All language subtitles for Mighty.Planes.S02E06.Blue.Angels.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BurCyg_track3_[eng]

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]