on,

has to come through here.

We run through these aircraft with a fine-tooth comb.

And we also have to clean the windscreen, clean the canopy,

check the pilot's gear, helmet.

Because when they pull so many Gs in this aircraft,

it will literally pull rivets and bolts off the aircraft

because there's just so much force against it.

So it's a day-to-day grind with these aircraft to keep them up

and flying the way we do.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Today, the maintenance team

has its hands full.

An important stabilizer component is broken.

The six jet, the stab actuator, the hydraulic servo

that moves the actual flight surface,

had an electrical problem.

It could be a problem, because the stab

could lock up in flight.

And the stab is one of the main flight surface--

control surfaces for the jet.

So send the jet into a spin, or it could potentially

crash a jet on the pilot.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: It's up to the mechanics

to make sure the boss gets perfect F-18s before the show.

I wouldn't want to be the crew

who canceled an airshow because you didn't have jets to fly.

Turning the six jet for a balloon.

NARRATOR: The Blue Angels have a backup jet.

So as the plane's being fixed, boss Greg McWherter can

still put on a full rehearsal.

Soon as the six jet's done.

I know.

NARRATOR: Captain McWherter pushes his team,

knowing they can do better.

How'd you like that rotation, boss?

I thought it was just a hair flat today.

We turned a little bit late today

as we were processing the wind, so that'll be better tomorrow.

It's funny, I thought it was going to be a lot bumpier.

The turn in is where all the texture is.

And once we get over those trees and pass a museum,

everybody's locked out.

It's real nice.

The problem was is that-- is with that much in front

of the crowd wind, it's going to affect our placement

for the Diamond Roll.

So I just need to roll out earlier

and account for the wind on the back side.

But overall, it wasn't-- wasn't bad.

NARRATOR: For major Brent Stevens,

the stakes are high and personal.

After we land on Saturday and I take off that blue flight

suit, that's the last time I'll ever wear that blue flight

suit in my entire life.

NARRATOR: Like the boss, Brent wants

to end his career with the Blue Angels with his best

show ever.

Good buddy.

Yeah?

NARRATOR: Back on the airfield, with just 18 hours to go

before show time, Peter Heinlein

is still fixing one problem and now has an even bigger one.

One of the Hornets won't even start

because of a bad fuel leak.

We found some fuel in some places

it wasn't supposed to be.

So now we're changing a couple of components that hook

to the motor.

It's roughly about a six-hour-- a six-hour change,

and we'll go from there.

NARRATOR: Undetected fuel leaks can be disastrous.

It's a pretty big deal--

safety hazards.

Fuel traveling where it's not supposed

to travel throughout the-- some of the components,

causing a lot of problems.

NARRATOR: That's the risk of flying

25-year-old planes with parts that are hard to find.

They're old.

We get some of the oldest aircraft.

Pretty much the aircraft that the fleet no longer

wants to use, we receive.

NARRATOR: The stakes are high for Peter's

team to live up to the Blue Angels'

perfect maintenance record.

[music playing]

We've got some of the best maintainers

on the planet that keep these jets in tip-top shape.

But sometimes, you know, we live in an imperfect world

and we fly mechanical aircraft.

And sometimes things break or don't cooperate.

If it's an engine change, all of us

will have a long night, because we all

say we're all the same team.

NARRATOR: Every F-18 has to function perfectly.

There can be no maintenance compromises

with the Blue Angels' pinpoint-precise,

dangerous maneuvers.

You race as close as 12-inches apart at times

during the demonstration.

We'll go as slow as 100mph, to as fast as just under 700mph.

Mobile maintenance.

Our job at the end of the day is

to fly a safe and entertaining demonstration,

and do our very best to represent

the Navy and the Marine Corps.

--point, but yes.

NARRATOR: Peter's team finally finds the source of the leak.

It takes six hours, but the F-18 is once again

in top form for the show.

It is a normal thing.

We have routine problems like this.

You have these problems in older jets.

So you got to fix what you need to fix and keep

them up and keep them safe.

NARRATOR: 11:00 AM-- the countdown is on to show time.

Well, this is my last brief as a Blue Angel.

It's our end of season show, and this is the show

of all shows that you just want to be on your A-game,

have your best performance, and go out on top.

And that's what it's all about.

So we're here to get in this brief, get in the zone,

and just have a great finish to an amazing two years.

I want us to focus now.

Put on a safe, entertaining demonstration.

Remember that today's flight is no different than the 300

we've done before--

our same standards, altitudes, airspeeds.

Formation sets don't change today because it's

the end of the season.

Let's put on the Blue Angel standard show

and have a great, great time out there.

So I'll let you guys enjoy yourselves.

Yes, sir. We always do.

- I mean that. - Great.

Brief well. - Good luck.

Have fun.

Good dudes.

It's a big deal because we're at home.

You know, this is our home turf, you know?

All our families are here.

We have a new set of-- of members who are checking in.

Everybody's excited to be here.

I mean, this is-- this is the best of the best.

I mean, this is-- this is the day.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: Now it's up to the Blue Angels to make boss

McWherter's last show his best.

Crowds begin to fill the stands,

and the excitement builds.

I'm fired up and I'm ready to go.

Just lock it out.

And man, let's put on the best demonstration we possibly can

and let's go out on a high note.

Let's have a great one. Fired up and ready to go, boss.

Awesome. JK?

- Fired up, ready to go, boss. - What's up?

Fired up, ready to go, boss.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: This is Lieutenant Mark Tedro's

last performance as narrator.

Next year he's going to fly as one of the Blue Angels.

I'm more excited than nervous right now.

You know, I'm excited to learn the maneuvers

and-- and get in the aircraft and start flying

in a demonstration.

Ladies and gentlemen, representing

for United States Navy and Marine Corps,

the Blue Angels 2012!

NARRATOR: Show time!

[music playing]

The Blue Angels Diamond, momentarily be making its

approach in relatively slow speed flight that will give

you an opportunity to get a close look at that very

minimum, 18-inch wingtip to canopy separation that exists

between these four aircraft.

NARRATOR: All their training and practice comes

down to these few minutes.

From the right, at 400mph, the Diamond Roll.

All four aircraft rolling as one in this graceful 360

degree rolling maneuver.

[music playing]

Ease the pull.

Rolling out.

Check on your brake.

[radio chatter]

Our two solo pilots are approaching once again--

this time to demonstrate the inverted flight

capabilities of these F/A-18s.

Approaching inverted from the left

and right, they will roll their aircraft

360-degrees over center point-- the opposing inverted

to inverted roll.

Give a nice little pull.

Easing power.

Burst out.

As they execute a maneuver performed by no other jet

demonstration team in the world today at less than 250mph,

the Diamond Dirty Loop.

[music playing]

From the left at 450mph.

And here a salute to our four deployed forces,

all six aircraft will separate, perform

individual 360-degree rolls, and the four

diamond pilots will rendezvous through a looping maneuver.

The Blue Angels' fleur de lis!

[music playing]

From my point of view, the most challenging

maneuver is the Double Farval.

NARRATOR: Major Brent Stevens is about to be

pushed to his limit.

And that's the maneuver where the boss will be upside down

and then I'll be upside down directly

above him, flying formation.

And we're doing all of this at about 150 feet

or so above the ground.

That maneuver takes hours and hours

and hours of-- of practice.

NARRATOR: And then, the move that pulls a force of 6

Gs, the Minimum Radius Turn.

[music playing]

[grunts]

NARRATOR: The entranced audience

has no idea of the maintenance issues,

planning, and practice that has made this show so exciting.

Today when phenomenal. It was perfect.

It was awesome.

Great flight.

NARRATOR: Even the locals who have

seen the Blue Angels fly time and time again are dazzled.

[engines roar overhead]

The final show went spectacularly.

It was awesome.

I mean, the crowds were pumped.

We were pumped.

I mean, it was great.

NARRATOR: The planes come back to Earth.

And for some of these Angels, it's the last time.

All eyes are on boss Greg McWherter.

He wanted the last flight of his Blue Angels career

to be his best.

You know, the show was fantastic.

We feel great.

NARRATOR: And he got it.

I'm excited to see what the team does after I leave.

I'm very excited to move on to another chapter in our life.

NARRATOR: Now it's time for some Angels

to step down and make room for a new team that will face

their own set of challenges.

[music playing]

A new crew of pilots must begin training for next year.

[music playing]

The path to becoming a Blue Angel

leads to a tailor in Pensacola.

The shop has an unlikely name for the testosterone

and adrenaline that fires these pilots.

Oh, yeah, you got your name on there.

- I like seeing that, yeah. - And that looks good, huh?

Yeah, number three looks good.

OK.

Now let me have you do a slow turn for me.

- OK. - OK?

The first time that I found out,

I held my ears because my wife was screaming

so loud in the background.

I've got two kids, and they're-- the Blue

Angels are--

are heroes to them as well.

So it was a very exciting time for our whole family.

I'm so excited to fly.

I can't wait.

NARRATOR: Lieutenant Mark Tedrow now

graduates to formation pilot, shaking off his stage fright

and taking to the skies.

For those of us that are going to be here next year,

we're excited to get-- get rolling

and-- and get moving on with our next

job for-- for next season.

So it should be good.

GREG MCWHERTER: The Blue Angels are a fantastic organization.

And I, for one, am going to be very, very

proud to sit here and watch--

NARRATOR: On the ground, Commanding

Officer Greg McWherter hands over leadership

to a new boss--

Commander Tom Frosch.

I would equate it to your favorite football

team asking you to come play with them for two years,

you know?

It's just-- you can't describe it with words.

It's the best job in the Navy.

[blowing whistle]

Oh, it's always hard to leave the Blue Angels.

Having enjoyed the Blue Angels and having seen it firsthand,

it's going to be very exciting for me

to move on to something else.

And what's really exciting is to see

someone follow in our footsteps and take

the team to new levels.

NARRATOR: Though the crews change, the F-18s don't.

These seasoned and trusted aircraft

must be maintained to perfection for a new team

of Blue Angels to turn aviation precision into

death-defying entertainment.

It's a pride in knowing that we can always

perform the demonstration.

We're never going to let the public down.

We're always going to perform at the best of our ability.

[music playing]

NARRATOR: It's a cycle that has continued

for over six decades.

We have some pilots here that, you

know, they watched the Blue Angels, growing up as kids.

And now they're here and now they're doing it, you know?

So it-- that's-- that's an amazing

feeling to-- to do that.

NARRATOR: The greatest show above Earth carries on.

[engines roaring overhead]

[music playing]