Full throttle with the Blue Angels (AJC staffer turns blue)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | April '06 | Steve Beatty

[avg_freeper]

Before this weekend's free airshow at Naval Air Station Atlanta, AJC staffer Steve Beatty joined Lt. Kevin Davis for a fun-filled afternoon of barrel rolls and other tricks high above Athens in a $24 million F/A-18.

Beatty only passed out three times.

See the highlights.

[Cecily]

It still looks silly in close-up. :)

[avg_freeper]

You were thwarted by the angles of our better nature.

[steveo]

If you have a scanner that can receive aircraft frequencies, you should give a listen. Pretty cool how the leader gives direction to the group fine tuning the stunts. 'a little more pooooooower... a little more puuuulllll. a little pullll...'
almost singing his instructions.

[Red6]

Hilarious, good post.

[Slump Tester]

Looking silly is better than earaches or vertigo.

[Publius6961]

steveo...
Wouldn't it have been useful to provide the frequency?

[manwiththehands]

"Are you with me, Steve?"
"Uh ... umm ... yea."

Best post of the week! What a hoot!

[chainsaw]

The chewing gum helps the untrained to adjust to quick pressure altitude changes. Opens your ear canal.

So all the hot air can get out.

[steveo]

No. The Airshow FAQ for our city stated that the frequencies are not given out to the public for safety reasons. I found them by listening to known air frequency ranges. One could find freqs used in the past on the Internet without too much difficulty. What they use one show they may not use the next. They may also practice with one set and perform under another set. A minor layer of security, but a layer nonetheless.

[taillightchaser]

If you get the Military channel, keep an eye out. They just showed a 4 hour documentary on the Blue Angels. They will probably repeat it soon. It was great. It was on in the 2pm pacific time slot, if that helps.

[okie01]

If you have a scanner that can receive aircraft frequencies, you should give a listen. Pretty cool how the leader gives direction to the group fine tuning the stunts. 'a little more pooooooower... a little more puuuulllll. a little pullll...' almost singing his instructions.

Saw a special on the Blue Angels and their training techniques. Before they try to fly a routine, they sit in the Ready Room with their eyes closed, hands around a pencil (to emulate a stick) and "practice" the maneuver together in their mind's eye, as the leader talks them through it in real time.

The tone and pacing of his voice is part of the instruction.

[Knuckledragger]

I know the Blue Angels' pilots don't wear G-suits, but couldn't they at least put the reporter in one?

[avg_freeper]

I think there's some cardiovascular issues with wearing a G-suit. Not something you'd just strap on to someone.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Chewing gum during something like this doesn't seem like a good plan. I guess everybody's different. I've seen NBA players chew gum during games. I don't get that either. Sounds like a good way to suck that gum down the wrong pipe and choke on it.

[avg_freeper]

Chewing gum helps to open up the air canals which allows the pressure to equalize.

Lots of rapid altitude and therefore pressure changes involved in aerobatics.

[avg_freeper]

"Chewing gum helps to open up the air canals"

..and by "air canal" I mean the path by which air travels to your ear.

...or something,
...like that
maybe

[pdunkin]

Thanks for posting this. I would kill to be able to fly with one of those guys (although, I would probably be sick most of the time).