CBS 8's Marcella Lee's flight with the Blue Angels | Inside the cockpit

Before the Miramar Air Show took flight September 23 - 25, our own Marcella Lee had the opportunity to fly with the Blue Angels!
Her flight was Wednesday, September 21 and she started her day early - at 6:00 a.m. This video features her cockpit video.
And here’s what she had to say about her big day: “I’m still so filled with adrenaline from the rush of being in an F/A-18 Super Hornet. I was as excited, as I was nervous, that I was going to pass out or have to rely on a motion sickness bag.”
Marcella goes on to say: “I would like to thank the pilot, Lieutenant Commander Griffin Stangel for the amazing ride and Petty Officer 2nd Class Cameron Tuzon for the training. It worked. And also the Commanding Officer Marty Bedell, 2nd Lieutenant Jacoby Hawkins at MCAS Miramar for helping set this up. It's not lost on me that I got to sit in the same kind of fighter jet that men and women who serve this country are flying while on deployment. It was a truly amazing experience.”

[@douglasrobson3875]

This would be a dream come true. What an honor to be able to fly with the Blue Angels.

[@ILSRWY4]

never passed out... never got sick. Impressive!!!

[@hammerlane3871]

When shes watching the airshow shes gonna have so much more respect for what theyre doing

[@Hof79905]

Huge Kudos to the pilot for the way he interacted with his female passenger. It seemed like he made her feel very safe and secure the entire time.

[@shable1436]

Pilots need to feel the humanity they carry

[@reginaldwelles7265]

⁠

[@reginaldwelles7265]

1:37

[@mycoolbeernuts6870]

I thought he was about to Eject her.

[@LIZA8030]

These pilots are so awesome!

[@sho164]

I watched the whole thing with a smile on my face. Marcella did a great job!

[@johnnylopez4499]

Definitely the pilot was awesome calm collective professional. You are a soldier. I appreciate your service, sir.

[@bodazaphfa]

She did a heck of a job! She was definitely paying attention in the pre-flight brief with regard to her hooking. Such a great video.

[@bryancook4744]

This Pilot is an EXPERT! Great job with a first time passenger.

[@atomictrax]

First time? have you seen the footage online there's more than once she has been taking it up the Hornets

[@ChaoticAtmosphere]

Living vicariously through Marcella and this video. She was well briefed and champed it.

[@stanmankovich822]

My wife had the privilege of “THE RIDE” back in the eighties while writing for World Airshow News…what a priceless experience..

[@shanecartwright539]

What an amazing pilot!!! And kiddos to the reporter who hung in there...Thank you Sir..🇺🇸

[@DaylonU]

Thank God for men and women like this for keeping America free. May God watch over them.

[@mrmitchharris]

Marcella, you did awesome. Loved your enthusiasm and transparency, what a great segment. Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel well done sir and thank you for your service.

[@350ZEASZE]

When you brought your Dad's picture I nearly lost it. What a poignant moment. You're a good daughter.

[@michornet]

Loved her enthusiasm! Best ride-a-long flight with the Blue Angels I've seen yet!

[@rjmoreci]

I’ve watched some of these videos but this was an absolute thrill to experience this flight with Marcella and that awesome professional pilot. What a perfect job Marcella did and what a little doll the way she conducted herself. The pilots flying these aircrafts in the Blue Angels are nearly super human. Awesome video.

[@sidneysharp2697]

That would be a thrill of a lifetime for me since my husband was assigned to the blue angels crew in the sixties.

[@notgivinup]

This is absolutely AMAZING! And until you see the smoke trail it doesn't even looking like they're moving! LOVE me some Blue Angels!!!!

[@pamcm1098]

Incredible opportunity, and she made the best of it. My rides in a T-37 and a P-51 were unforgettable.

[@iceman6514]

Happen to come across this video, WOW!!! What an amazing job! She should be so proud of herself, what an awesome job in making someone feel SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!!!

[@HighBanker]

That was so cool to watch you have so much fun, I was touched when you honored your father. I lost my best friend and father also but I lost dad to pancreatic cancer from the time they detected it to him passing was 2 weeks. Sure miss dad. But thank you for sharing the story about your father Sean B Vancouver B.C. Canada 🇨🇦

[@avflyguy]

Very well done Marcella.. You did *GREAT* Contratulations on being one of just a few civilains to fly with our Armed Forces !

[@steini6771]

With some 3500 hours to my belt, this one made me very happy. Your smile and laughter. Great Captain! Thank you all for taking us along.

[@thedaywerevolt]

Marcella Lee flying in an F-18 is the awesomest thing I've seen in a long time - she didn't pass out!

[@nets1776]

She was great! Even had the presence of mind to ad lib her spots for later. I love the bravado of showing her empty barf bags. Outstanding job with a great pilot.

[@samandbritt224]

Hearing those ATC calls coming off Miramar sends chills down my spine, makes me feel like im right back there with VMM-363 in 2013-2015. Its almost relaxing hearing similar voices, departure/approach routes and callsigns. Its the best blast from the past and its refreshing to hear once again.

[@miteco1]

that last maneuver was beautiful. best BA flight video ever.

[@davequige5732]

She is a trooper! 7g's that's amazing and with out passing out. Great job to the pilot for the comfort of walking her thru it all. A+++

[@raydrewett6325]

1:15 1:17 ❤🎉😮😅😊)(🔮😂🌝😊

[@DJSquish76]

She is absolutely awesome. That smile the whole time. The G strain perfect. Sooo amazing

[@RAIDERNICK1950]

Great job by the pilot! The news reporters was so tough & brave, Her dad has to be really proud of her! Fantastic video!

[@doycowzintexas1672]

I was so glad to here her say that.. I often wonder if they can appreciate that they are getting to ride in a F-18

[@jasonbelter3536]

Truly and always representing why the great men and women who serve in our U.S. armed forces are the best of the best, prayers for all fellow US service members, thank you for sharing this wonderful video, and hats off to Marcella hanging in there like a champ 🙌🤛🇺🇸

[@davidwheatcroft2797]

Very nice flying! Outstanding. Old RAFVR pilot, here. Best wishes to all service aviators.

[@melindawilson7884]

My father was in WW2 on a submarine he'd b so proud of the blue angels!!!!! U in the air him in the sea!!!!! He was in the navy. He talked about his experiences all the time!!

[@davidrobins4025]

And I had a smile on my face the whole flight. The experience of a lifetime. Perhaps one day you will be flying as one of the Blue Angels, Marcella. Thank you.

[@kellymeade4587]

That was awesome! That Made me proud… to see the canopy operating correctly! I worked for 22 years for Curtiss-Wright Flight Systems… We assembled and tested the single/dual seat (canopy actuator) systems….for all F-18s! I was over all of the lab test equipment Calibration…. to make sure everything worked correctly. Our test rig ….simulated the canopy opening, closing, and locking in place for flight! These units went through strenuous test, repeating cycles ….to make sure they would stand up , before they were shipped!

[@Sushi2735]

Wow! Girl power! You go! So proud of you! In my day you couldn’t have got near a cockpit! So very very proud!!!!

[@karenchan1996]

Awesome pilot coaching his passenger along with this amazing adventure! So jealous!

[@richardmmaloney118]

Looks like she is having a awsome flight.

[@Kinghill31]

This is the luckiest person in the world! What a dream come true!!

[@dogsarefun2]

Amazed how quiet it is

[@oinn8003]

She did really good, very impressive!! Bravo

[@larrydugan1441]

She did great. Many would lose their stomach.

[@ReasonQuest]

"REA--DY--HIT-IT!" I love it!

[@billb2094]

Marcella, what an opportunity you experienced! ✈👩🏻‍✈

[@rafaelespinoza6530]

Amem Amen 🙏🌄

[@Mariner311]

SWEET - I was in Pensacola (going through Aircrewman and Rescue Swimmer Schools) when they transitioned to the F/A-18 from the Scooter. Then I flew the area this video was filmed for 12 years - though at no higher than Angels 12 and a LOT slower (I was in the Seahawk helicopter) - recognized some of the navigation calls. Had to land at Miramar a half dozen times when NAS North Island would close due to the June-Gloom. Brings back memories just listening to the pattern and rhythm of ICS and radio talk.

[@michellefury12345]

THIS IS MY DREAM.......JUST SAW THESE GUYS FLY A FEW DAYS AGO AND I CRIED THE WHOLE TIME❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ i miss my granddaddy and my dad❤

[@1hornet1]

Good for her. What a great job taking the Gs!

[@davidglenn8221]

It's like anticipating the sling shot ride take off !

[@oceancat0450]

LITERALLY

[@truckinfool3550]

I don’t know if they get training for cool pilot voice, but “Reaaaady, hit it!”…

[@shanecartwright539]

I'm not sure... but I think any flight group speaks that way,..solo or not... awesome job any way!!!¡

[@bigsmkn4207]

At most jobs everyone sounds the same lol

[@MrGoodnplenty1957]

smiling the whole time. ... too bad you didn't get the unrestricted departure. well done.

[@glennburch1081]

Not a pilot, but I worked aviation maintenece in the Navy and worked as an f-14 flight simulator technician upon retirement. We had simulator domes with 360-degree visuals, complete with target projectors, land and air targets (Used to put a Russian Bear up every night during systems operational checks and blow it out of the sky). Anyhow, I understand the feeling of flying that the aerial views present.... such an exhilarating feeling. Great post, TY.

[@barrycoomer8137]

The respect that you guys show your military is so moving, gets me every time. A great video, thanks for sharing. 🤙🤙

[@stevewendling8480]

what a ride ! sure wish I had been there. Go Blue Angels

[@fa6106]

What I would give to be allowed to experience this! What an honor and Hero these Men and Women of our Services are!

[@buckeyefangirl1976]

I love how calm these pilots sound. Even when they're flying and doing all those maneuvers ♥️♥️ They're so awesome. Fly safe Angels ♥️👍♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@johna.camardojr6199]

Love it ❤️ She's the best back seat rider❤ GOD BLESS US ALL ALWAYS 🙏 ❤️ Once in a life time experience, Thank Youuuu for Sharing 🇺🇲

[@marshawilliams2580]

Oh my My MYMY MY MY!!!!!!!!!! How AWESOME is that to FLY with a BLUE ANGEL!!!! Thank you to both of you and the US NAVY and CBS SAN DIEGO for letting us (me) go on the ride with you both. Thank you Marcella Lee for doing something the rest of us only dream about.! WHAT AN AWESOME RIDE !!!!!!! 😂

[@eddonahoe3860]

You deserve credit for your courage. As an ex Marine I had to conjure up courage too, at times, but it takes skills too, and your flights offer that.

[@JC-123]

Ex marine?

[@FighterOperationsGroupFOG]

No such thing as an ex Marine, once a Marine, always a Marine.

[@richardoconnor8229]

That was incredible. Great job Marcella. Easy for everyone to say they could pull those Gs but you did it. That’s not easy at all! Great focus. Nice touch with your Dad’s picture! Those pilots are elite athletes! Congrats. Memories for a lifetime.

[@sandyhanson6082]

I was breathing heavily watching you!! You did awesome! Would so love to do that before God calls me home.

[@cartermorganayres5263]

Thank you, Sir, for not making your guest sick with violent maneuvers.

[@daniellem1545]

What an awesome experience 😻

[@MrCyp200la]

This made me smile the whole time watching. She did an amazing job. Their is some FOD in the cockpit..lol

[@PATWENTY8R]

A very kind pilot flying the aircraft so gently for her comfort....what an awesome experience. Wonderful responsiveness of the fighters controls.....and well done young lady for holding it all together. Not sure I could! 🙂

[@LarryFoster-wn9xz]

What a lucky lady. The skipper is awesome also

[@3939michele]

Just came across this video. Oh, you were so lucky to get to do a fly-around. I'm so envious. You rocked it! I've never seen the Blue Angels in person, I lived 3 blocks south of the Santa Monica Airport and I loved watching the planes take off. This was awesome.

[@bobchirka5460]

Fantastic video, really gives you a sense of what a pilot experiences during flight. I commend the pilot for being so professional during the flight.

[@septimuswarrensmith879]

This TV babe is amazing. Good for her. All my respect and appreciation to her. And that smile, those teeth! You go Grrrrlllll!

[@carrieandretti]

Blue Angels are Incredible! I remember as a little kid seeing them perform as a little kid 😍

[@THE-APEX]

Great job Marcella. So lucky to enjoy that speed by the most skilled pilots in the world.

[@lindenlee3705]

That's one heck of joy ride!😄

[@ronaldmurray7746]

That was absolutely awesome, a very lucky young woman to experience. The pilot, amazing

[@AdamO4884]

The pilot was amazing, so patient and a great leader. She is a rockstar! So brave. She did awesome.

[@steveguinn2258]

Oh gosh you are so lucky ma'am i am so jealous. Happy flying with such an awesome pilot ❤️🙏

[@TerriFarmer-j1q]

I wish it was me flying with the angels. How cool it would be.

[@annuncirith]

G-MONSTER! well done ma'am

[@rafaelespinoza6530]

Amem Amen to the Lord

[@2023FourRunner]

My Kind of Woman!!!! No Fear!! Well Done

[@jeffbekeris]

Great Job Marcella. Such a trooper to go with it all. Professional pilot and professional journalist. That was an entertaining and informative ride. Lucky you!

[@liloheinrich8659]

If I went on that ride I’d want to become a fighter jet pilot too! Amazing the amount of automation and engineering that goes into that aircraft to make it even possible for humans to fly in

[@PlasticMacele]

She is a champ too!

[@ottogaher2805]

The Pride of USA! Thank you!!!

[@Diabeticmonk69]

I really like this pilot. What a gem.

[@fritziepa2124]

Wow! Felt like I was there. What an experience! Great job!

[@yingthings]

Wow, Marcella, you did great! And what a professional. You never lost your game face!

[@primate4]

Out of all of these videos that I’ve seen with these riders, she has the best hook technique.

[@bodazaphfa]

She was definitely hooking properly.

[@BenCourtney-k7w]

I love her smile the entire time

[@BMF6889]

In 1977 when I was a US Marine company commander at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe in Hawaii, I had the opportunity to get a back seat (RIO) ride on an F-4 on a live ordinance drop under simulated combat conditions. My first impression was how incredibly hot it was in the cockpit while taxing. If the F-4 had any air conditioning, it didn't work. On takeoff, it felt like I had a rocket strapped to me. Once we reached altitude, the cockpit cooled off. When we approached the target area, the pilot dropped down to just above the ocean. When the pilot hit the Initial Point (IP) he pulled up into a vertical climb and then rolled 180 degrees in order to acquire the target. He then rolled over and did another 180 degree roll to dive onto the target. Simulating anti-aircraft fire, he was jinking violently left, right, up, and down so that my helmet was bouncing off the canopy like a BB in a jar. He dropped his ordnance and then pulled hard G's with violent jinking to simulate avoiding anti-aircraft fire. At this point because of the G's my head was between my legs and I couldn't move and at the same time I became air sick from all of the maneuvering. As soon as was able to sit up, I vomited into my vomit bag. When we landed, the entire squadron was waiting for us to arrive. I held up my barf bag to the applause and yells of delight of the squadron personnel. I later learned that my pilot's call sign was "Puke". It was then I realize what his real mission was on that flight--to make me puke. It was all in good fun and I had the ride of my life. I never again criticized pilots for having a cushy life and hot chow every day. As a grunt in combat for 1-2 months at a time, I preferred being on the ground than whatever perks the pilots had.

[@thedaywerevolt]

She crushed it. Especially for a first timer

[@RTD8481]

Marcella….You look a natural. You were Born to Fly girl!!! Great video! I was stationed at Miramar 30 years ago! VF 213 Fighting Blacklions! Loved Miramar!

[@heathfitzgerald363]

She handled that like a champ. She did better than a lot of men that I have taken up.

[@derekturner3272]

It's cool to the her enjoy the flight, but even more amazing is the pilot. Such skill and a great "bed side manner" with his passenger. Great stuff!

[@scotttigers]

At 35:10 you can tell the g’s were distorting her face slightly. She was a real trooper. Well done. 😎👍

[@philkling1376]

That was unbelievably awesome ! Love it !!

[@lenfirewood4089]

I'm from the UK and of course I admire our Red Arrows RAF display team. That said we use the Hawk T1 a very much seat of the pants type jet it being also quite small and highly manoeuvrable BUT in performance it is quite underwhelming and outside of display work you couldn't really describe it as anything other that an early stage fast jet trainer. We used to have beefier kit like even back in the 1950's we used to have a 22 jet formation (Black Arrows) with the venerable Hawker Hunter! A substantial larger and beefier jet all round. Blue Angels using Super Hornets - which are better than many nations front line jets. It's a pity we got rid of our jaguar jets as I know they are very good a lower level flights - I hear they were much loved by the pilots who flew them and I suspect would have been agile enough for the task. I must also express my appreciation for the pilot and how sensitive and professional he was with the novice passenger . Marcella's enthusiasm was also very infectious and I found myself cheering for her as she expressed her joy at achieving some impressively high G maneuvers.

[@TheRuffusMD]

HOW GREAT IS THIS .. thank you for sharing.... only very very few get to do this

[@ChrisSprenger.]

She smiled the entire video. Love it !!!

[@aquariusrizing]

This legit has me in tears. Beautiful job, ya'll!

[@EricBurgeson]

WOW!!! Hats off to the young lady , Marcella, for going on the flight, helps to be young pulling those G's; not everybody would do something like this, assuming she probably does not fly in this type of aircraft very much, and this is a winner for both her AND CBS 8 in San Diego; excellent PR move, that loop in the smoke behind the aircraft was a roll, unbelievable!!! If you mentioned to persons on the ground that they would be flying upside down over the ocean, they would probably say " I think I will stay on the ground Thanks anyway" Marcella had a lot of courage !!!

[@user-kp1ei7mn3x]

What a professional gentleman.