How I Flew With The Blue Angels - F-18 Super Hornet Flight Footage, Story, and FAQs!

Flying with the Blue Angels at their home base in Pensacola, FL was a career highlight for me. HUGE thank you to Robbie, The Blue Angels, Katie, and the City of Pensacola.

Fly along with me and "Buddy", Blue Angel Pilot #7, on a media flight over the Gulf of Mexico with GoPro footage of the F-18 Super Hornet. I got to experience the power of the F18 and the airshow maneuvers of the Blues and will give you all the behind the scenes info!

0:00 Intro Flying With Blue Angels
0:47 How I Was Selected
3:19 Who The Blue Angels Takes On Flights
8:57 Preparing For The Ride and Briefing
12:59 Takeoff
15:48 Flying To Restricted Airspace
18:53 G Warm Ups
20:52 Delta Roll
22:35 Loop
24:02 Inverted Flight
25:20 Minimum Radius Turn
28:39 High Alpha Pass
31:35 Aileron Rolls
32:42 Sneak to Vertical Rolls
34:12 G-LOC
39:02 Carrier/Overhead Break
40:33 Landing

[djsmith]

Admittedly was skeptical - an "influencer" getting a Blues ride, but I gotta say that was probably the best VIP / media ride I've seen recorded.

Your familiarity with being in the air, your knowledge of what the jet was doing (e.g., auto flaps), and even being able to set up your own MFDs and have the pilot ask you if you see the G numbers in the HUD repeater, all made this a very unique video.

Not to mention how you handled yourself. No barf bag used and only a minor GLOC. Really impressive.

Finally, for not being a Blue Angels 'expert', your video commentary was excellent. Asking how short a field they could get into is not a question you'd see the local weather presenter ask.

Overall one of my favorite #7 rides ever recorded.

Thanks for posting, and congrats on making the most out of your chance of a lifetime!

[thepilotconnor]

So cool. Congrats on getting selected for an awesome opportunity. Ride of a lifetime!

[tshunse]

I’ve watched many BA media flights BUT THIS ONE IS THE BEST EVER. Your perspective and insight provided this private pilot a view as if we were riding with you. Great Job. Well Done!

[ryang]

Hell Yes!! ive been waiting to see this video. Such an honor to be able to do it and you handled it like a pro!!

[healerf]

Congratulations Mindy! What an experience. I was very blessed to be a flight surgeon for a Canadian F-18 squadron and know exactly how you felt. We pulled 7.5 G's many times, but I was wearing a G-suit, and was very thankful for it! You'll cherish this memory for the rest of your life. Thank you for sharing!

[jackreed]

Damn Straight! To come out of GLOC and sit back up while still in the G's was amazing.
That was a thrilling ride for me sitting here in my recliner.
You can brag on this video for a very long time. One of your best videos.
Take care,
jack

[HabuBeemer]

I just finished reading the article of Lights Out in Twin & Turbine that came out this month. Excellent article and congratulations on your opportunity to fly with some of the best. Even better is discovering this video and getting watch it. I'm very familiar with your flying career and we both have mutual friends in the industry. (46 years for me). I can"t think of a better candidate to bring this experience to other aviation enthusiasts. A lot of people don't know that you aren't a YouTube "influencer" but actually a very qualified pilot with a career in the Aviation Industry. You do however bring a lot of very interesting adventures in aviation that many people will never experience; in General Aviation, Corporate Aviation, Pleasure Flying, Industry Trade Shows and much more. Keep up the good work, best wishes in your current career, and see you out on the trail. Blue Skies and Tailwinds! P.S., I hope you got to keep the flight helmet!

[clarencewiles]

Congratulations to be chosen, to be available, to be our friend in the sky. Thumbs up 👍

[PaulGarthAviation]

What an amazing experience, making the dream of a lifetime come true.

Airshows are the best motivators for garnering interest in aviation. I remember watching "The Snowbirds" in Toronto (back in 1993), which inspired taking flight lessons soon after. Did the entire PPL at a fun little airport in New York - 23N. I did super high-g's over Fire Island in a C152 doing 45 degree turns. LOL!

That was an amazing video you took - as we all got to experience it with you. An F-18 did a demo recently at Santa Maria Airshow, CA - the noise on the ground was deafening, and power evident.

Continued success on your journey.

[UberGeek]

"So much power"... Cessna is no longer enough? 🤪
Congrats... Thanks for sharing. I didn't know how you can score a ride!

[randyroyston]

Thanks so much for the ride Mindy! ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

[thomaswarrenjudge]

SCHMIIINDY!!! 🤩🤩🤩 THIS IS AMAZING! SO COOL! So happy you got this opportunity!!!

[bacca]

I can't tell you what a treat this video was. You shot and edited it very nicely! Could almost feel the G-forces you were experiencing. Huge accomplishment going through that intimidating process and be selected for a very slick ride in a Blue Angel F-18. The Blue Angel pilots and their entire support staff are the 'Right Stuff' for sure. Have never had an inside look like this before. Thanks for this.

PS: Betcha being in that F-18 for a carrier landing would be fun. No 5000ft absolute minimum for that one!

[GaryLaaks]

You honestly didn't need to say a word (although I am glad you did). Your smile (silly young girl smile - meant tastefully, respectfully) screams a million words of excitement and copious amounts of joy. Beautiful video. Only sad thing is you are going to have a really tough time to beat this video in the future LOL. Certainly put a smile in my heart watching you enjoy this incredible opportunity. Hugs from South Africa.

[akgrove]

Proud for you that you got the Blue Angel experience.

[richardgivens]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing this with your fans. That was so cool and you and Buddy added so much in the explanation of the maneuvers.

[stevecastro]

That was a bucket list flight and I don't know about you guys, but I am envious! Well done Mindy...

[loren]

Mindy, what an excellent video! Your explanation of the selection process is so good. And then you show us the ride. Just awesome. I started flying in 1974 and always thought a ride in a military jet would be such a great thing. Now I can see that I would not get thru that flight 😂. Congratulations!!

[nbt]

The vapor during the slow speed was very cool.

[pkane]

Way to go Mindy! You handled it like a pro!