Flying with the Blue Angels: My Unforgettable Ride

My pilot, Lt. Dave Rottering shaking my hand after flying with him. Me, just shaking from the experience.

Longtime readers of It's Always Something might remember my 2023 newsletter recollection of the time I flew with Blue Angels pilot Lt. Dave Rottering. Well, inspired by the Blue Angels’ scheduled performance at the Naval Academy's air show May 21 (sadly cancelled due to weather conditions) and annual flyover three days later at the Academy's graduation ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland, here’s an updated version.

I'm also linking to the Blue Angels' schedule. If you are anywhere close to these locations, make a plan now to be there. It's a not-to-be-missed  display of skill and daring, which Navy pilots have been performing for 79 years. (Yes, that really is 79 years. They started in 1946).

P.S. Ever wonder who actually flies those planes? Meet the current Blue Angels team of 12 men and 4 women.

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Edited from original post October 26, 2023

Here’s What It’s Like to Fly with the Blue Angels

As you can see in the photo, Lt. Rottering emerged from the flight cool and military pressed. I, on the other hand, crawled out of the cockpit with my hair matted with sweat. Butterflies churned in my stomach long after I shed my flight suit.

But I didn’t throw up! Also, I didn’t pass out! G force pressures in the 6 or 7 range can do that to those who don’t fly military jets for a living.

It was 1968. I was editor of the Anchorage Daily News. The Blue Angels were in Alaska to perform at Elmendorf Air Force Base, near Anchorage. The Blue Angels invite a few people to go for a ride before their shows—media people for the publicity, and teachers or others in education to excite kids about the possibility of being military pilots. It’s a great recruiting tool.

The G-Force Gut Check I Didn’t See Coming

The experience began while we were still on the runway. A pilot circling overhead radioed that he was preparing to land but could not verify that his landing gear was locked. Those in the control tower couldn’t verify it, either. My pilot helpfully replied that he would come up and “take a look.” In what seemed like seconds, we were flying underneath that landing gear. And when I say “underneath,” it felt as if we were close enough to reach out and touch it.

After assuring the other pilot he was good to go, Rottering headed for nearby Cook Inlet.

“Do you always fly that close?” I asked.

“We fly closer in the show,” he replied. “But I kept a distance because I didn’t know the pilot.”

I learned later that in their classic Diamond 360 maneuver just 18 inches separate their wing tips.

Over the water, the action began with a few 360 rolls. This should not be equated to the old-fashioned aerial barrel roll. The 360 rolls are more like spinning in place on an out-of-control high speed barbecue spit.

When we arrived above two oil drilling platforms in mid-inlet, pilot Rottering used them as pylons, executing tight turns worthy of a driver at Daytona. A few steep climbs and screaming dives later, we were on our way back to Elmendorf.

Extraordinary motion and G forces cause many passengers to pass out or throw up. While Rottering maneuvered with the seeming ease of steering a bicycle in the park, I was fighting to stay conscious. I’ve since learned that one of the things pilots are trained to do to keep blood flowing to their brains is tensing their abdomens and leg muscles.

Remember that next time you encounter 6 Gs, or can’t avoid joining your kid on one of those upside down carnival rides.

Aerial Ballet Before Breakfast: The Aftermath of the Flight

After shedding my flight suit, I returned to my office, wrote an article about the experience, and titled it, “Aerial Ballet Before Breakfast.” (One reason I didn’t throw up was that I avoided breakfast that morning). What they do IS aerial ballet. And if you’ve never seen it, the show is thrilling to watch. Take a few moments to watch one of their performances here.

After 79 straight years of performing, the show never seems to get old. I’ve seen them perform many times in many places. And the memory of my flight remains fresh every time I come across a story about the Blue Angels or happen upon my old photo. Some experiences you never forget.

Comments? Criticism? Contact Joe Rothstein at jrothstein@rothstein.net or at his web site, www.joerothstein.net.