And I don't have to write in tight formation while pulling 8 G's. The level of concentration required is impossible to explain. You cannot relax for an instant up there. It's no bed of roses back on the ground. To uphold the Blue Angel tradition of excellence established 54 years ago, a rigorous training and practice scheduled is followed so they can be in top form for more than 65 air shows across the country.
Pilots fly two or three times per day, six days a week, to get ready for the season.
Each flight is preceded by a 1.5 hour pre-flight and followed by a 1.5 hour debrief. They even review film. Unless you're a pilot you probably thought today's routine was pretty good. They really affected our sets and how tight we could fly. I asked Hobson how he feels when the crew chief, with the flair of a symphony composer, finally gives the sign to cut the engines.