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For 73+ years, the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron has flown air shows in front of millions of people around the world. Now hear from the pilots & crew that were a part of this incredible history as they share their stories. Subscribe to the Blue Angel Phantoms podcast and YouTube channel for the latest interviews.
18 Episodes
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1973 was a bleak year for the Blue Angels with exacting consequences. Three distinct incidents resulted in the destruction of six F4 Phantoms and the tragic loss of three team members, including flight leader LCDR Skip Umstead. The future seemed uncertain for the Navy’s Flight Exhibition Team, which had showcased demonstrations worldwide for the last quarter-century. However, Navy Leadership recognized the Blue Angels' significant recruiting potential and initiated a plan to reorganize the Te...
1With its sleek and unusual tailless design, the Vought F7U Cutlass seemed like a perfect fit for the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. However, as the Blues would find out, the aircraft's complex development history led to significant challenges and several near brushes with tragedy. In this brand new episode of the Blue Angel Phantoms Podcast, you'll hear directly from RADM Edward "Whitey" Feightner, a WWII Ace and Navy test pilot, who was charged with developing t...
With the U.S. Navy Blue Angels launching into their 77th year, the 2023 airshow season kicked off in grand fashion at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. The event not only marked a rare occurrence for both the Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds performing at the same airshow, but also the Blue Angels paying tribute to CAPT Harley H. Hall, the Team’s former Flight Leader and the last naval aviator to be shot down during the Vietnam War. Honoring Boss Hall’s legacy and sacrifice fi...
For the first time in three years, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels have a new flight leader. Cmdr. Alexander Armatas officially took command of the Naval Flight Exhibition Team on November 13, 2022, at a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. He replaced Captain Brian Kesselring, who led the Team during its 75th anniversary and the transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet. In this interview, Boss Armatas discusses his priorities and focus as the new commanding offic...
Featuring Boss Gil Rud, Blue Angels Flight Leader (1986 - 1988) | Produced & hosted by Ryan Nothhaft, Blue Angel PhantomsIn this Interview, Boss Rud discusses his brand new memoir “From the Prairie to the Pacific: A Blue Angel’s Journey” that details his life from growing up in a small remote farming town in North Dakota to becoming the Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels and later the Captain of an aircraft carrier. With ten deployments under his belt, Boss Rud attributes many of...
In what was once thought to be an impossibility, the Blue Angels made history in 1992 by becoming the first United States flight team to fly over the skies of Moscow, Russia. The momentous visit served as a way to ease tensions between the once Cold War rivals. The Team’s trip to the former Soviet Union was highlighted by two air shows and a ride exchange between the Blue Angels and pilots from the Russian Knights Aerobatic Flight Team. The significance of these events were not lost on t...
Described as a “love letter to aviation” by producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the new box office sensation “Top Gun: Maverick” is receiving critical acclaim for its state of the art cinematic sequencing and putting actors inside the cockpit of F18 Super Hornet jets, leaving audiences spellbound. But who was actually at the controls of the twin-engine Boeing fighters during the making of the film? While Tom Cruise is known for executing his own stunts, for this production, he had to rely on the help...
Fat Albert is the Blue Angels C-130 support aircraft that has served as the team's primary transport since 1970. However, many air show enthusiast know Fat Albert for the breath taking JATO takeoff if used to perform prior to 2009 when the team ceased using the rocket bottles as part of their demo. In this episode of the podcast, you'll hear the origin story of the first Fat Albert JATO takeoff from former pilot, Steve Petit who served on the team from 1975 through 1977.&nbs...
During the course of their 74 year history, the Blue Angels have flown eight different aircraft and will be transitioning to their ninth, the F/18 Super Hornet, for the 2021 season. In this episode of the podcast, former Blue Angels solo pilot, Jerry "Turkey" Tucker, shares his recollections of when the team transitioned aircraft for the 1974 season to the A4 Skyhawk. Support the show
Marine Corps aviator and veteran of Afghanistan, Major Katie Higgins Cook is the first female pilot to fly with the famed Blue Angels.In this episode of the Blue Angel Phantoms Podcast, Major Cook discusses her family's incredible legacy in military aviation and the impact that it had during the course of her childhood and her decision to pursue a career as a Marine Corps aviator. She also shares insights into how she selected the C-130 Hercules as her platform of choice before being de...
Lt. Brian Abe is the current Maintenance Officer (MO) for the United States Navy Blue Angels. In this episode of the podcast, Lt. Abe shares insights into his 22 year naval career and gives a breakdown of the 2020 airshow season. Key topics covered include the impact of COVID-19 on the Blue Angels schedule, the team's salute to frontline medical workers during Operation America Strong, the transition to the F-18 Super Hornet, Fat Albert, and much more. Interview conducted by...
It's been two months since I last published an episode of the podcast so I thought this was the perfect time to catch up and let you know what has been going on behind the scenes as well as share the story of the recently published short documentary about the 1982 Blue Angels team that I published on the Blue Angel Phantoms YouTube channel. Don't worry, there will be more interviews of former Blue Angel pilots and crew in future episodes! Support the show
Dr. Gary Mullen was the Flight Surgeon for the United States Navy Blue Angels during the 2003 & 2004 air show seasons. On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Mullen details his unexpected path to the Navy, rushing and joining the Blue Angels organization, and providing constructive feedback to the best naval aviators in the business. Prominently featured in the documentary series "Blue Angels: A Year in the Life", Doc Mullen recalls his experience working with the fil...
Ron Rentfrow was the official photographer assigned to the Blue Angels from 1970 to 1973. During this episode of the podcast, Ron shares insights behind some of the most iconic moments during the F4 era of the Blue Angels, including the team's visits to Panama, Ecuador, and Hawaii. He also shares his experience documenting some of the more terrifying moments during his tenure, including multiple pilot ejections. Ron also provides his perspective of what it was like to work with te...
George Dom is the former leader of the United States Navy Blue Angels and served on the team during the 1997 and 1998 air show seasons. During this episode, Boss Dom shares how his father motivated him to join the Navy, details his early deployments, and provides insights into the application process to become commanding officer of the Blue Angels. Boss Dom also gives a behind the scenes look into how the team brought back the diamond landing for the 1998 season, and tells some hi...
Denny Sapp is a former Blue Angels solo pilot and served on the team for the 1975 and 1976 air show seasons. Born in Iowa, Denny graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1968 and joined the US Navy and received his wings in 1969. He made 3 deployments to Vietnam compiling 367 combat missions and receiving numerous personal decorations. Sapp then was assigned duties as a test and evaluation pilot at Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California. From there he was selected as ...
Doug Hill was the Blue Angels Maintenance Officer during the 1983 & 1984 air show seasons. On this episode of the podcast, Doug details his early career in the Navy as well as the incredible transformation he underwent in order to be considered for the Blue Angels. Doug also shares stories from his time on the team, including the requirements to maintain the A4 Skyhawk, riding in the back of Fat Albert, and the interesting people he met along the way. Support the show
David Kent was a crew chief for the United States Navy Blue Angels during the 1969 air show season. 1969 was the first year that the Blue Angels flew the F4 Phantom, where David worked on the #3 jet piloted by Ernie Christensen. During this interview, David discusses his humble beginnings in Vermont where he attended a one room school house and would eventually develop an interest in aviation after seeing a poster of Charles Lindbergh. He was later drafted in the Army but ended up ...
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