Blue Angel FA-18 Walkaround

[@andrewtate7407]

Super video! I applauded for $5.00 👏👏

[@ErikJohnston]

Thanks so much!! I sure appreciate your support

[@buckbuchanan5849]

I could listen to that guy forever! What an all around great guy, sharp, and superb speaker

[@zakariahlafreniere1332]

check out fighter pilot pod cast

[@morgano7051]

Zakariah LaFreniere where do I find this podcast

[@ProudvetAFNAVY22yrs]

I remember this guy. I was a parachute rigger in VFA-83 1994-1998. He was one of my favorite pilots. Even though I was enlisted he never treated you like he was so much better than you like a lot of the other ones did.

[@ErikJohnston]

I can see that! Jerry was such a great guy to work with for this video. It was important for him for us to get it as accurate as possible

[@ernestkomu4523]

It all starts becoming clearer when you let go of the Top Gun hype and a real Blue Angel gives you a sneak peak into the actual thing. That yellow screw part got me... the balls, professionalism, skill and team dynamic involved in allowing your jet so close to another one, that you head is two feet from their wing armpit. And all that at like 1500 feet going at maybe 600mph... truely fascinating!

[@fish4kbcf]

This guys is so cool it hurts. Having grown up an aviation geek these videos are pure gold. Thank you for documenting this history and putting it out here for all of us to enjoy. Hope to run into you at an airshow one day.

[@65coupestang]

I grew up an aviation goon when I was younger also mainly b/c my dad is/was a puddle jumper (small prop plane) aircraft pilot

[@n1msu]

Massive props to the guy showing us around this beast. As someone who owns the VRS Hornet and the DCS hornet, I find it amazing that the real aircraft is more complex than any software developer can even hope to match.

[@fj9460-lr]

Brought back memories of Blue Angels air shows at El Toro in 1970’s. I was assigned to the Third Marine Air Wing at El Toro and couldn’t get enough of A4s and F 4s, but sitting on the hills east of the airfield and having those Blue Jets fly over our heads at 200 ft, was memorable!! Great Gentleman and great down to earth presenter; I too consider my time in the Marine Corps my best time in any occupation!!

[@davidthomas3936]

Best Blue Angel video I have ever seen, thanks for your service and a special thank you for this video. I have seen the Blue Angels performance many times, but I will definitely have even more appreciation for the pilots and the entire team the next time I get to enjoy the performance again.

[@SammyTheDitchDoctor]

This by far and away the best FA-18 walk through/Blue Angels commentary video I’ve ever seen. I was so mesmerized I had to watch it twice. I love watching the Blue Angels practice in Pensacola. And flying a Fa-18 in VR in the DCS simulator with Blue Angels livery is probably as close as you can get without being a actual Navy Pilot. Thank you so much for posting this. Truly enjoyed it!!!!

[@johnmoon3467]

Easily one of the best KZbin videos I’ve watched. Super informative and well orated but a knowledgeable, experienced pilot. Well done!

[@Meirele]

Fantastic! Mr. Deren is a wonderful host that makes himself very understandable. An empathic person that's a delight to listen to. The stories and the details of the Hornet are gold. Thanks a lot, to both of you.

[@erickelly7897]

One of the best walk arounds I've ever witnessed. Could have gone on for another hour and had my full attention. Thank you.

[@anthonyf.9170]

Excellent video, excellent. I’ve been to probably 20 or so years of air shows with the Blues or the Thunderbirds, I’ve also visited Pensacola and spent a day at the museums there. Thank you for your service and that of all of our Service members. God Bless America.

[@ryankc3631]

Hands down, the best and most informative Blue Angels/F-18 video I've ever seen.

[@exs219]

Incredible speaker Incredible interview.

[@wardschuler9044]

Thank You Jerry Deren for your U.S. Service & this Blue Angel education video !

[@jasonotoole1822]

As a lifelong Hornet fan this was such an amazing video to watch. LCDR Deren's walkaround brief was excellent and a real joy to listen to. A huge thank you to all involved in making this video. I'll be heading in to see this particular jet at the Frontiers of Flight Museum very soon and now with a lot more knowledge about it.

[@jamesmagnum]

Exceptionally informing and exciting walkaround from hell of a guy, seems he still carries the dedication and passion . Thank you Erik and Jerry for this fantastic tour.

[@mrjohnklake]

Hearing you tell stories took me back to my childhood when my dad would tell me stories about flying Huey choppers in Vietnam. Thank you. 😢☺️

[@timbenham516]

Awesome jerry, i can live vicariously through your experience because of my own childhood obsession with fighter jets in general but especially the Blue Angels,looks like a dream job glad you got to fulfill your dream you worked hard and deserve it.

[@danielmarso7242]

My Dad took me to a Blue Angels show at Quonset Point , RI , when they were flying the Panthers , which till this day, along with the Cougars are my two favorites of early Navy/Marne jets , thanks for a great video ,Semper Fi

[@topguncg47]

Thank you for you service. Your narration of the Blues was fantastic.🇺🇸👍💯

[@139BlueAngel1]

I served as an enlisted member of the Blue Angels. My aircraft was the F4J Phantoms. 1968-70. This was a great video. There’s one thing that I think should have been included… the enlisted members are also critical components of the Blue Angels. Have a good one.

[@ErikJohnston]

I completely agree with you. We should have hit more on the enlistment side of the operation. Thanks so much for your service and excellence!

[@kevinmadore1794]

Thanks so much for this video! Ever since I saw the Thunderbirds for the first time in October of 1973 (F-4Es), I have so enjoyed the few opportunities I have had to meet some of these guys and just talk airplanes. They are a neat bunch of folks. What's totally lost on most of the viewing public is the degree of trust that exists between the team members. You have to REALLY trust someone implicitly to let them fly an airplane 2 feet away from yours. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds are not just about cool airplanes. They are all about really special people, like Jerry Deren. Thanks for your service, Jerry. And thanks for the inspiration you give to the rest of us!

[@dennisyounkin644]

Thanks for the awesome trip down memory lane! i served with VMFA-451 and VMFA-115 from 86-89 on Hornets..

[@DDAVO7]

VMFA-235 90-96 SF brother

[@dennisyounkin644]

@@DDAVO7 Semper FI!!!!

[@cypher5726]

I could listen to this guy talk about jets all day long. What a amazing pilot

[@iananderson7883]

Blue Angel jets were screaming over my house in Fort Erie, Canada for the past two days practicing for the Buffalo airshow today and tomorrow. It's going to be super cool. Great informative vid..

[@rodericksibelius8472]

I was a US Navy Flight Controls Structures / Airframes, Landing Gear Mechanic, trained in US Navy Schools, AMH-2 rank, Honorable Discharged after 7 years and 9 months, living on Aircraft Carriers, and on Land Detachments all around the World. US Naval Aviation discipline is the BEST in the WORD!.

[@Seminolerick]

What a well spoken gentleman, that obviously “knows his stuff” ! Not many can make the basics so interesting to listen to & learn… but he does !!

[@rodneywhitfield615]

I had a parental unit that worked for McD’s I was privileged to be able to see the “factory “ sales tape of the F/A 18. The pilot stands the bird on her tail, and hops the bird around the field with all the ease of a 1970 Plymouth SuperBird with a 440 six pack screaming down a 1/4 strip. Awesomeness sheer awesomeness.

[@georgechristian6667]

I DID 2 VIETNAM TOURS ON THE U.S.S. CONSTELLATION. WORKING ON THE FLIGHT DECK WAS EXCITING. THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THIS VIDEO.

[@HRNTTWK]

Spent many years working on that very jet. 163435 both VFA-86/82 and VFA-81. Was transferred to 86 from 82 at one point. Upon checking in to VFA-81, I met this old girl again 12 years later. She was a flyer for sure. Until we transferred it to the Blues in 2006 prior to transition to Lot 30 Super Hornets in late 2008.

[@briand4000]

Completely awesome talk and I learned a lot...and I thought I knew "stuff" about the F-18 and the Blues! Living a dream and making life long friendships along the way. THAT, is a life well lived. Thank you for your service, sir! I flew formation in my RV8 for a few years, and the most memorable was a two-ship with a Navy test pilot who was in a Decathlon out for a day of fun flying. I flew lead and he was in tight...I mean TIGHT!....prop disc right in behind my wing, forward of the stabilizer. He never moved...not an inch...absolute precision. No voice calls needed...total welded wing to the next airport into the overhead. The Navy trains the finest aviators in the world!

[@scarter176]

What a great informative inside ops look at the FA18 walk around with icing on top

[@vishwaskarmarkar9932]

Awesome video and briefing. I am 76 yrs (young?) and learning to fly this great a/c in DCS Sim. Thanks 👍

[@dennispetretti3384]

Thanks Jerry, a great and fun video for a former A-4 driver many years ago to refresh himself with the latest and greatest. Nice to get an update on our newest aircraft and realize, while there are many differences, the basics of navy fighter/attack aircraft and shipboard flying remain the same. Well done.

[@infrequentgamer_greg]

This episode was like gold to military aviation fans. LCDR Deren had lots of unique perspective on the aircraft, the Navy, naval aviation, and the Blue Angels. I sat through the whole 1hr 6min, and if it were 2 hours long, I'd still be riveted to my chair! I recall from the "Day in the Life of the Blue Angels" documentary about 2006 or so, LCDR Deren was in the Blue Angels...and he did something unusual...he did a tour and a half with the Blues. That is a great documentary if you haven't seen it. Great video, Erik!😁👍

[@GeorgeJansen]

OMG. You need a channel dedicated to all aviation stories. Outstanding ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@joeziegler9054]

Thank you sir for your service! My son is active duty Marine Corp. Jacksonville NC MCAS New River.

[@johnm9798]

Having been a 22 years Navy Vet, I can truly appreciate the LCDR's comments of having the best friends ever from the military. The camaraderie experience is second to none. LCDR Deren obviously enjoyed his service time and was a professional in every respect. I have the greatest respect for him and all those folks who keep this legacy alive and well in America.

[@profil4e]

First of all WOW! This was an incredible video to watch! I'll be writing a long comment here which probably no one will read through, but I feel the need to put it out there. Erik Johnston is making content that I can describe as (with my limited vocabulary) Engaging, Outstanding and just pure Aviation geek out! An hour went by like 15 minutes watching this. Every single video in this channel is absolute GOLD for every aviation enthusiast in my opinion. From all the aerobatics teams I've seen so far in my life , not that I've seen them all, (Frecce Tricolori, Turkish Stars, Patrouille de France, Thunder Birds) I'd say that the Blue Angles are the most electrifying, and "on the edge of disaster", pulling off formation flying that just seems like this is peak piloting skill, and the solo flyers pulling off incredible maneuvers. The pilot here is not only incredibly well trained and skilled , but also a marvelous story teller! I really hope that sooner or later I'll be able to support this channel, as gratitude for bringing us up close and personal with the machines and the people who fly them with something more than a comment or a like.... =] Truly an incredible channel and content Kudos!

[@ErikJohnston]

Sure happy that you like the video and channel! I really have a great time making these Walkaround videos. They are my favorite ones to make

[@thedarkknight803able]

One thank you for your service! Thank you for the F/18 Briefing. 😎👍🏿

[@gchambe234]

Just blows my mind the precision at these speeds with such variables

[@dgim8016]

yup, fantastic video...I'm still amazed the Defense Dept allows such minute and detailed exposure of the equipment!

[@Mom-USMCRichardUSMCChristopher]

Fastest hour ever! Amazing tour of #4, along with the explanations of what each Aviator does when they fly in the different positions. I had a great laugh when he stated that the guys he spoke with regarding making of this video and their response was “don’t screw it up”!! Thank you for the wealth of knowledge shared with us!

[@LinYouToo]

I really enjoyed this. Great job. I remember him from the documentary A Year in the Life of a Blue Angel. I think he came back to fill in for someone who had a medical issue. Thank you for your service sir.

[@GreggK6EGG]

good to see him again. I remember watching a thing on discovery channel in 2003 about the blue angels and he was on it.

[@MrTallicadanny]

I have the privilege to have The Blue’s fly overhead for two months out of the year in El Centro, Ca. Two to three times a day. It doesn’t get old. Awesome video. Great info. Can’t wait to see them again.

[@Empireplumbing45]

For 20 years never understood where the smoke came from now I know! Thank you for your service and the time it took to make this .

[@hughscot]

Our museum, Hickory Aviation Museum, Hickory, NC, recently got #5 and this is providing me with some excellent information to pass along to our visitors. Thanks.

[@jclaytoncabral5106]

One of the best aircraft presentations ever! And it's about The Blues!!

[@OLIV3R_YT]

Thanks! As a DCS armchair F/A-18 driver this is super interesting!

[@richardroddenberry2079]

First really good briefing about the Hornet and what a Blue Angel pilot has to know to perform at the highest level. Best pilot informational video ever. Thanks

[@ikefork2606]

Incredible walk-around of the Super Hornet! It doesn't get any better than this...I'm really blown away with the outstanding flying abilities and guts of these incredible Super Hornet jocks. Jerry Deren's mention of Lcdr Pat Walsh @ 41:41........I'd like to add that my good friend growing up in Alexandria, VA in the mid-late 1960s was future USN Admiral Bill Gortney ("Shortney"), who followed a similar career path as Admiral Walsh, although Bill did not do a tour with the Blue Angels. To enlighten those reading this, the one thing I recall most about the adolescent Bill Gortney was this "fire in the belly" attitude, guts, and raw determination.... DESPITE being the shortest kid in school. As kids growing up in the 1960s, Bill and I were very passionate about military airplanes from WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. We religiously followed the U.S. Space Program which culminated with the Apollo 11 landing in July '69. We regularly bought & assembled the ubiquitous WWII plastic model airplane kits sold by Aurora in all the stores. IMO his gutsy dad Capt. Gortney, USN Retired, a Korean War era Naval aviator, instilled much of the drive and determination I witnessed in Bill every day. To the Blue Angels and all the other F/A 18 pilots out there....you have my undying respect and admiration. p.s. Bill if you read this give me a shout on FaceBook. Thanks. Tom R.

[@rcom9880]

Grew up watching the Blues at the USNA shows. Loved this in-depth profile--can't get enough! Hands down the best looking jet ever. Even in static display, looks like it's doing Mach 1. Thanks for the post!

[@brucecampion-smith8471]

Thanks for sharing. What a great mix of story-telling and detail about the aircraft. I could have watched that for another hour or two.

[@ErikJohnston]

Haha, you’re awesome man!!

[@loriskwiat3584]

What a beautiful interview and thank you so much for your service... God bless you your family and God bless America

[@oldsailor8593]

I did not know this pilot but the name on the cockpit was one of the greatest CO’s I ever served with. Admiral Walsh is a great man!

[@bruceshenkel6991]

I never heard about your guy wire story .I follow the Blue angels history quite extensively but I missed that one .What an amazing story .You were lucky that day . Fantastic video ,and history Commander Deren . Stay safe.......

[@nothingtoseehere4026]

Enjoying every second of this walk around.

[@keithstephens133]

Outstanding! Thank you for the video and your service. People like you are the cream of the crop. Nothing but admiration.

[@lw216316]

Like Jerry, I watched the Blues at airshows when I was a teenager.....saw them and the Thunderbirds many times over the years. I never dreamed one day I would fly both a Blue Angel F/A-18C and an F-16 Thunderbird. I now fly remote control versions of both planes. I do most of the moves they do except I fly solo. Top speed is around 100mph and I land on a paved runway 400 feet long with no brakes, arresting hook, parachute or anything else to slow the plane down - kind of like landing on a carrier. May your skies be blue and your winds calm.

[@tommyleanza510]

Really enjoyed that.. I used to see the Blue Angels yearly as a child and always wondered what it was like to be able to fly like that.

[@ralphcratty4307]

5 years ago coming from Falcon Field,,noisy hot dog was so slow,,the pilot @ I exchanged salute,,I thank you 😊 pilots for the memories!!!!

[@gregbishop77]

Awesome video!!! I'm a automotive technician by trade and very fascinated by fighter jets!!! I work close to an airport so sometimes a fighter jet will fly around and listening to that power is awesome. Thanks for the video.

[@BoldUlysses]

LOVE these videos. I could listen to these guys for hours. Thank you SO much for putting these together!

[@marknaglreiter9330]

Thankyou for your brilliant service to our nation. God bless America, and all that have served and continue to serve.

[@Mors_Inimicis]

Perfect timing, I have just begun building a 1/48 F18C to be in ‘Blue Angels’ livery.

[@DeereX748]

Fantastic video, as thorough a walkaround as I've seen on a civilian-oriented video. I got to see the Blues fly in 2019 at the Fort Lauderdale show, which is over the water, just off the beach. My local air museum was very fortunate to get the Number 5 solo aircraft (Lcdr. Stuart Powrie's name is on the canopy rail). We were one of the two museums whose plane was flown in (Smithsonian being the other one) and I was also there to see its arrival. What a gorgeous bird. In my 67 years, I've seen the Blues perform in four types: the F-11F-1 (long nose), F-4J, A-4F, and the F/A -18.

[@patrickmonks9761]

Thank you Sir I had a wonderful wonderful privilege as a beer tour guide to meet an officer who had dolphins above his wings. I also was fortunate to meet MC1 pilots/crew. My admiration for aviators. Well, I never passed physical. I so waited dolphins.

[@stevereid7140]

Fly by wire... As a pilot you're sort of a voting member. That made me laugh out loud.. so true. By far the best jet video I've seen!

[@b-radsadventures6846]

Staggeringly informative about my favorite plane. Thank you!

[@pietschreuder5047]

What Jerry Deren experienced with that tower cable also happened in the Netherlands with a USAF fighter. in 1968 a Super Sabre's wing tank got caught in the support cable of a 1000 ft TV tower. The tower became crooked, but fortunately did not collapse. The fighter landed slightly damaged safely on Soesterberg AF base.

[@Tatiana7.62]

My favorite blues angel bird was the A4. Loved that nasty little delta!

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Badass plane like the super hornets better but still is a badass plane my fav fighter the f16 then f15E strike eagles then this

[@Yabbagabbagool]

superb walkaround and interview!

[@jimjab3631]

This guy is incredible, not a huge aviation fan but great Info and learner a lot.

[@suspiciouslywell-behaved8624]

AIM-7 Sparrow. Awesome walkaround, thanks.

[@hansgold58]

Erik, i absolutely love your videos, please keep them coming. Thank you very much!

[@ErikJohnston]

Awesome!! I sure am happy you like them Hans! I have a lot of fun making them

[@Chris38908]

Thank you for your services sir an to all your family members best of wishes .

[@skittlyscooter1779]

my man back at it again, this time with the F-18

[@KowboyUSA]

Outstanding walkaround. Incredible bird.

[@velrajkalaiselvan8351]

Great Explanations and shared in-depth details of the parts and controls

[@roderickcampbell2105]

Awesome. Great guy, great aircraft and great stories. I thank you both!

[@visibilityunlimitedmedia]

What a great peek inside a world that so many of us with the aviation bug have dreamed being a part of. Jerry is a standout representative of the Blues and Naval aviation.

[@kcbrutality5271]

DCS world will give you a peek also......y not pilot your own legacy Hornet !!!

[@jaydaniels1790]

Thank you for your tour. And for your SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!!!!😎❤🇺🇸

[@J_JetClips]

This is amazing. Watching him squat down in his old spot under the wing and watching his mannerisms was awesome...he was right back in that spot haha

[@leonardbartley5670]

Outstanding , Thanks for your service.

[@musschootski]

What an awesome video! I love F18's and the Blue Angels, and Naval Aviation. Its always fun to poke around airplanes in a hangar, and having a knowledgeable tour guide is a bonus. I believe LEX stands for Leading Edge eXtension.

[@joshuaherts6775]

Fantastic video!

[@kevinquig5654]

What a great tutorial. Thanks for all you do 🇺🇸

[@shaunroberts9361]

Thank you for your service. This was awesome.

[@i_are_penguin805]

after having flown the f-18 in DCS its ridiculous to see how realistic this plane is in the game

[@n1msu]

I give you 10/10 for trolling real fa18 pilots. Especially as this video actually gives no filmed direct comparisons that can be simulated on DCS. The view of the cockpit with LCDs/CRTs off is very accurate though. VRS has a tonne more than DCS does, mainly because VRS focuses on the fa18 only, DCS tries to make so many new mods that I doubt any of them (I own most of them) will be a full release in the next 5 years. Even the fa18 isn't a DCS only project now. As I found out when I reinstalled it a few months ago. Sticking with VRS for now.

[@fgeorge7434]

the rolls done in DCS put the leadingedges slats 3 degrees asymmetric down like the real hornet?

[@patrickmollohan3082]

Best aviation video I've ever seen....hands down!! Thank you!!

[@richardfrancis5406]

Really awesome video...thank you...never knew all that stuff about the F-18 and I have watched carrier documentaries...always love seeing the Blue Angels....I hope they do the airfest next May at MacDill

[@rangerat1957]

Great video. Learned a lot about how the pilots fly paint and other nice things to know. Great job JD.

[@chewar7537]

No clue what most of the stuff you said means, but this was a great video....and you are super smart! Thank you for your service!! My horses do the same thing, they go where I am looking...following my eyes. :-) Unreal how you use those yellow points to guide you, amazing work! Love watching the Blue angels when they come to my town!!!

[@tommo2944]

What a great bloke and great video , enjoyed every minute of it. thank you for this.

[@kungamusic]

Kick ass. Amazing video. Great camera work great audio. Great presentation.

[@Zues120]

"Right here? This screw? Holds the entire airplane together" You can tell he knows how to make kids wow'd and entertained! Always an important skill, seriously! Cant imagine the amount of kids grew up with a lifetime love of fighter aviation cause of him! Great vid Edit: will say, I was really sad a few years ago one of the Blue Angel pilots passed in an accident and the Syracuse show got cancelled. Had a friend who worked close with airport admin and when that happened they dropped the expected attendence from somewhere around 75,000 to 15,000. Was a fun show, even without the Blue Angels, but really wish they came back here

[@BlueAngelPhantoms]

Great job to both of you on this video. Really enjoyed it and learned quite a bit.