Blue Angels Ride

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vulgarvulture
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Blue Angels Ride

Post by vulgarvulture » Fri May 05, 2006 1:48 pm

Check out this reporters Blue Angel hop:

If the link does not work directly from here, just copy and paste it into your browser. Not sure what the problem is with working directly from here.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... lueangels/

He does a lot better than I think I could do.

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p51
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Post by p51 » Fri May 05, 2006 2:10 pm

I'm trying to get a ride with them at some point :-P It's a HARD thing to do!

tmanthegreat
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Post by tmanthegreat » Fri May 05, 2006 4:48 pm

Yeah, the rides with the Blue Angels are expensive - and you have to go through a little training before hand. They aren't just handed out to anybody, either :?

However, if you do eventually go up, just make sure your camera equipment doesn't get tangled with the little black & yellow cord on the seat between your legs :wink:
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

jaywhy8202
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Post by jaywhy8202 » Fri May 05, 2006 9:03 pm

Having coordinated and assisted with Blue Angels media orientation flights during my career as a Navy public affairs specialist, the guidelines (as set by the Secretary of the Navy and the Navy's Chief of Information [CHINFO]) for getting someone a backseat ride in Jet #7 are pretty much ground in-stone.

The primary function of an airshow backseat ride in Jet #7 is in direct support of local Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and community relations (COMREL) objectives for both services.

At each airshow, orientation flights are given to three members of the local media -- print, radio and TV. They must be accredited members of the working media, recommended by the public affairs staff of the local Navy and/or Marine recruiting district headquarters, along with approval from local air show sponsors. Their names are then reviewed and approved by the Blue Angels public affairs staff, with final approval given by CHINFO.

Orientation ride candidates must meet all general health and physical requirements prior to embark. In many cases, two people from each local print and broadcast media outlet are selected -- a primary and backup -- in case one can't make the ride. Trust me, the primary always makes it for the ride!

Those who make the selection cut are notified by mail about 90 days before their airshow orientation flight, and sent a general health questionaire to complete and send back to the Blue Angels' flight surgeon for review. If there's any health concerns, the flight surgeon will contact the selectee or their physician for details.

On ride day, each of the three selectees are loaned a regulation blue Nomex flight coverall to wear (to be returned at the end of the ride), along with a required 20-minute safety briefing by Jet #7's crew chief (usually a Petty Officer 1st [E6] or 2nd Class sailor or Marine sergeant [E5]) prior to getting strapped-into the aircraft. The crew chief covers emergency ejection procedures, what not to touch in the backseat cockpit, the two Zip-Loc airsick bags in their coverall sleeve pocket, and how to do the "huuukkk" bear-down-and-push maneuver to compensate for G-forces during turns.

All riders must also sign a few "hold harmless" legal release documents (required by DoD and the Navy) before leaving the briefing area and proceeding to the jet.

A small number of VIP flights are also allotted each year to those in the television, sports, music and motion picture industry. They are selected by the Blue Angels for potential national media coverage and to project a positive image of the squadron, the Navy and Marine Corps; and to support national recruiting advertising goals. As with local media outlet representatives, VIP riders must also meet all physical and general health requirements for a backseat ride.
Yeah, the rides with the Blue Angels are expensive
Actually, there is no cost incurred by the individual -- the Blues (and Thunderbirds) don't charge for media and VIP orientation flights. They are given to selected members of the media at taxpayer expense. And the 20-minute pre-flight safety briefing is all the "little training" the rider receives before they go up in Jet #7. Any costs for local lodging, meals or transportation to and from the orientation ride site are responsibility of the individual or the airshow's commercial sponsor.
[baf]Jon[/baf]
JO1, USN (ret.)
San Diego

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