What it's like to Lead the Blue Angels (ep. 190)

[@BlueAngelPhantoms]

This was an outstanding interview! Excellent discussion. I can't recommend Boss Rud's book enough. Not only is it highly entertaining, but a lot of behind the scenes stories.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

So true. I am halfway through and enjoying it immensely.

[@jeffhanson9244]

I was home on leave from the Air Force and was at that Fargo Airshow. Later on as a pilot for the Happy Hooligans I had the opportunity to meet Gil Rud several times. He is quite the character. I thoroughly enjoyed his book.

[@christophercruz7932]

Great interview! This guy seems down to earth and cool as hell!

[@wprado1]

Awesome interview, Jello. I have some great Connie memories especially while standing watch on the bridge as conning officer just to the right of the CAPT Rud searing on his port forward bridge Recaro chair during flight operations. CAPT Rud was very entertaining with his story telling. Always engaging the crew. He really got around that ship -- would often see him in his engineering blue coveralls touring the carrier's main machinery spaces.

[@2Phast4Rocket]

I am not surprised to hear capt Rud inspecting the engineering spaces. He had a bad tour on the USS wabash with its failing some engineering evaluation and some engineering casualties that was due to the bad leadership of his XO and the CHENG. Nice to have served under him though

[@Topgunphoto]

Duster was a great interview, him discussing the fly arounds when arriving at a new show reminded me one of my shows at Oceana. The Boss that year was from there so he would point out his house, Hooters with the orange roof. Then hearing the 2 solos "marking" their points, one of the best parts of air shows coming in. What a proud Dad moment talking about this daughter, loved hearing that! 2011 show in RI I was on Bert, the Pilot on the combat dive for the runway pegged the flight engineer to the roof ripping his flight suit, boy was he pissed...

[@georgeburns7251]

OMG, this was the most informative Blue Angels interview I have ever heard. Just ordered his book. Also, the El Centro air show is always my favorite. First show of the season, but not over crowed. I’ve seen Gil fly A4s and F18s several times.

[@AirMorgan.]

Such a great interview! Thanks Jell-o & Duster. And by the way...Holy hell! What a good looking couple! 1:37:25

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😊

[@jinzhang8241]

Excellent interview, Jello, and thanks so much, Boss Rud! Great work, awesome storytelling, and I really enjoyed it!

[@51sopete]

As a young man, my Father was the Air Operations Officer for Training Wing Six in Pensacola. Dad got me a fist year F-18 poster from the Blue Angels. I still have it, perfectly preserved. I just pulled it out of the cardboard tube and there is the autograph of Cdr Gil Rud!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Collector’s item!

[@sharoncassell5273]

I took my family to airshows. At McGuire where I was based i met Blue Angels and Thunderbirds in 1982, 86. They loved it too. I was a C141 mechanic and learned how to fly Cessna 150. You guys are awsome & were always my inspiration. Kids that are exposed to planes young tend to become pilots or aviation enthusiasts. Now we need pilots. Go for it. Money plays a part.

[@williammoreno2378]

Visiting USS Midway museum on a Sunday and I was able to sit in on Captain Rud's lecture on the evolution of aircraft carrier landings from straight decks to the angle decks and modern landing techniques. His presentation was excellent, and he thoroughly explained everything without dumbing it down to those of us not familiar with carrier operations. Another great interview, Commander.

[@MartyBecker]

Wonderful interview! While watching, I went back to review my old photos since I remembered seeing/photographing the Blues late in the A-4 history. Checking the dates, it was 29 June 1986 in Indianapolis, IN. So I got to see and photograph Captain Gil Rud in the final season of the A-4.

[@johnb7490]

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Thank you Jello. Mr. Cochran came to my squadron, VF-2, after he left the Blues. The man could sure FLY!!!!

[@goneboating123]

It's tuff to meet a better guy than Gil....an honor to know and fly with him! cj

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Just listened to his audiobook which is hyper detailed about all facets of growing up, college and navy career. Highly recommended for any aviation enthusiast!

[@paulgriffith3549]

Great interview! I like to use the Boss' calls as I drive the twisting, turning mountains of West Virginia. Up we go, adding power, ready Brake!

[@williamdykes2750]

I had the opportunity to ride in the back seat of F/A-18 Blue Angel #4 (the slot jet ) for an airshow practice in Pensacola in the 98-99 time frame. The ride was a perk of my job (XO of Marine Air Training Support Group (MATSG) Pensacola.) It's now MATSG 21. Obviously, I enjoyed the flight, but I've always said that the preflight brief prior to the practice was the most impressive part of the whole deal. The boss called the entire show, maneuver by maneuver, while the team chair flew each maneuver with their eyes closed and moving their hands as if on the stick and throttle. This flight was definitely a career highlight and I'm fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to be invited the Marine pilot on the team; Blue Angel #2.

[@csrcontreras]

Going to seafair this year in Seattle to see the angles. Super excited, haven't seen them since fleet week 07 in San francisco

[@guiduz3469]

This is definitely one of my favorites from this great show. Bought the book right after!

[@D5Pasadena]

Excellent interview with Duster! Well, if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying!

[@JPM-NM]

I've read Gil's book multiple times. It's hilarious and a fabulous read! Highly recommended.

[@jeffshafer9079]

I was at the Niagara Falls show in ‘85. That was scary. Saw Andy jump out. Mike never did. We were shouting “eject” but it never happened. Sad.

[@yxeaviationphotog]

I enjoyed listening to Gil's experiences with the Blue Angels. With regards to being the Boss, I've always wondered why it's not a requirement for the Boss to have previously flown with the team. Seem to me it would cut down the training time for a new Boss, but the team has been around for over 70 years, so I guess if it's not broke.....lol. I didn't hear him talk about it in the interview, but when Gil was leading the team in A-4s, the team performed at an air show here in Canada, alongside our Snowbirds, the Italian, Brazilian and French aerobatic teams. They actually did a special photo flight where they had all of the team leads in a mixed formation, led by Snowbird 1. It turned out to be a really epic photo.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sounds like it!

[@renelarricq1039]

Excellent interview, great subject!

[@mach91photo]

Great interview Jell-O. Boss Rud is a legend and a great guy!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, Scott! 😇

[@1marvelfan707]

Great episode, always look forward to these, i live right outside marine air station in jacksonville nc, and visit cheery point alot, constant sounds of freedom all day, and i love it

[@Jamez3l]

I got to see one of the last Blue Angels last shows in the A-4 in 1986. I was in San Francisco in 1986 during fleet week.

[@Gunthrek]

While we didn't do them nearly as often, as a former Marine musician I did many recruiting tours that were very similar to the recruiting aspects of what they talk about here. Visiting high schools and colleges, participating in community events, that sort of thing. Military recruiting is military recruiting, it seems, lol.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Especially if it's noisy--one way or the other!

[@jackharle1251]

Thank you, Gentlemen

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome.

[@petrairene]

That guy is 80 years old? Wow!

[@thecatdaddy1974]

This guy can tell some great stories.

[@ShadesOClarity]

Gil was a badass. That formation landing was sick and I imagine pretty challenging. You can see it at the end of Van Halen's "Dreams." video.

[@winkyflorida]

Boss Rud is a legend!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@ed-straker]

I saw Gil the first year the Blues had Hornets. Met Donnie Cochran, #3. A few years later, we were walklng from the parking area to the show area, Cecil Field I think it was. And the Thunderbirds flew over. My girlfriend had her camera out and took a picture. I didn't know at the time, but the Thunderbirds had just dropped smoke on the Blue Angels.

[@elnach3240]

Mr. Rud makes me proud to be a North Dakotan.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You are in good company when it comes to Naval Aviators.

[@leonardmoore2833]

Great interview!

[@indy500tabasco8]

👽👽👽👽meeting Amanda Lee at Indy AIrshow was awesome👽👽👽👽

[@mikeF111]

Loved it!

[@kaypie3112]

Nice beard Vincent!!! And great episode too.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks. I was not flying for awhile but the beard is gone now.

[@Skyhawks1979]

A-4M had a pneumatic self start unit. Only got one chance to start it or it had to be pumped up manually which was a workout.

[@randymichel459]

I have Gil’s book. It’s a great read.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I am halfway through--hysterical!

[@joshiasbaja3934]

I’m watching this hours after I watched IMAX’s ‘The Blue Angel Experience’

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Hope you like it!

[@joshiasbaja3934]

I just drove from El Centro to Phoenix and I told my mom, “next March we’re coming here to watch the Show!”

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@joshiasbaja3934 😎

[@davefost]

Thank you for such a great podcast! Duster sounds on every level like the kind of guy you'd want to work for and aspire to be. Immediately purchased the audiobook and looking forward to seeing your's (Vincent) come out! Have you thought of putting yourself in the guest chair? Over the years, it's become apparent you have quite the story to tell! (or did I miss that already?)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Kind of you to say, Dave. My story has come out little by little over the 200+ episodes, plus on other podcast channels. But the book will tell all (...well, mostly...😝)

[@petrairene]

Unfortunately the book is apparently not available as an ebook? Didn't find the ebook and audiobook options on amazon.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're right, I don't see it either. Strange.

[@ed-straker]

Any way to get a signed copy of Gil's book?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Possibly. Email the show and we'll see what we can work out.

[@utubeghans]

6 ft 5 pilot can fit in a f-18 ?

[@jyellowhammer]

All day

[@magicman08]

If I could make a suggestion, is it at all possible to break out future videos into segments? Check out Sean Ryan's more recent videos. I've watched 3/4 of this interview already, but was kind of doing 2 things at once. So, it would be nice to be able to jump around to different parts of the interview. I'm new here, so maybe it's a lot of bouncing around too in your long interviews.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Point well taken. We used to break out segments and even add chapters to the video but life and other obligations seem to get in the way.

[@bsdooby]

Completely off-topic: do we get a chance to see Jello of @FighterPilotPodcast with his mustache? 😅

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Nope.

[@bsdooby]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Nooo :(

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@bsdooby it was awful.

[@bsdooby]

@@FighterPilotPodcast C'mon, you're a handsome guy ;) Of course we respect your privacy. Keep up the good shows/episodes.

[@davelew86]

Harp duty?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@davelew86 hometown area recruiting program

[@blue81blue81]

Thanks for your response. We are going to disagree here. It's not a discussion. That would imply equal comments from both of you. It's an interview. You are featuring a guest and your title suggests we are going to hear from him about being a Blue Angel leader. Its not about you....or shouldn't be. Interrogation is too strong a word. Question and answer session is a better characterization. Ask a question. Get out of the way. Ask a question. Get out of the way. I will say you got better as the interview progressed. Yes guests can go off the rails with their answers and then you do have to reel them in. That goes with being a skilled interviewer. I will also disagree you can be too succinct with questions. A direct question usually results in a more direct answer even if the quetion is open ended. Anyway he was a great guest and I enjoyed his comments. We can agree to disagree and I'll be reading more of your interviews. All the best.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You got it. Thanks 👍

[@blue81blue81]

Hey Jell-o, open to some constructive critique? Very interesting interview.....but you do what too many interviewers do whether it's sports, politics, aviation or other wise. You take waaaay to many words to ask a simple question. Example....you asked Duster "take me through a typical week of the blue angel boss". Good question and you should have just shut up at that point. Instead you launch into about 4-5 different variations of the same question....dragging it out blah blah blah in some form trying to anticipate the answer yourself. I was yelling at the screen "Jell-o shut up and let the man answer the question!!! Keep questions to your guests simple and to the point. "Duster tell us about a typical week in the life of the Blue Angel boos". Done... finished... be quiet and listen to the answer. Then follow up if need be. It's annoying to listeners when you drag out your questions so long.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I appreciate the feedback. The challenge with your suggestion is instead of a discussion it ends up being an interrogation. Humans are not efficient speakers, myself included. Too verbose is not great, I agree, but neither is too succinct.

[@tommylee9288]

Hope that the language used by the leader is given careful consideration. It’s here I’m most curious because mostly it works. And the “show” is flawless.