1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000
Downloaded from
YTS.MX
2
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000
Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
3
00:00:17,892 --> 00:00:20,602
If you look at
the accident rate on this team,
4
00:00:20,603 --> 00:00:21,521
it's very, very high.
5
00:00:24,941 --> 00:00:28,777
It's not unheard of to get through a full
assignment without a major accident.
6
00:00:28,778 --> 00:00:31,114
But it's rare.
7
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,120
As I've started
to go through my last season,
8
00:00:38,329 --> 00:00:40,582
I am very aware
9
00:00:41,332 --> 00:00:44,252
that the odds are stacking against me.
10
00:00:52,635 --> 00:00:55,345
It's my job to make sure that
it's not just me that doesn't die,
11
00:00:55,346 --> 00:00:57,348
but every one of these members
of the team.
12
00:01:00,268 --> 00:01:05,523
And the emotions that come with that
are enough to keep you awake at night.
13
00:01:06,733 --> 00:01:07,816
Hey, how you doing?
14
00:01:07,817 --> 00:01:10,445
- Doing well, sir.
- Sorry, man, I missed.
15
00:01:11,071 --> 00:01:11,904
Yeah, perfect.
16
00:01:11,905 --> 00:01:14,031
- Have a great day.
- Thank you so much.
17
00:01:14,032 --> 00:01:16,409
- Make some noise.
- Yeah. We're gonna.
18
00:01:20,038 --> 00:01:22,831
You are the most experienced,
extraordinary,
19
00:01:22,832 --> 00:01:25,251
handpicked airmen in the force.
20
00:01:26,336 --> 00:01:30,756
The Thunderbirds represent the best
of humanity, but it's more than that.
21
00:01:30,757 --> 00:01:35,386
The Thunderbirds represent excellence
as something greater than ourselves.
22
00:01:36,721 --> 00:01:39,140
If we get this right,
we will actually inspire.
23
00:01:40,433 --> 00:01:44,521
We'll ignite a unifying sense of purpose
within our country.
24
00:01:46,606 --> 00:01:49,359
But to do this and to do it right,
we can't just be good.
25
00:01:51,402 --> 00:01:53,905
We have to be extraordinary.
26
00:01:56,074 --> 00:01:57,909
This is our mission.
27
00:02:08,128 --> 00:02:10,838
Welcome to Show Center,
the air show podcast.
28
00:02:10,839 --> 00:02:12,756
One of our first episodes of 2023.
29
00:02:12,757 --> 00:02:15,551
I'm air show announcer, Matt Jolley,
joined by my colleagues,
30
00:02:15,552 --> 00:02:18,596
air show announcers
Rick Peterson and Rob Reider.
31
00:02:22,350 --> 00:02:24,768
One of our first episodes of 2023.
32
00:02:24,769 --> 00:02:26,061
Thunderbirds, check.
33
00:02:26,062 --> 00:02:27,856
We're talking about the Thunderbirds.
34
00:02:32,277 --> 00:02:34,611
Talk about the exceptionalism
of these aviators.
35
00:02:34,612 --> 00:02:35,946
Let's run 'em up!
36
00:02:35,947 --> 00:02:38,615
{\an8}These pilots truly are
the best of the best of the best.
37
00:02:38,616 --> 00:02:39,950
And we're set.
38
00:02:39,951 --> 00:02:41,702
...of the rap game
Not bragging
39
00:02:41,703 --> 00:02:43,787
Lips bigger than Jagger
Not saggin'
40
00:02:43,788 --> 00:02:45,790
Spell it backwards
I'mma leave it at that
41
00:02:46,291 --> 00:02:48,251
That ain't got nothing to do with rap
42
00:02:48,751 --> 00:02:55,048
- Get up
- Just like that
43
00:02:55,049 --> 00:02:58,636
Thunderbirds!
44
00:03:00,763 --> 00:03:03,265
The Thunderbirds are
the US Air Force's display team,
45
00:03:03,266 --> 00:03:05,934
{\an8}and they're demonstrating
the exceptionalism
46
00:03:05,935 --> 00:03:08,228
{\an8}that our US Air Force operates at
47
00:03:08,229 --> 00:03:10,440
{\an8}to air shows all across the world
48
00:03:11,024 --> 00:03:14,694
{\an8}in hopes of inspiring
that next generation.
49
00:03:16,279 --> 00:03:18,238
- Get up
- Just like that
50
00:03:18,239 --> 00:03:20,741
{\an8}They are America's top guns,
51
00:03:20,742 --> 00:03:23,661
{\an8}executing the most extraordinary
combat maneuvers
52
00:03:24,162 --> 00:03:25,455
{\an8}in formation.
53
00:03:26,039 --> 00:03:28,749
That's right, Chuck, man
That's what you gotta do
54
00:03:28,750 --> 00:03:32,544
{\an8}The Thunderbirds are truly
the rock stars of this world.
55
00:03:32,545 --> 00:03:33,629
{\an8}They're the headline act.
56
00:03:33,630 --> 00:03:37,591
{\an8}How close does this number two
get to a number three?
57
00:03:37,592 --> 00:03:40,928
{\an8}18 inches from my canopy to his wing.
58
00:03:40,929 --> 00:03:41,971
{\an8}Full send.
59
00:03:43,097 --> 00:03:45,307
We'll do 62 shows this year.
60
00:03:45,308 --> 00:03:46,601
Break now.
61
00:03:47,894 --> 00:03:50,479
- It's meant to look nearly impossible.
- And roll.
62
00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,607
So it's time to leave you a preview
63
00:03:53,650 --> 00:03:56,360
When you zip that zipper,
a lot of responsibility comes with it.
64
00:03:56,361 --> 00:03:58,780
Because suddenly you're somebody,
you're a Thunderbird.
65
00:04:00,406 --> 00:04:02,158
These are spectacular athletes.
66
00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:04,785
These are exceptional humans.
67
00:04:04,786 --> 00:04:06,370
One, two, three, four!
68
00:04:06,371 --> 00:04:07,956
They're America's team.
69
00:04:38,069 --> 00:04:40,279
Welcome to Show Center,
the air show podcast.
70
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:42,906
2023, January here,
we're rolling into the season,
71
00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:44,825
a lot of new folks on the Thunderbirds.
72
00:04:44,826 --> 00:04:46,952
They're turning over
three of these pilots,
73
00:04:46,953 --> 00:04:50,122
and it's like taking
the Etch-A-Sketch and just shaking it.
74
00:04:50,123 --> 00:04:52,708
Oh yeah,
and the big-time training has begun.
75
00:04:52,709 --> 00:04:54,668
They're flying two, three times a day now.
76
00:04:54,669 --> 00:04:57,004
Let's talk about the boss a bit,
Astro Elliot.
77
00:04:57,005 --> 00:04:59,798
One of the great bosses
of the Thunderbirds.
78
00:04:59,799 --> 00:05:01,925
Very effective in the last season.
79
00:05:01,926 --> 00:05:03,593
The variables are all there for this one.
80
00:05:03,594 --> 00:05:05,679
He has three months to figure this out.
81
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:06,597
Hey!
82
00:05:08,308 --> 00:05:10,059
Papi chulo! Okay, okay.
83
00:05:12,353 --> 00:05:13,812
This the last one?
84
00:05:13,813 --> 00:05:17,065
All right, guys, welcome to Spaceport.
85
00:05:17,066 --> 00:05:19,609
If you take a look at the flight line,
86
00:05:19,610 --> 00:05:22,487
this is what
it was always meant to be, guys.
87
00:05:22,488 --> 00:05:26,283
We got zero traffic that's not
the US Air Force Thunderbirds.
88
00:05:26,284 --> 00:05:28,910
This is the ideal flying situation
for training this team
89
00:05:28,911 --> 00:05:30,413
to be the best it's ever been.
90
00:05:32,749 --> 00:05:34,042
Team 2023,
91
00:05:34,625 --> 00:05:35,959
{\an8}six pilots,
92
00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:37,669
{\an8}three veterans.
93
00:05:37,670 --> 00:05:41,757
Number five, Thunder, the lead solo.
94
00:05:41,758 --> 00:05:45,053
You look at his jet on the ground
and the number five is upside down.
95
00:05:45,636 --> 00:05:48,473
Why? Because he spends
most of his time upside down.
96
00:05:51,184 --> 00:05:53,019
Number four, Threat.
97
00:05:53,644 --> 00:05:56,813
She's the instructor,
she flies in the back of the diamond,
98
00:05:56,814 --> 00:05:59,108
keeping her eyes
on the newbies on the wings.
99
00:06:00,401 --> 00:06:03,236
Go diamond.
100
00:06:03,237 --> 00:06:05,781
Thunderbird number one, the boss.
101
00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:07,199
That's Astro.
102
00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,243
He's the guy in charge of everything
that goes on in the air
103
00:06:10,244 --> 00:06:13,955
and also on the ground
for all 135 members of the team.
104
00:06:13,956 --> 00:06:16,125
What he says goes.
105
00:06:19,670 --> 00:06:22,631
{\an8}The miracle about the Thunderbirds
to me is the fact that
106
00:06:22,632 --> 00:06:25,510
we change team members every single year.
107
00:06:28,179 --> 00:06:30,848
Every year we swap out 50% of our pilots.
108
00:06:31,724 --> 00:06:35,353
You build a team from nothing.
109
00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:38,647
We have three new pilots
joining the team this year.
110
00:06:38,648 --> 00:06:40,941
They're gonna serve two years on the team.
111
00:06:40,942 --> 00:06:45,029
They are already the three best
combat pilots the Air Force has to offer.
112
00:06:45,530 --> 00:06:49,742
But air demonstration
is a completely different animal.
113
00:06:50,326 --> 00:06:51,660
Thunderbird 6 is gonna be Miami.
114
00:06:51,661 --> 00:06:53,788
He's the new solo on the team.
115
00:06:54,288 --> 00:06:56,707
As for a new guy, they tell me the rules.
116
00:06:57,458 --> 00:06:58,501
{\an8}Don't hit the ground.
117
00:06:59,710 --> 00:07:01,878
Zeke is joining the team as Thunderbird 2.
118
00:07:01,879 --> 00:07:03,547
He'll be our left wingman.
119
00:07:03,548 --> 00:07:06,591
{\an8}Feeling good,
but I'm also feeling stressed.
120
00:07:06,592 --> 00:07:10,554
I don't know how the training goes.
So it's just a trust in the process
121
00:07:10,555 --> 00:07:13,683
that this is all gonna fall into place,
kind of like a puzzle.
122
00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:15,642
Finally, we have Primo.
123
00:07:15,643 --> 00:07:18,311
Primo has an extensive background
on the F-16.
124
00:07:18,312 --> 00:07:19,646
Lots of combat time.
125
00:07:19,647 --> 00:07:22,357
He'll be joining the team this year
as Thunderbird 3.
126
00:07:22,358 --> 00:07:24,651
We wanna be the best we can be
127
00:07:24,652 --> 00:07:26,653
day one at the air show, which is...
128
00:07:26,654 --> 00:07:28,448
{\an8}Like, it seems like it's tomorrow.
129
00:07:31,534 --> 00:07:33,910
All right, guys.
This is all I wanted to say to you.
130
00:07:33,911 --> 00:07:36,413
The next two months are gonna be no joke.
131
00:07:36,414 --> 00:07:38,499
We're gonna fly on weekends,
we'll do two-a-days.
132
00:07:39,208 --> 00:07:40,835
It's January 9th right now.
133
00:07:41,461 --> 00:07:44,005
COMACC cert is in exactly two months.
134
00:07:45,339 --> 00:07:46,632
It's closer than you think.
135
00:07:47,383 --> 00:07:48,342
It's a big deal.
136
00:07:49,260 --> 00:07:51,095
And this is why we're here.
137
00:07:52,513 --> 00:07:55,098
Okay, we're gonna do it right
with blind trust.
138
00:07:55,099 --> 00:07:56,016
Thunderbirds!
139
00:07:56,017 --> 00:07:57,143
Blind trust!
140
00:08:00,646 --> 00:08:05,442
There is a lot of pressure
riding on the certification process.
141
00:08:05,443 --> 00:08:08,153
{\an8}It hinges on the team's ability to perform
142
00:08:08,154 --> 00:08:10,739
{\an8}at the top,
in front of the American public.
143
00:08:10,740 --> 00:08:13,867
{\an8}And ultimately,
that decision for certification
144
00:08:13,868 --> 00:08:15,869
rests in the hands
of the four-star general
145
00:08:15,870 --> 00:08:18,079
in charge of air combat command.
146
00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,706
And it's a yes or a no.
147
00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:24,377
{\an8}Teams that say they're elite aren't elite
until they actually start performing.
148
00:08:24,378 --> 00:08:27,131
There are high standards
that are not negotiable.
149
00:08:27,632 --> 00:08:32,302
If we had a certification go poorly,
we're not gonna clear the team
150
00:08:32,303 --> 00:08:35,723
to go out the door and represent
the Air Force and the nation.
151
00:08:36,307 --> 00:08:37,683
And no one can fake it.
152
00:08:38,601 --> 00:08:41,645
That final certification
is fixed on the calendar,
153
00:08:41,646 --> 00:08:43,272
and that can be daunting.
154
00:08:44,148 --> 00:08:46,441
- Setting up for a high show.
- High show two.
155
00:08:46,442 --> 00:08:47,692
- Three.
- Four.
156
00:08:47,693 --> 00:08:49,152
- Five.
- Six.
157
00:08:49,153 --> 00:08:52,364
Diamond's gonna enter TFR
with a loop on takeoff from right to left
158
00:08:52,365 --> 00:08:55,117
and a left-hand turnout,
dropping in for a clover loopover.
159
00:08:55,701 --> 00:08:57,869
Combat pilots are used to flying combat.
160
00:08:57,870 --> 00:09:02,291
Well off the ground, in a fight, focused
on targeting, focused on the enemy.
161
00:09:02,959 --> 00:09:05,503
Flying aerobatics is just
not something we train for.
162
00:09:07,505 --> 00:09:11,424
You have to divorce yourself
from your survival instincts
163
00:09:11,425 --> 00:09:13,052
to fly this demonstration.
164
00:09:15,096 --> 00:09:17,807
It's 45 minutes of total chaos.
165
00:09:22,853 --> 00:09:24,145
When you watch the diamond,
166
00:09:24,146 --> 00:09:26,899
it's jets one, two, three and four.
167
00:09:27,441 --> 00:09:30,778
The diamond shows
the formation capabilities of the team.
168
00:09:32,613 --> 00:09:34,364
{\an8}Diamond Pass in Review is
169
00:09:34,365 --> 00:09:37,158
{\an8}the tightest formation
of flying that exists.
170
00:09:37,159 --> 00:09:40,830
{\an8}18 inches apart at a high rate of speed.
It's nerves of steel.
171
00:09:43,374 --> 00:09:45,792
The slightest bobble
with either of my hands
172
00:09:45,793 --> 00:09:47,336
will cause a four-jet collision.
173
00:09:50,172 --> 00:09:52,674
Solo pilots, Thunderbirds 5 and 6,
174
00:09:52,675 --> 00:09:54,260
are their own act in itself.
175
00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,971
Two jets flying at a high rate of speed.
176
00:10:01,267 --> 00:10:05,438
Coming at each other with closing speeds
of nearly 1,000 miles an hour.
177
00:10:08,524 --> 00:10:12,152
You are microseconds of lag
from a life-threatening situation.
178
00:10:12,153 --> 00:10:15,405
Six jets flying 18 inches apart,
nearly at the speed of sound.
179
00:10:15,406 --> 00:10:18,326
They're doing the unbelievable.
180
00:10:23,456 --> 00:10:25,791
Once they've thrilled everyone
beyond belief,
181
00:10:26,292 --> 00:10:29,295
they blow everyone away
with the climax of the show,
182
00:10:30,296 --> 00:10:32,089
the high bomb burst.
183
00:10:33,966 --> 00:10:36,968
There's this quiet
that comes over the crowd,
184
00:10:36,969 --> 00:10:39,055
and every cell phone is up.
185
00:10:39,597 --> 00:10:43,434
The high bomb burst is actually
one of the most dangerous things we do.
186
00:10:44,101 --> 00:10:47,687
You see these jets,
they're rocketing up toward the heavens.
187
00:10:47,688 --> 00:10:50,941
- Then they break over the top.
- Let's make... ready now.
188
00:10:53,694 --> 00:10:56,489
We fly four different directions
across the sky.
189
00:10:59,533 --> 00:11:01,451
We pull down through the vertical.
190
00:11:01,452 --> 00:11:02,703
Two mile section.
191
00:11:05,873 --> 00:11:07,123
Two point four.
192
00:11:07,124 --> 00:11:08,417
Forty-five hundred.
193
00:11:09,001 --> 00:11:10,878
- Let's pull!
- Pull up.
194
00:11:14,298 --> 00:11:18,219
They cross
within milliseconds of one another.
195
00:11:20,721 --> 00:11:22,223
Showing me their talent.
196
00:11:22,932 --> 00:11:25,601
And finally, the rejoin.
197
00:11:26,435 --> 00:11:28,144
In order to make the rejoin,
198
00:11:28,145 --> 00:11:32,315
some of the pilots need to make
a high-velocity upside-down turn,
199
00:11:32,316 --> 00:11:36,070
subjecting themselves
to unbelievable G-forces.
200
00:11:40,783 --> 00:11:43,952
All three of the wingmen
have to anticipate the rejoin line
201
00:11:43,953 --> 00:11:46,372
and the ground
that is approaching rapidly.
202
00:11:47,248 --> 00:11:48,791
Just purely visually.
203
00:11:58,050 --> 00:12:03,680
...310, 320, 330, 340.
204
00:12:03,681 --> 00:12:04,765
If done properly,
205
00:12:06,642 --> 00:12:09,854
all of these jets meet at air show center.
206
00:12:14,942 --> 00:12:16,652
Show center.
207
00:12:21,198 --> 00:12:22,533
It's freaking awesome.
208
00:12:39,508 --> 00:12:43,178
This assignment will either
destroy your family or make you stronger.
209
00:12:43,179 --> 00:12:44,472
There's really no in-between.
210
00:12:45,848 --> 00:12:47,516
Three hundred days deployed.
211
00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:51,478
No weekends together
for two straight years.
212
00:12:51,479 --> 00:12:54,230
{\an8}Guys, get your shoes
and then breakfast, okay?
213
00:12:54,231 --> 00:12:56,274
{\an8}Okay, I'll wear the black shoes.
214
00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:58,234
{\an8}There you go. Good decision.
215
00:12:58,235 --> 00:13:00,528
Are you staying there all night?
216
00:13:00,529 --> 00:13:01,447
Yes.
217
00:13:02,823 --> 00:13:04,158
Only for one more day.
218
00:13:05,576 --> 00:13:09,747
It's heartbreaking when the boys ask,
"Hey, Dad, are you staying tomorrow?"
219
00:13:10,247 --> 00:13:12,833
And I have to say,
"No, I'm gone for 25 days."
220
00:13:14,376 --> 00:13:16,337
Are you guys excited about school?
221
00:13:18,964 --> 00:13:20,007
{\an8}Okay, very good.
222
00:13:22,927 --> 00:13:26,054
{\an8}I didn't want him to be a Thunderbird.
223
00:13:26,055 --> 00:13:28,890
{\an8}I remember when he came home and he said,
224
00:13:28,891 --> 00:13:31,601
"Hey, like, do you want to do this?"
225
00:13:31,602 --> 00:13:35,271
Then I looked at all the crashes
and accidents and casualties
226
00:13:35,272 --> 00:13:38,274
that had happened in Thunderbirds
and I remember calculating it,
227
00:13:38,275 --> 00:13:40,069
and I thought, "That's 10%."
228
00:13:41,028 --> 00:13:43,280
10% of Thunderbirds have died.
229
00:13:44,114 --> 00:13:45,866
"I don't want Justin to do that."
I said no.
230
00:13:47,284 --> 00:13:48,618
What's four fours?
231
00:13:48,619 --> 00:13:51,746
Four fours... equals 16.
232
00:13:51,747 --> 00:13:52,832
Whoa.
233
00:13:53,332 --> 00:13:55,375
- I know that.
- How do you know that?
234
00:13:55,376 --> 00:13:57,168
Because none of...
235
00:13:57,169 --> 00:14:01,256
But watching the show
really was like an art form.
236
00:14:01,257 --> 00:14:03,717
Instead of just combat flying,
237
00:14:04,343 --> 00:14:05,593
it's almost like music.
238
00:14:05,594 --> 00:14:09,764
You make this sound, it has no words,
you don't give it meaning,
239
00:14:09,765 --> 00:14:14,686
but every person in the audience,
they have their own story
240
00:14:14,687 --> 00:14:17,480
or response that they're feeling
as they watch.
241
00:14:17,481 --> 00:14:21,652
It was really amazing, what they did,
and then I said, "Okay, sure."
242
00:14:22,611 --> 00:14:24,028
"Go ahead."
243
00:14:24,029 --> 00:14:25,531
"Throw your name in the hat."
244
00:14:26,031 --> 00:14:27,408
Here we go. Yes!
245
00:14:28,367 --> 00:14:29,826
Oh, get out of here.
246
00:14:29,827 --> 00:14:32,745
- My turn. This is the strongest.
- All right.
247
00:14:32,746 --> 00:14:35,040
When you first join the Air Force,
248
00:14:36,041 --> 00:14:39,669
service before self
is a very easy value to get behind.
249
00:14:39,670 --> 00:14:41,045
Okay, here we go.
250
00:14:41,046 --> 00:14:41,964
You have kids,
251
00:14:42,756 --> 00:14:44,133
now that value changes.
252
00:14:44,758 --> 00:14:48,511
- The yellow ones definitely go farther.
- I know. Well, no...
253
00:14:48,512 --> 00:14:51,264
It's not just me going
and putting myself in danger.
254
00:14:51,265 --> 00:14:56,769
It's now doing that with a young family
that is starting to understand that risk.
255
00:14:56,770 --> 00:14:59,940
- Come give dad a hug. We gotta go.
- What do you mean?
256
00:15:00,524 --> 00:15:01,734
Dad's gotta go fly.
257
00:15:02,276 --> 00:15:03,527
All right, come here.
258
00:15:04,028 --> 00:15:05,320
Ah!
259
00:15:05,321 --> 00:15:06,905
All right, fine...
260
00:15:06,906 --> 00:15:10,409
It's really hard. It's hard on the kids.
I think it's hard on Justin.
261
00:15:13,787 --> 00:15:17,499
The most exciting things about being
a parent, right, he misses that.
262
00:15:19,335 --> 00:15:21,002
Don't smash me. I gotta go fly.
263
00:15:21,003 --> 00:15:24,464
Hey, all right, you guys have fun, okay?
I'll see you.
264
00:15:24,465 --> 00:15:25,382
Babe.
265
00:15:26,467 --> 00:15:27,635
All right.
266
00:15:28,761 --> 00:15:29,928
Love you a lot.
267
00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:31,471
I love you too. Don't die.
268
00:15:31,472 --> 00:15:32,389
All right.
269
00:15:33,349 --> 00:15:34,183
"Don't die."
270
00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:38,395
That's what she says.
That's her number one rule, her only rule.
271
00:15:38,979 --> 00:15:41,357
She really does get that the risk is real.
272
00:15:43,233 --> 00:15:45,401
But Victoria and I believe it's important
273
00:15:45,402 --> 00:15:48,571
for our kids to see us set objectives
274
00:15:48,572 --> 00:15:51,784
and go after things in the name of service
to something bigger than ourselves.
275
00:16:09,259 --> 00:16:10,803
Ah. I don't see 'em.
276
00:16:11,303 --> 00:16:13,471
They're there. Got them covered?
277
00:16:13,472 --> 00:16:14,598
Yeah.
278
00:16:15,099 --> 00:16:15,933
All right.
279
00:16:22,481 --> 00:16:25,817
{\an8}On the delta loop, as they pull
four Gs, four times the force of gravity,
280
00:16:25,818 --> 00:16:29,446
{\an8}they weigh four times their body weight
as they're going up into the air.
281
00:16:35,577 --> 00:16:38,705
Your heart rate and blood pressure
go up, your breathing increases.
282
00:16:38,706 --> 00:16:39,622
Yeah.
283
00:16:39,623 --> 00:16:42,500
And you have to do that,
maneuver after maneuver,
284
00:16:42,501 --> 00:16:44,378
for 45 straight minutes.
285
00:16:48,966 --> 00:16:51,134
When you talk about G forces,
286
00:16:51,135 --> 00:16:52,427
it's a multiple of gravity.
287
00:16:52,428 --> 00:16:55,763
{\an8}So one G is Earth's gravity,
what we're sitting at now.
288
00:16:55,764 --> 00:16:59,018
{\an8}So for a 200-pound person,
that person weighs 200 pounds.
289
00:16:59,601 --> 00:17:02,687
A lot of times in the demonstration,
seven to eight Gs are pulled,
290
00:17:02,688 --> 00:17:05,440
which means during that moment,
like, for those 10 to 15 seconds,
291
00:17:05,441 --> 00:17:08,027
that person can weigh
almost a ton, or 2,000 pounds.
292
00:17:09,570 --> 00:17:10,904
As much as a small elephant.
293
00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:17,452
{\an8}About four Gs is where
your resting tolerance usually is.
294
00:17:17,453 --> 00:17:18,703
{\an8}Once you get above that,
295
00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:20,913
{\an8}your heart is no longer able
to pump blood to your head.
296
00:17:20,914 --> 00:17:24,917
{\an8}So what ends up happening, five Gs,
six Gs, seven Gs, eight Gs...
297
00:17:24,918 --> 00:17:27,170
{\an8}Now the blood is getting
lower and lower and lower.
298
00:17:27,171 --> 00:17:30,506
{\an8}By the time you get to eight or nine Gs,
all the blood's draining out of your skull
299
00:17:30,507 --> 00:17:32,426
{\an8}and it goes straight down to your feet.
300
00:17:35,387 --> 00:17:37,013
You can't stay conscious in that situation
301
00:17:37,014 --> 00:17:38,806
because the brain is
a very high-level organ.
302
00:17:38,807 --> 00:17:40,850
It requires a ton of oxygen and blood.
303
00:17:40,851 --> 00:17:43,269
So in that situation,
you start to experience some changes.
304
00:17:43,270 --> 00:17:45,481
First thing you see is
all the colors will go gray.
305
00:17:47,024 --> 00:17:48,775
Crank up the Gs, seven, eight, nine...
306
00:17:48,776 --> 00:17:51,402
First, the vision
outside the peripheral vision goes away.
307
00:17:51,403 --> 00:17:53,446
And then over time, it keeps moving in.
308
00:17:53,447 --> 00:17:57,076
Black, black, black, black, black, black,
until you're looking through a soda straw.
309
00:18:00,204 --> 00:18:02,122
If you don't do anything to fight back...
310
00:18:05,167 --> 00:18:06,502
everything goes black.
311
00:18:09,088 --> 00:18:12,173
And when you lose it,
your body goes slack.
312
00:18:12,174 --> 00:18:14,218
Your hands come off the controls.
313
00:18:15,344 --> 00:18:18,680
And when you're that close to the ground
going that fast...
314
00:18:19,765 --> 00:18:21,642
Warning! Warning!
315
00:18:22,893 --> 00:18:25,229
...if you come to, it's often too late.
316
00:18:41,703 --> 00:18:44,747
Regardless of how that went,
when we look at the tapes,
317
00:18:44,748 --> 00:18:46,792
remember this, we did it.
318
00:18:49,044 --> 00:18:50,504
Now we're gonna make it good.
319
00:18:51,505 --> 00:18:53,548
{\an8}Okay, so, we'll get into it
with a standard debrief.
320
00:18:53,549 --> 00:18:56,634
{\an8}So, we have a lot of work to do,
in all seriousness.
321
00:18:56,635 --> 00:18:59,303
{\an8}Lots to take away from this one.
That's why we do this.
322
00:18:59,304 --> 00:19:02,056
And we're gonna pick apart
everything that went wrong.
323
00:19:02,057 --> 00:19:04,643
And it's gonna feel like
you're getting crushed.
324
00:19:05,352 --> 00:19:09,105
That final certification on March 10th,
it is not going to move.
325
00:19:09,106 --> 00:19:15,069
And it can put pressure on us as a team
to sometimes push limits and boundaries
326
00:19:15,070 --> 00:19:17,155
that we don't want to push.
327
00:19:17,156 --> 00:19:21,742
I think it's very important for me and
for our Diamond Instructor Pilot, Threat,
328
00:19:21,743 --> 00:19:26,122
to be in lockstep on how fast
to push those risk boundaries.
329
00:19:26,123 --> 00:19:29,584
With wind shear and turbulence,
if you do get sucked in,
330
00:19:29,585 --> 00:19:34,547
try and stay cool, calm and collected
and only gingerly apply that rudder,
331
00:19:34,548 --> 00:19:37,884
so that they're not seeing
a whole face full of jet coming their way.
332
00:19:37,885 --> 00:19:40,303
Growing up,
I always wanted to be a fighter pilot.
333
00:19:40,304 --> 00:19:42,471
It was like a longtime dream of mine.
334
00:19:42,472 --> 00:19:46,309
In 2nd grade, I came home like, "I wanna
be a fighter pilot in the Air Force."
335
00:19:46,310 --> 00:19:49,479
{\an8}I don't know what that meant, I didn't
know what that meant in high school.
336
00:19:50,063 --> 00:19:52,023
And I don't think I really,
totally understood that
337
00:19:52,024 --> 00:19:53,983
until I got
to my first operation squadron.
338
00:19:53,984 --> 00:19:57,820
Every once in a while, I'll look down
and be like, holy shit. Sorry, holy crap.
339
00:19:57,821 --> 00:20:00,072
We have six airplanes so close.
340
00:20:00,073 --> 00:20:02,743
This is so cool that I get paid
for my job to do this.
341
00:20:07,414 --> 00:20:10,499
All right, what you're looking at is
three missile tips-- ish--
342
00:20:10,500 --> 00:20:11,709
above the canopy bow.
343
00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:14,962
And then that third static wick in
pointing at the crux of the tail.
344
00:20:14,963 --> 00:20:18,049
So it's deeper than you'd think it is.
And it's a little nebulous.
345
00:20:18,050 --> 00:20:19,675
Um, so a lot more movement...
346
00:20:19,676 --> 00:20:24,639
I'm also the training officer. So I'm in
charge of the training for the 2023 team.
347
00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,849
I'm kind of like
a lead-by-example kind of person.
348
00:20:26,850 --> 00:20:29,310
And if I am not good enough,
it's my fault.
349
00:20:29,311 --> 00:20:30,770
So I have to do the work.
350
00:20:30,771 --> 00:20:35,066
I didn't have any aviation background
before starting pilot training.
351
00:20:35,067 --> 00:20:39,195
So the natural skill wasn't there,
but I was determined.
352
00:20:39,196 --> 00:20:41,864
And so I'd study six to seven
days a week relentlessly,
353
00:20:41,865 --> 00:20:43,824
the same stuff
over and over and over again.
354
00:20:43,825 --> 00:20:46,994
Because if it's a bad flight,
it's only on me.
355
00:20:46,995 --> 00:20:50,206
So the contact point, then,
if you miss inside,
356
00:20:50,207 --> 00:20:52,917
and tight is your missile rail,
the boss is dead.
357
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:53,834
Okay.
358
00:20:53,835 --> 00:20:58,714
Threat's just an incredible human being.
You want to learn from her.
359
00:20:58,715 --> 00:21:03,762
And it's nice to know you have somebody
who wants you to get better.
360
00:21:04,346 --> 00:21:07,890
{\an8}Her goal is for 2023
to be even better than 2022.
361
00:21:07,891 --> 00:21:10,644
But it seems like that's unachievable.
362
00:21:12,354 --> 00:21:15,482
So I've been F-16s my whole career
in the Air Force.
363
00:21:16,733 --> 00:21:20,820
I was in Japan for four years.
I was traveling around, uh, the Pacific,
364
00:21:20,821 --> 00:21:23,740
putting on air shows
as a single-ship demo pilot.
365
00:21:24,950 --> 00:21:27,910
My vice wing commander
used to actually be Thunderbird 1.
366
00:21:27,911 --> 00:21:30,288
So he brought me into his office one day,
like, "Hey, Primo,
367
00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:33,040
ever thought of being a Thunderbird?"
I was like, "No,
368
00:21:33,041 --> 00:21:36,502
I don't wanna be a Thunderbird."
You know, the Thunderchickens.
369
00:21:36,503 --> 00:21:39,338
There's the Prima Donnas
that wear tight flight suits.
370
00:21:39,339 --> 00:21:41,132
But the more I got to talk to him,
371
00:21:41,133 --> 00:21:43,301
the more I got to learn
about the actual mission.
372
00:21:43,302 --> 00:21:46,221
And it's the hardest flying
I've ever done.
373
00:21:49,141 --> 00:21:50,850
That was my first spark of, like,
374
00:21:50,851 --> 00:21:55,771
I want to be a part of some sort of
team dynamic that is professional
375
00:21:55,772 --> 00:21:57,816
and is a beacon of excellence.
376
00:22:02,404 --> 00:22:03,946
Right now,
377
00:22:03,947 --> 00:22:08,534
it feels like I take one step forward...
378
00:22:08,535 --> 00:22:10,036
maybe two steps back.
379
00:22:10,037 --> 00:22:14,081
So hopefully, that's still moving forward.
I don't think mathematically it is.
380
00:22:14,082 --> 00:22:15,625
I think it's moving backwards.
381
00:22:25,344 --> 00:22:27,971
Blind trust
is the core motto of this team.
382
00:22:30,140 --> 00:22:33,893
Blind trust is the ability to trust
that the people you're flying with
383
00:22:33,894 --> 00:22:37,605
are gonna do their job, they'll do it
to the inch and so extraordinarily well
384
00:22:37,606 --> 00:22:40,483
that you just have to worry
about flying your job to the inch.
385
00:22:40,484 --> 00:22:42,485
Boss winds 3-2-0 at eight.
386
00:22:42,486 --> 00:22:47,032
You are cleared for takeoff runway 3-4.
It's showtime!
387
00:22:52,537 --> 00:22:57,416
If you're the right wingman, for example,
your body's turned 90 degrees this way
388
00:22:57,417 --> 00:23:01,046
because your plane of reference is
Thunderbird 1 on your right-hand side.
389
00:23:04,049 --> 00:23:06,884
And so you're frozen
in this position for 40 minutes.
390
00:23:06,885 --> 00:23:09,929
Lift that right bank,
get a little more fall.
391
00:23:09,930 --> 00:23:13,641
The wingmen don't know
where the ground and the sky are.
392
00:23:13,642 --> 00:23:16,185
They only know where the boss is.
393
00:23:16,186 --> 00:23:19,731
They trust him without reservation.
394
00:23:27,364 --> 00:23:31,367
If number three is out of position
and four is flying blindly,
395
00:23:31,368 --> 00:23:32,785
then four's gonna hit three.
396
00:23:32,786 --> 00:23:34,704
Diamond ready now.
397
00:23:36,498 --> 00:23:39,668
But we ask her to blindly trust
that three is gonna be in position.
398
00:23:43,296 --> 00:23:45,090
If you don't have that blind trust,
399
00:23:45,799 --> 00:23:48,176
the show will not work.
400
00:23:55,934 --> 00:23:59,437
We build that blind trust
through all the repetitions we do.
401
00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:01,648
It takes training season to earn it.
402
00:24:07,028 --> 00:24:10,781
The Diamond Pass and Review,
it is the barometer for the team.
403
00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:14,910
If you see the Diamond Pass and Review
fly by and it's asymmetric and spread out,
404
00:24:14,911 --> 00:24:16,496
that team doesn't trust each other.
405
00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:18,414
This Diamond Pass and Review
406
00:24:18,415 --> 00:24:20,875
looks like the easiest maneuver
in the show to the crowd.
407
00:24:20,876 --> 00:24:23,919
It's just the diamond flying by
in front of you from right to left.
408
00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,172
But to make this maneuver work,
409
00:24:26,173 --> 00:24:29,259
I actually have to aim to hit the ground
in front of the crowd.
410
00:24:30,302 --> 00:24:32,928
And I'll hold that velocity vector
without flinching
411
00:24:32,929 --> 00:24:35,514
with an aim point
that is going to hit the ground,
412
00:24:35,515 --> 00:24:39,101
and the only reason it doesn't is
because number two slides into position,
413
00:24:39,102 --> 00:24:43,147
creates enough lift under my left wing
that it actually rolls my jet slightly
414
00:24:43,148 --> 00:24:47,235
and corrects that vector up in front
of the crowd to tag exactly 100 feet.
415
00:24:50,363 --> 00:24:53,282
We cannot fly it
without complete trust in one another,
416
00:24:53,283 --> 00:24:55,076
because once I call pull set,
417
00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:58,371
either Zeke slides into position
or we hit the ground.
418
00:25:00,457 --> 00:25:02,292
And unfortunately, we've been there.
419
00:25:05,754 --> 00:25:08,297
In 1982,
a very important incident to the team,
420
00:25:08,298 --> 00:25:10,884
it's kind of in all of our hearts,
it's called the Diamond Crash.
421
00:25:14,679 --> 00:25:17,806
My parents live here in Hampton,
so I'm excited to be back in the area.
422
00:25:17,807 --> 00:25:19,518
They're looking forward
to seeing the show.
423
00:25:20,727 --> 00:25:23,562
{\an8}Four Thunderbird jet fighters
slammed into the desert floor
424
00:25:23,563 --> 00:25:26,273
{\an8}at speeds close to 400 miles per hour.
425
00:25:26,274 --> 00:25:30,237
{\an8}An amateur photographer took this picture
seconds after the crash.
426
00:25:30,737 --> 00:25:34,115
{\an8}The Thunderbirds were practicing
this spectacular formation.
427
00:25:34,616 --> 00:25:38,911
{\an8}The planes did not collide.
They simply flew straight into the ground.
428
00:25:38,912 --> 00:25:42,624
Four men, including the Thunderbird
team commander, were killed.
429
00:25:43,583 --> 00:25:46,168
The commander leader crashed his aircraft,
430
00:25:46,169 --> 00:25:50,549
and the rest of the team members
stuck with him and crashed as well.
431
00:25:51,883 --> 00:25:56,303
We lost the commander of the Thunderbirds,
number 2, 3, and 4,
432
00:25:56,304 --> 00:25:58,557
that day, January 18th, '82.
433
00:26:02,686 --> 00:26:07,022
The pilots on this team put absolute trust
in me as the formation leader.
434
00:26:07,023 --> 00:26:10,402
A blind trust.
And that's the only way any of this works.
435
00:26:10,986 --> 00:26:14,406
But I have to earn that trust,
because if I make a mistake,
436
00:26:15,073 --> 00:26:16,324
we all pay the price.
437
00:26:18,118 --> 00:26:19,785
So we're not gonna rush it.
438
00:26:19,786 --> 00:26:22,663
I am... Right now I'm flying
the diamond purr differently,
439
00:26:22,664 --> 00:26:25,624
because I'm counting on your lift,
and it's not there right now.
440
00:26:25,625 --> 00:26:29,588
Once I get you in a bit closer,
I will start pull setting,
441
00:26:30,297 --> 00:26:34,174
basically to crash. I know
it sounds, like, morbid, but it's not.
442
00:26:34,175 --> 00:26:36,635
- And then you will... You will fix that.
- Mm-hmm.
443
00:26:36,636 --> 00:26:40,223
So when you get in, it'll go rrrr!
And we'll... And we'll climb.
444
00:26:43,476 --> 00:26:44,394
So no pressure.
445
00:26:47,772 --> 00:26:50,149
Uh, I was born in Illinois.
446
00:26:50,150 --> 00:26:53,694
{\an8}Uh, at a young age,
we moved down to Gainesville, Florida.
447
00:26:53,695 --> 00:26:56,697
My parents got divorced
when I was at a young age.
448
00:26:56,698 --> 00:27:01,161
My dad was addicted to drugs
and basically chose that life
449
00:27:01,661 --> 00:27:03,788
and that lifestyle instead of his family.
450
00:27:04,623 --> 00:27:07,375
I remember I was a freshman in high school
451
00:27:08,209 --> 00:27:11,920
and we checked my dad into rehab
on Christmas.
452
00:27:11,921 --> 00:27:14,883
And it was like,
"Man, this is... This is bad."
453
00:27:15,634 --> 00:27:19,179
And that, I think,
was the time that I was like, "Man, I..."
454
00:27:19,971 --> 00:27:21,973
"I do not want this for myself."
455
00:27:23,224 --> 00:27:27,603
So I chose a different path and I pursued
aviation, all thanks to my grandfather.
456
00:27:27,604 --> 00:27:29,564
He kind of instilled that in me.
457
00:27:34,569 --> 00:27:36,862
And the month prior to
my commission into the Air Force,
458
00:27:36,863 --> 00:27:39,323
he was hospitalized.
We didn't know if he was gonna make it.
459
00:27:39,324 --> 00:27:41,742
He was like, "I''m gonna be
at the University of Alabama,
460
00:27:41,743 --> 00:27:43,243
and I'm gonna be his first salute."
461
00:27:43,244 --> 00:27:46,705
And he was pretty sick. He made the trip
out to Columbus, Mississippi,
462
00:27:46,706 --> 00:27:48,707
and got to put wings on my chest.
463
00:27:48,708 --> 00:27:51,752
I remember him telling me,
he's like, "You're gonna do great."
464
00:27:51,753 --> 00:27:55,799
"Every time you fly, look out your right
wing. I'll be riding on your right wing."
465
00:27:57,008 --> 00:27:57,842
Um...
466
00:27:59,386 --> 00:28:01,388
I need a minute.
467
00:28:03,973 --> 00:28:06,893
He passed away. I remember
I couldn't make it back to the funeral.
468
00:28:07,936 --> 00:28:11,313
I'm like, "All right, I'll take a picture
on the right wing before I fly."
469
00:28:11,314 --> 00:28:14,400
So I climbed up, took a picture
on the right wing and was like,
470
00:28:14,401 --> 00:28:15,443
"I got a new wingman."
471
00:28:23,702 --> 00:28:26,745
Every time I climb up the ladder,
I look out my right wing and say,
472
00:28:26,746 --> 00:28:29,415
"Hey, Grandpa, like, hang on.
It's gonna be a hell of a ride,"
473
00:28:29,416 --> 00:28:30,750
every single day.
474
00:28:43,054 --> 00:28:45,056
All right, fix that spacing.
475
00:28:45,807 --> 00:28:48,393
Winds aren't bad. No pitch.
476
00:28:51,438 --> 00:28:54,190
{\an8}As the ground-based evaluator
for the team,
477
00:28:54,691 --> 00:28:58,069
{\an8}my role is to tell the team
how they're gonna look to the crowd.
478
00:28:59,154 --> 00:29:00,029
Decent roll.
479
00:29:01,322 --> 00:29:02,364
TT bobble.
480
00:29:02,365 --> 00:29:04,784
Nine right. Nice formation.
481
00:29:05,285 --> 00:29:08,538
Probably a slow first half.
482
00:29:09,831 --> 00:29:15,252
I'm looking for symmetry.
Are the solos crossing offset from center?
483
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:16,170
Six high.
484
00:29:16,171 --> 00:29:18,505
I want them to be pristine.
485
00:29:18,506 --> 00:29:19,841
Ready now. Break ready now.
486
00:29:22,886 --> 00:29:25,138
Pretty decent. Pretty decent.
487
00:29:28,057 --> 00:29:30,893
As all of this continues,
we're gonna be watching it unfold here
488
00:29:30,894 --> 00:29:32,561
as they approach certification coming up.
489
00:29:32,562 --> 00:29:35,189
That's a big deal. It's not a given.
490
00:29:35,190 --> 00:29:37,691
You know, that looms really large.
491
00:29:37,692 --> 00:29:40,569
And I know that
in Astro's mind it's there,
492
00:29:40,570 --> 00:29:43,238
and in each of those pilots,
that's there too.
493
00:29:43,239 --> 00:29:45,741
"Please don't let it be me
that screws this up."
494
00:29:45,742 --> 00:29:47,117
Especially the newbies.
495
00:29:47,118 --> 00:29:50,412
I mean, Primo,
criminal justice is what he studied.
496
00:29:50,413 --> 00:29:54,416
I was trying to figure out
how these guys get into fighter jets.
497
00:29:54,417 --> 00:29:57,378
He's studying criminal justice
and had to fly a jet.
498
00:30:03,635 --> 00:30:07,054
The high bomb burst is one of the most
difficult maneuvers of any air show,
499
00:30:07,055 --> 00:30:09,265
and that's the one that we end it on.
500
00:30:09,849 --> 00:30:11,309
All right, here we go.
501
00:30:13,269 --> 00:30:19,650
7,000 in nose,
coming up on 30, right on into four.
502
00:30:19,651 --> 00:30:22,904
Standby to break. Let's break, ready now.
503
00:30:27,408 --> 00:30:28,827
Hold the line.
504
00:30:30,662 --> 00:30:31,621
Two out, action.
505
00:30:38,795 --> 00:30:40,003
Altitude, altitude.
506
00:30:40,004 --> 00:30:42,005
Because we fly so close to the ground,
507
00:30:42,006 --> 00:30:43,423
we turned off the safety features
508
00:30:43,424 --> 00:30:45,300
that would protect us
from hitting the ground.
509
00:30:45,301 --> 00:30:47,261
- Warning. Warning.
- Oh!
510
00:30:47,262 --> 00:30:50,098
Pull up. Passing, passing.
Warning, warning.
511
00:31:00,608 --> 00:31:01,442
{\an8}One mile.
512
00:31:03,444 --> 00:31:06,281
Fix that spacing. Smoke was a mess.
513
00:31:06,990 --> 00:31:08,741
Join it up, diamond.
514
00:31:13,621 --> 00:31:16,957
In this maneuver, Primo is
not only gonna have to hold positive G,
515
00:31:16,958 --> 00:31:19,793
{\an8}but he's also gonna have to kick in
the rudder, which he gets lateral G,
516
00:31:19,794 --> 00:31:22,380
{\an8}so he's getting two different forces
on his body at the same time.
517
00:31:27,635 --> 00:31:28,845
Come on, stay in there.
518
00:31:33,725 --> 00:31:36,685
Why is it...
That rejoin line is too aggressive.
519
00:31:36,686 --> 00:31:39,564
310, 320, 330.
520
00:31:40,064 --> 00:31:42,691
Get on that line. Come on, Primo.
521
00:31:42,692 --> 00:31:43,943
Get on the line. Ah!
522
00:31:48,990 --> 00:31:50,324
Hmm. Overshot the line.
523
00:31:50,325 --> 00:31:51,242
Yeah.
524
00:31:52,035 --> 00:31:54,202
- I think we should try another.
- Maybe.
525
00:31:54,203 --> 00:31:55,997
So Primo actually stays in this time.
526
00:32:13,097 --> 00:32:15,600
Okay, so this rejoin
is where it gets way late.
527
00:32:19,354 --> 00:32:20,313
Holy shit.
528
00:32:21,356 --> 00:32:23,983
Yeah, that is not a great picture.
529
00:32:24,984 --> 00:32:28,278
Primo is struggling with the rejoin phase
of the high bomb burst,
530
00:32:28,279 --> 00:32:33,200
and that's that last phase
where he's conducting a 135-degree slice
531
00:32:33,201 --> 00:32:36,453
upside-down while trying to find me
and rejoin to my wing,
532
00:32:36,454 --> 00:32:37,829
all within a couple of seconds.
533
00:32:37,830 --> 00:32:39,916
Can you back it up to the start of that?
534
00:32:40,500 --> 00:32:42,752
I think you have too much G initially.
535
00:32:43,378 --> 00:32:47,340
Because you want to float it slightly here
and then increase.
536
00:32:48,091 --> 00:32:49,300
You kind of want it to be like...
537
00:32:50,051 --> 00:32:50,885
Shoom.
538
00:32:51,803 --> 00:32:53,929
You know, as a newbie in the demo,
539
00:32:53,930 --> 00:32:57,349
there's immense amount of pressure
to get this thing right.
540
00:32:57,350 --> 00:33:00,979
Training season
is such a finite amount of time.
541
00:33:01,521 --> 00:33:04,232
At the second rejoin, I get really low.
542
00:33:06,067 --> 00:33:08,695
I don't know if I'm, like, too far away
543
00:33:09,946 --> 00:33:10,905
on the outbound,
544
00:33:12,115 --> 00:33:15,284
but then I don't want to pull seven Gs.
545
00:33:18,663 --> 00:33:22,834
The reason the high bomb burst
is particularly, um...
546
00:33:27,964 --> 00:33:30,216
just a challenge for everybody, um,
547
00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:34,177
and is nostalgic for us is not
just because it's our primary maneuver,
548
00:33:34,178 --> 00:33:36,973
but because the high bomb burst
was our last fatal accident.
549
00:33:37,473 --> 00:33:40,308
Um, in 2018, um,
550
00:33:40,309 --> 00:33:44,813
we lost Major Cajun Del Bagno
in the high bomb burst
551
00:33:44,814 --> 00:33:46,441
and in that exact rejoin.
552
00:33:52,864 --> 00:33:54,031
Some breaking news.
553
00:33:54,032 --> 00:33:57,743
An Air Force Thunderbird pilot is dead
following a crash outside Las Vegas.
554
00:33:57,744 --> 00:34:00,996
An F-16 fighter jet has
crashed near Nellis Air Force Base.
555
00:34:00,997 --> 00:34:03,915
An F-16 crashed during
a routine training flight.
556
00:34:03,916 --> 00:34:07,878
It marks the third crash for
the Thunderbirds in less than two years.
557
00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:12,049
Nellis Air Force Base has
identified him as Major Stephen Del Bagno.
558
00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:15,218
The report says
that pilot Major Stephen Del Bagno
559
00:34:15,219 --> 00:34:18,597
didn't input any flight controls
during a short period
560
00:34:18,598 --> 00:34:20,767
as the plane barreled towards the ground.
561
00:34:46,292 --> 00:34:49,545
Everybody wants
their child to say "mom" or "dad" first.
562
00:34:50,129 --> 00:34:54,217
Stephen, he was still a little tyke
and really hadn't said his first words.
563
00:34:54,759 --> 00:34:59,430
And there's an airplane that flew over,
and he's pointing up in the sky.
564
00:35:00,098 --> 00:35:01,640
"Airplane, airplane, airplane."
565
00:35:01,641 --> 00:35:04,101
Really? You're gonna say "airplane."
566
00:35:04,102 --> 00:35:06,937
You can't say mom. You can't say dad.
567
00:35:06,938 --> 00:35:09,606
Airplane is a two syllable word.
Mom is one.
568
00:35:09,607 --> 00:35:11,275
Mom is one.
569
00:35:12,193 --> 00:35:14,237
Dad is one, but he said, "Airplane."
570
00:35:15,696 --> 00:35:18,490
That was where everything
really started. He was, like,
571
00:35:18,491 --> 00:35:21,327
what, two?
Two, three years old at that time.
572
00:35:24,664 --> 00:35:26,331
What up, Pops?
573
00:35:26,332 --> 00:35:28,875
It's just me calling to let you know
it's official-official now.
574
00:35:28,876 --> 00:35:32,712
The entire, uh, Thunderbird team
called today to say that
575
00:35:32,713 --> 00:35:35,090
I'm going to be the next Thunderbird 4.
576
00:35:35,091 --> 00:35:37,676
{\an8}Anyway, love you.
Hope you guys are having a good day.
577
00:35:37,677 --> 00:35:39,804
{\an8}Talk to you more soon. Take care. Bye.
578
00:35:46,394 --> 00:35:48,771
Pretty much was a day like any other day.
579
00:35:49,272 --> 00:35:50,648
I had gone off to work.
580
00:35:51,691 --> 00:35:54,943
My IT manager came to my office and said,
581
00:35:54,944 --> 00:35:58,781
"Joe, Joe, Joe, there was an accident
at Nellis Air Force Base in an F-16."
582
00:35:59,407 --> 00:36:01,950
I go, "Okay, did they say 'Thunderbird'?"
583
00:36:01,951 --> 00:36:03,327
And he said, "No."
584
00:36:04,412 --> 00:36:08,206
I says, "Okay, then I'm feeling
pretty good about the fact that
585
00:36:08,207 --> 00:36:11,084
it's not a Thunderbird, so Stephen's okay,
586
00:36:11,085 --> 00:36:12,545
we're gonna be just fine."
587
00:36:16,007 --> 00:36:19,427
I get a call from Cindy. Um...
588
00:36:20,261 --> 00:36:23,222
"There's-there's two suits at the door.
What do I do?"
589
00:36:28,186 --> 00:36:31,314
Joe wasn't home,
but I had to bring them in the house.
590
00:36:32,064 --> 00:36:33,983
They had a hard enough job to do.
591
00:36:34,650 --> 00:36:39,113
The clergyman was great
because he held me and he let me cry.
592
00:36:40,448 --> 00:36:45,660
The officer did a great job
maintaining his composure.
593
00:36:45,661 --> 00:36:47,747
How they can do it is beyond me.
594
00:36:49,123 --> 00:36:53,126
Never in a million years did I think
Stephen would die in an airplane.
595
00:36:53,127 --> 00:36:56,880
I mean, he was so, so meticulous
596
00:36:56,881 --> 00:37:00,426
and so thorough
on everything with his flying.
597
00:37:00,927 --> 00:37:03,386
I mean,
I would've seen him stepping off a curb,
598
00:37:03,387 --> 00:37:07,350
tripping and hitting his head before I
would've thought he'd die in an airplane.
599
00:37:10,853 --> 00:37:12,438
In the investigation,
600
00:37:13,189 --> 00:37:16,776
it wasn't determined
that Stephen did anything wrong.
601
00:37:17,735 --> 00:37:19,778
It was the high bomb burst rejoin.
602
00:37:19,779 --> 00:37:23,491
The difference in the amount of Gs,
it knocked him out.
603
00:37:24,075 --> 00:37:27,828
And he was too close
to the ground to recover.
604
00:37:28,412 --> 00:37:30,497
And so his trajectory in was,
605
00:37:30,498 --> 00:37:32,959
I think they said that
it was a 90-degree angle.
606
00:37:37,004 --> 00:37:39,840
We-we knew there wasn't much of him left.
607
00:37:46,472 --> 00:37:48,599
It's the worst thing in the world.
608
00:37:52,603 --> 00:37:56,481
You know, you expect
you're gonna say goodbye to your parents,
609
00:37:56,482 --> 00:37:59,277
but you don't ever expect
to say goodbye to your child.
610
00:38:17,086 --> 00:38:19,588
Coming right now
is what's called the pitch.
611
00:38:20,172 --> 00:38:23,467
And that is the signal that the show's
over and they're coming in to land.
612
00:38:29,432 --> 00:38:31,099
Next thing we'll hear
is the landing codes.
613
00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:34,520
Landing codes will come in, uh,
one through six in that order.
614
00:38:35,146 --> 00:38:38,316
Um, and that just gives maintenance
the heads-up on what we need to work.
615
00:38:40,860 --> 00:38:44,863
Thunderbirds are back on deck.
One is code two.
616
00:38:44,864 --> 00:38:46,907
FLCS single fail will not clear.
617
00:38:49,118 --> 00:38:50,202
Good run.
618
00:38:54,623 --> 00:38:57,834
{\an8}Welcome to the flight line, where
everything starts and everything ends
619
00:38:57,835 --> 00:39:00,587
{\an8}for the demonstration
and all jets in the Air Force.
620
00:39:00,588 --> 00:39:02,256
That's where work happens.
621
00:39:03,632 --> 00:39:08,179
We have maintainers, jets, oil, gas,
622
00:39:08,804 --> 00:39:10,931
and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
623
00:39:11,515 --> 00:39:15,061
{\an8}We understand that we don't have
the most alluring job in the world.
624
00:39:15,853 --> 00:39:17,812
You're in the belly of the beast.
625
00:39:17,813 --> 00:39:21,566
It's brash, but when your name
goes on the side of the jet,
626
00:39:21,567 --> 00:39:24,445
and you're the dedicated crew chief,
that means something.
627
00:39:25,029 --> 00:39:26,446
It's not just six demo pilots.
628
00:39:26,447 --> 00:39:29,240
There's 130-some-odd people
in this squadron
629
00:39:29,241 --> 00:39:32,578
working tirelessly and effortlessly
to make the job happen.
630
00:39:35,664 --> 00:39:39,542
I've spent more time with an aircraft
than I have with my family and friends.
631
00:39:39,543 --> 00:39:41,086
You want the aircraft to be the best.
632
00:39:41,087 --> 00:39:44,465
You want it to be the best looking,
to be the best flying, the go-to jet.
633
00:39:45,049 --> 00:39:45,925
That's your baby.
634
00:39:53,599 --> 00:39:55,517
It's game time when it comes out here.
635
00:39:55,518 --> 00:39:59,188
One major mistake
could mean life or death.
636
00:40:01,357 --> 00:40:03,900
Although these jets are maintained
to the highest standards,
637
00:40:03,901 --> 00:40:06,112
sometimes things do go wrong.
638
00:40:21,585 --> 00:40:25,131
The ejection seat in an aircraft
is an incredibly awesome safety feature.
639
00:40:25,714 --> 00:40:30,552
You know, it allows us to get away from
an aircraft that is moving very, very fast
640
00:40:30,553 --> 00:40:32,512
and have a parachute to save our lives.
641
00:40:32,513 --> 00:40:35,224
But it's an incredibly violent way
to leave an airplane.
642
00:40:36,142 --> 00:40:39,769
Pulling a handle that is lighting
a rocket motor underneath you
643
00:40:39,770 --> 00:40:43,273
and can get upwards of 20 to 25 times
the force of gravity
644
00:40:43,274 --> 00:40:44,900
as it launches you out of that airplane...
645
00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:56,161
So with Miami,
he had an ejection a few years ago.
646
00:40:56,162 --> 00:40:58,080
He ended up losing
an entire inch of height.
647
00:40:58,747 --> 00:41:00,582
Deep breath in.
648
00:41:00,583 --> 00:41:03,293
His muscles are
all shorter than they should be.
649
00:41:03,294 --> 00:41:05,253
And over time, that will actually calcify
650
00:41:05,254 --> 00:41:08,214
and cause, like,
significant muscle knotting in his back.
651
00:41:08,215 --> 00:41:10,925
And all those compressive forces
continually make it worse.
652
00:41:10,926 --> 00:41:14,262
Because you guys are doing the Gs,
you're always under compression.
653
00:41:14,263 --> 00:41:16,598
So, just, honestly,
one of the simplest things you can do
654
00:41:16,599 --> 00:41:17,891
is, you're just gonna relax,
655
00:41:17,892 --> 00:41:20,519
just kind of gently
pull that leg down that's shorter.
656
00:41:21,937 --> 00:41:23,272
Any pain there at all?
657
00:41:24,231 --> 00:41:25,107
Uh...
658
00:41:25,691 --> 00:41:28,527
Other than me being not flexible at all.
659
00:41:30,738 --> 00:41:32,823
I know, I need to do more yoga too.
660
00:41:33,407 --> 00:41:37,243
Ejections have a tremendous
physical and mental impact on a pilot.
661
00:41:37,244 --> 00:41:40,498
Getting back into the jet
after one ejection is a miracle.
662
00:41:41,540 --> 00:41:43,542
But if a pilot has to eject twice,
663
00:41:44,043 --> 00:41:46,337
that will likely be
the end of their flying career.
664
00:41:49,423 --> 00:41:51,716
The first time I landed after that,
665
00:41:51,717 --> 00:41:53,843
my hands were, like,
shaking uncontrollably.
666
00:41:53,844 --> 00:41:57,055
It was definitely a hurdle
I had to get over.
667
00:41:57,056 --> 00:42:02,061
But one of the main people that
helped me out was Thunder, number five.
668
00:42:02,561 --> 00:42:05,688
He specifically was always there for me.
669
00:42:05,689 --> 00:42:08,274
I went to his room,
asked him if he needed groceries.
670
00:42:08,275 --> 00:42:11,612
{\an8}Just talked to him because
it had been a very traumatic event.
671
00:42:13,489 --> 00:42:18,327
That was, like, my first introduction to
the type of people that are on this team.
672
00:42:19,036 --> 00:42:21,329
Honestly, though,
the first 180 degrees of turn
673
00:42:21,330 --> 00:42:24,916
looked real nice as far as
altitude control. So I started at 340.
674
00:42:24,917 --> 00:42:29,045
Thunderbird 5
is the other instructor role on the team
675
00:42:29,046 --> 00:42:32,757
because they're in their second year
and they flew six last year.
676
00:42:32,758 --> 00:42:34,134
Ready, hit it!
677
00:42:34,927 --> 00:42:38,846
The way I like to instruct is more visual,
being able to use the GPX lines,
678
00:42:38,847 --> 00:42:40,891
to show where I'm at to make timing.
679
00:42:42,977 --> 00:42:46,771
We're always under a little bit of,
like, the "I'm gonna die" factor,
680
00:42:46,772 --> 00:42:49,942
but that keeps your adrenaline running
and really focused.
681
00:42:55,364 --> 00:42:56,282
Like this!
682
00:43:03,038 --> 00:43:06,040
Rule number one, don't hit the diamond.
Number two, don't hit the ground.
683
00:43:06,041 --> 00:43:07,960
Rule number three, don't hit me.
684
00:43:15,384 --> 00:43:18,554
{\an8}Here's a C-130 Hercules.
We saw these drop jumpers today.
685
00:43:19,096 --> 00:43:19,930
{\an8}It's huge.
686
00:43:21,390 --> 00:43:25,227
{\an8}It's got the wheels in that little part.
I always liked that kind of design there.
687
00:43:30,065 --> 00:43:31,149
Well, this is it.
688
00:43:31,150 --> 00:43:33,568
This is pretty much the best
you possibly can get.
689
00:43:33,569 --> 00:43:35,820
You got airplanes flying over.
690
00:43:35,821 --> 00:43:38,532
Who's that guy?
691
00:43:42,494 --> 00:43:44,037
There's a new level of cool.
692
00:43:44,038 --> 00:43:44,955
Yeah.
693
00:43:47,082 --> 00:43:48,458
- Wow.
- Oh.
694
00:43:48,459 --> 00:43:51,336
- Wow.
- What a camera angle.
695
00:43:51,337 --> 00:43:52,296
Great photography.
696
00:43:53,130 --> 00:43:56,299
This house was full of airplanes.
697
00:43:56,300 --> 00:44:00,261
Out in that garage
was just a whole setup of models.
698
00:44:00,262 --> 00:44:01,512
{\an8}Every spare second,
699
00:44:01,513 --> 00:44:04,599
{\an8}it was, get the homework done as fast as
he could on the way home from school
700
00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:06,934
{\an8}because he was going out there
to build airplanes.
701
00:44:06,935 --> 00:44:10,980
And as a little boy, Kevin also took him
down there all the time to NASA.
702
00:44:10,981 --> 00:44:15,694
So he grew up with that.
It was just, like, in the veins.
703
00:44:16,403 --> 00:44:17,987
"I'm gonna be an astronaut."
704
00:44:17,988 --> 00:44:20,282
As a four-year-old in preschool,
705
00:44:20,908 --> 00:44:26,287
his teacher asked him to draw a picture
there of something in space.
706
00:44:26,288 --> 00:44:28,998
Wow, this is really different.
707
00:44:28,999 --> 00:44:35,005
Four-year-olds, the sky is blue.
He knew that space was black.
708
00:44:36,173 --> 00:44:39,051
And that space shuttle
became a theme for him.
709
00:44:40,344 --> 00:44:42,513
But he just kind of never let it go.
710
00:44:51,647 --> 00:44:52,897
When I first met him,
711
00:44:52,898 --> 00:44:56,110
he told me that he intended
to become an astronaut.
712
00:44:56,652 --> 00:44:59,362
And I was thinking, "Good luck, buddy."
713
00:44:59,363 --> 00:45:01,615
Nice dreaming.
714
00:45:03,701 --> 00:45:07,620
NASA astronauts are mostly
Air Force or Navy fighter pilots,
715
00:45:07,621 --> 00:45:09,038
specifically test pilots.
716
00:45:09,039 --> 00:45:12,542
And so I knew that
if I wanted to go to space,
717
00:45:12,543 --> 00:45:14,502
this is what I had to do with my life.
718
00:45:14,503 --> 00:45:18,423
So I went to weapons school
and then went to test pilot school,
719
00:45:18,424 --> 00:45:22,885
graduated a year later
as one of only three people that I know of
720
00:45:22,886 --> 00:45:26,432
who graduated from both of
the elite flying courses in the Air Force.
721
00:45:29,476 --> 00:45:32,311
I was certain I knew
what I was gonna do with my life.
722
00:45:32,312 --> 00:45:34,815
- Your planes are back in line.
- All right.
723
00:45:35,774 --> 00:45:39,777
As it narrows down from
18,000 initial applicants to 1,000,
724
00:45:39,778 --> 00:45:42,113
got down-selected again to 120.
725
00:45:42,114 --> 00:45:45,825
Approaching my son's first birthday
in February, I got called back
726
00:45:45,826 --> 00:45:50,371
to the second round of interviews,
which was down to 40 to 50 at that point,
727
00:45:50,372 --> 00:45:54,041
and became an astronaut finalist.
And that was surreal.
728
00:45:54,042 --> 00:45:57,503
Like, I really, at that point thought,
wow, I've made it this far.
729
00:45:57,504 --> 00:46:00,299
There's a chance.
Like, I might just make it.
730
00:46:00,883 --> 00:46:05,345
Until I got a call from my friend, Brick,
the commander of the Thunderbirds.
731
00:46:05,929 --> 00:46:09,223
{\an8}When it came to my replacement,
I had a lot of thoughts on that.
732
00:46:09,224 --> 00:46:12,477
{\an8}And the most important factor is
who is Thunderbird 1?
733
00:46:12,478 --> 00:46:14,353
Who is leading the team?
734
00:46:14,354 --> 00:46:16,272
Because they will set the culture.
735
00:46:16,273 --> 00:46:21,277
They will set, kind of, the, uh...
The overall character of the squadron.
736
00:46:21,278 --> 00:46:23,614
It was very important
that we got this right.
737
00:46:25,616 --> 00:46:29,787
He said, "Hey, Astro, I want you to think
about applying to take this team."
738
00:46:30,704 --> 00:46:32,623
And I said, "Absolutely not."
739
00:46:34,666 --> 00:46:39,046
The NASA application had been launched.
I was close to starting interviews.
740
00:46:39,671 --> 00:46:42,800
I knew what my future held,
and it wasn't air demonstration.
741
00:47:05,364 --> 00:47:07,448
{\an8}As a flight surgeon, my main job is, one,
742
00:47:07,449 --> 00:47:10,077
{\an8}be able to fly, understand the pilots,
keep them safe.
743
00:47:11,161 --> 00:47:14,455
But one of my favorite jobs
that I get to do during the air shows,
744
00:47:14,456 --> 00:47:16,333
I run something called The Shine.
745
00:47:18,043 --> 00:47:21,587
Boss and the solos
can use our signals from a light gun
746
00:47:21,588 --> 00:47:24,216
to line up perfectly
on the line every time.
747
00:47:25,050 --> 00:47:28,178
I thought for sure that would totally...
748
00:47:28,762 --> 00:47:32,682
When you're going 600 miles an hour,
sometimes he'll only have a split second
749
00:47:32,683 --> 00:47:37,520
or an instant to look back over his
shoulder and find that one little light
750
00:47:37,521 --> 00:47:41,608
and go, hey, yeah, that's the one
I'm going for. Line up on the line.
751
00:47:49,283 --> 00:47:51,410
Pitchy entry, three.
752
00:47:54,288 --> 00:47:57,291
Nice conditions. Come on, Primo.
You got this, baby.
753
00:47:58,584 --> 00:48:03,964
At this point in the training season,
I'm starting to see some frustrations.
754
00:48:04,798 --> 00:48:08,175
{\an8}You know, they have that one kind of
thorn-in-their-side maneuver
755
00:48:08,176 --> 00:48:10,888
{\an8}that they just can't seem
to get over the hump on.
756
00:48:12,222 --> 00:48:14,599
All right, y'all,
let's make this one happen.
757
00:48:14,600 --> 00:48:17,853
Come on,
let's see some progress on this one.
758
00:48:19,938 --> 00:48:21,398
Let's make ready now.
759
00:48:22,774 --> 00:48:24,902
All right, I like it, I like it.
760
00:48:28,947 --> 00:48:29,780
And pull.
761
00:48:29,781 --> 00:48:31,199
Pull up. Pull up.
762
00:48:32,451 --> 00:48:33,452
That's pretty.
763
00:48:34,202 --> 00:48:35,621
Take the lead, come on.
764
00:48:37,122 --> 00:48:40,207
Yes, outstanding.
765
00:48:40,208 --> 00:48:44,086
330, 340, 350,
766
00:48:44,087 --> 00:48:46,756
360, 370.
767
00:48:46,757 --> 00:48:48,174
He's behind.
768
00:48:48,175 --> 00:48:49,343
Come on, catch up!
769
00:48:52,512 --> 00:48:53,931
His rejoin angle was off.
770
00:49:01,229 --> 00:49:03,523
It's the most
frustrating thing I've ever done.
771
00:49:06,276 --> 00:49:08,527
I just can't get the rejoin down.
772
00:49:08,528 --> 00:49:10,364
Show center.
773
00:49:13,533 --> 00:49:16,912
Don't worry about symmetrics.
Let's just get there timely.
774
00:49:17,412 --> 00:49:19,373
Fight, fight, fight.
775
00:49:20,499 --> 00:49:21,917
Come on, catch up.
776
00:49:25,504 --> 00:49:26,421
Uh...
777
00:49:27,255 --> 00:49:28,464
Wide.
778
00:49:28,465 --> 00:49:30,132
You have too much G.
779
00:49:30,133 --> 00:49:33,011
Instead of rejoining on him,
rejoin on where you think he'll be.
780
00:49:34,012 --> 00:49:37,473
Come on, stay in there.
Don't fall back, come on.
781
00:49:37,474 --> 00:49:39,226
What's going on here?
782
00:49:40,185 --> 00:49:41,936
The rejoin lines are mismatched.
783
00:49:41,937 --> 00:49:43,437
Whoa, whoa, whoa now.
784
00:49:43,438 --> 00:49:48,026
I keep over rolling on the top. And then
the rejoins are still trash. Three.
785
00:49:51,947 --> 00:49:53,864
Little low, little low. Come on.
786
00:49:53,865 --> 00:49:56,243
Show center. Slow.
787
00:49:57,160 --> 00:49:58,911
It's because you're 1,000 feet low,
788
00:49:58,912 --> 00:50:01,122
which really changes
your slice and G.
789
00:50:01,123 --> 00:50:03,124
It's a thing. There's always a thing.
790
00:50:03,125 --> 00:50:06,253
We just don't know which one it'll be
and who's gonna have it.
791
00:50:07,254 --> 00:50:09,381
This one is yours, baby. Go get it.
792
00:50:12,592 --> 00:50:14,011
Fight, fight, fight.
793
00:50:15,095 --> 00:50:16,847
Get strong. Do it.
794
00:50:18,348 --> 00:50:19,641
Left, left.
795
00:50:23,603 --> 00:50:24,438
Come on.
796
00:50:25,856 --> 00:50:26,690
He had it.
797
00:50:38,160 --> 00:50:40,454
So this week has been an eventful one.
798
00:50:41,038 --> 00:50:43,540
We had two safeties happen back-to-back,
799
00:50:44,041 --> 00:50:47,002
where the aircraft and people
are actually in jeopardy.
800
00:50:47,753 --> 00:50:49,462
Two.
801
00:50:49,463 --> 00:50:50,714
- Three.
- Four.
802
00:50:53,050 --> 00:50:55,092
Yeah, I'm feeling all of those bumps.
803
00:50:55,093 --> 00:50:57,511
Don't know if they'll show in the tape,
but I'm just like...
804
00:50:57,512 --> 00:50:58,804
So we're all stacked.
805
00:50:58,805 --> 00:51:01,975
We turn. It's one, two, three and four.
806
00:51:07,105 --> 00:51:09,940
So I'm, like, tucked up
very close underneath Boss.
807
00:51:09,941 --> 00:51:15,237
I felt unsafe being that close to Boss
with my current skill levels.
808
00:51:15,238 --> 00:51:19,075
So I had a really big ease into Primo.
809
00:51:19,076 --> 00:51:21,744
And set timer and down.
810
00:51:21,745 --> 00:51:23,579
Whoa... Oh, shit.
811
00:51:23,580 --> 00:51:27,793
And our wingtips were...
I don't want to know how close.
812
00:51:28,627 --> 00:51:33,340
Primo just had no option
but to eject himself out of the formation.
813
00:51:37,552 --> 00:51:41,431
And we just watched it over
and over and over again in the debrief.
814
00:51:42,015 --> 00:51:44,100
To the best of your ability, Zeke,
815
00:51:44,101 --> 00:51:46,060
try and stabilize your wings with Boss.
816
00:51:46,061 --> 00:51:49,563
But you see, even that little ease
that you had there, um,
817
00:51:49,564 --> 00:51:51,398
again, absorb what you can absorb.
818
00:51:51,399 --> 00:51:54,068
And then if you can't absorb it,
move, and...
819
00:51:54,069 --> 00:51:58,280
It felt personal that I put Primo
in such a dangerous position.
820
00:51:58,281 --> 00:52:02,910
It's something you go home
and think about, man, that was close.
821
00:52:02,911 --> 00:52:06,455
That could have been catastrophic
for all of us,
822
00:52:06,456 --> 00:52:08,916
which is not something
you want to think about
823
00:52:08,917 --> 00:52:10,418
going to work the next day.
824
00:52:12,003 --> 00:52:15,256
All right, everybody who's watching
the video, thank you for taking the time
825
00:52:15,257 --> 00:52:18,342
to-to take a look at
the new show sequence. We decided...
826
00:52:18,343 --> 00:52:21,345
When I showed up
to the team in August of 2018,
827
00:52:21,346 --> 00:52:24,348
{\an8}we'd just had a series
of three Class A mishaps.
828
00:52:24,349 --> 00:52:27,435
{\an8}We had one that had a fatality
associated with it.
829
00:52:29,187 --> 00:52:32,273
I was very interested
in the history of the team.
830
00:52:32,274 --> 00:52:35,484
I had a drawer that had
a bunch of old documents
831
00:52:35,485 --> 00:52:40,072
dating all the way back into the,
you know, early '90s, into the '80s.
832
00:52:40,073 --> 00:52:42,617
And one day
I just started reading through it.
833
00:52:44,703 --> 00:52:48,414
I slowly started to build a picture
of previous versions of the team.
834
00:52:48,415 --> 00:52:52,877
We had kind of drifted off in some areas
that we were unaware of.
835
00:52:52,878 --> 00:52:55,421
{\an8}When accidents or near misses happened,
836
00:52:55,422 --> 00:52:57,756
{\an8}the leadership was spring-loaded
837
00:52:57,757 --> 00:53:00,886
{\an8}to just raise the altitudes
and spread the formations out.
838
00:53:02,220 --> 00:53:04,555
Sometimes it's very difficult
839
00:53:04,556 --> 00:53:07,641
to see culture creeping
in the wrong direction
840
00:53:07,642 --> 00:53:09,226
in an organization.
841
00:53:09,227 --> 00:53:10,937
Sometimes it's not.
842
00:53:11,938 --> 00:53:14,356
And for about the last 20 years,
843
00:53:14,357 --> 00:53:17,484
this is what the Diamond Pass in Review
looks like for the Thunderbirds.
844
00:53:17,485 --> 00:53:20,237
It's asymmetric.
It's out of position. It's wide.
845
00:53:20,238 --> 00:53:22,741
That's never what
this institution was meant to be.
846
00:53:28,496 --> 00:53:31,207
{\an8}A layperson would look at it
and say, "Well, aircraft are safer
847
00:53:31,208 --> 00:53:33,959
{\an8}when further away from each other,"
which makes sense.
848
00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:36,378
{\an8}Aircraft are safer
when they're further from the ground.
849
00:53:36,379 --> 00:53:40,008
But when Brick took a step back,
he came to the theory,
850
00:53:40,675 --> 00:53:44,512
we can actually execute a better show
851
00:53:45,347 --> 00:53:47,348
by actually being closer to each other,
852
00:53:47,349 --> 00:53:49,892
not only better optically,
but better safer.
853
00:53:49,893 --> 00:53:51,978
It's not inherently obvious.
854
00:53:52,520 --> 00:53:56,398
He saw that the further we push,
the harder we push,
855
00:53:56,399 --> 00:53:59,485
and the more we aim for precision,
the safer we fly.
856
00:53:59,486 --> 00:54:02,488
Because at that level,
it's all you can focus on.
857
00:54:02,489 --> 00:54:06,784
And so I really, really focused
on making the demo more difficult to fly
858
00:54:06,785 --> 00:54:08,285
as opposed to easier to fly.
859
00:54:08,286 --> 00:54:10,872
The order, the methodology.
860
00:54:11,373 --> 00:54:15,293
We have to fly close, we have to fly low,
and we have to find a way to do it safely.
861
00:54:15,919 --> 00:54:17,795
I knew it wasn't gonna happen overnight.
862
00:54:17,796 --> 00:54:20,590
And so my concern was that once I left,
863
00:54:21,091 --> 00:54:23,801
there may be an effort
to try to undo some of these things.
864
00:54:23,802 --> 00:54:27,513
We needed somebody who was gonna take
that mantle and continue pressing forward.
865
00:54:27,514 --> 00:54:32,351
Somebody who's got the tactical sense
of, like, a weapons school graduate,
866
00:54:32,352 --> 00:54:36,147
the physics and aerodynamic sense
of a test pilot school graduate.
867
00:54:36,815 --> 00:54:38,274
Well, those people don't exist.
868
00:54:38,275 --> 00:54:39,651
Well, one existed.
869
00:54:41,361 --> 00:54:43,404
As that project grew in my own mind,
870
00:54:43,405 --> 00:54:46,448
I started to realize everything
the Air Force had given me.
871
00:54:46,449 --> 00:54:49,493
Sending me to weapons school
to be a pinnacle instructor,
872
00:54:49,494 --> 00:54:52,413
sending me to test pilot school
to understand the nuances of...
873
00:54:52,414 --> 00:54:54,124
Of precision flying.
874
00:54:54,708 --> 00:54:58,252
To the point that it began to feel selfish
to pursue my childhood dream
875
00:54:58,253 --> 00:55:02,632
when there was this potential
for enormous impact
876
00:55:03,133 --> 00:55:06,511
in reforming a team
that could inspire the entire country.
877
00:55:07,846 --> 00:55:10,098
It just felt like
it was time to give back.
878
00:55:10,807 --> 00:55:13,892
So I left the flight line,
went straight back to my office,
879
00:55:13,893 --> 00:55:17,771
and sat down and wrote the most difficult
email I've ever written,
880
00:55:17,772 --> 00:55:20,441
and said that
I had to withdraw my application
881
00:55:20,442 --> 00:55:23,820
because I had been selected to be
Thunderbird 1 for the US Air Force.
882
00:55:27,115 --> 00:55:28,491
Yeah, it was so close.
883
00:55:29,868 --> 00:55:32,870
It was so close that I was already
picturing how amazing it would be
884
00:55:32,871 --> 00:55:35,749
to-to get to realize this dream.
885
00:55:50,722 --> 00:55:53,098
Let's take a moment
and talk about the Daytona 500.
886
00:55:53,099 --> 00:55:56,268
We have an opportunity
coming up here for a lot of fans
887
00:55:56,269 --> 00:55:58,897
who are not air show fans
to see the team.
888
00:55:59,522 --> 00:56:01,482
Daytona's a big deal for us.
889
00:56:01,483 --> 00:56:04,818
The Thunderbirds have flown
the Daytona 500 flyover
890
00:56:04,819 --> 00:56:08,614
12 consecutive years in a row,
13 times total.
891
00:56:08,615 --> 00:56:10,616
{\an8}It's technically mid-training season,
892
00:56:10,617 --> 00:56:12,451
{\an8}so there's actually been
a lot of controversy
893
00:56:12,452 --> 00:56:14,661
{\an8}on whether or not
we should even be doing it.
894
00:56:14,662 --> 00:56:19,834
Do we interrupt our training to go do
this massive national public event?
895
00:56:20,960 --> 00:56:24,588
There's a week of press.
It's huge for the team.
896
00:56:24,589 --> 00:56:27,341
So it is very positive on the one hand,
897
00:56:27,342 --> 00:56:29,761
but it interrupts
the middle of our training season.
898
00:56:30,595 --> 00:56:32,889
And all of it's before we're certified.
899
00:56:34,057 --> 00:56:36,892
This is a big deal for them
to do the flyover
900
00:56:36,893 --> 00:56:38,894
during the national anthem
of the Daytona 500.
901
00:56:38,895 --> 00:56:41,480
And before certification.
It's not an air show.
902
00:56:41,481 --> 00:56:45,818
And unlike an air show
where you have your local audience,
903
00:56:45,819 --> 00:56:47,569
the whole world
904
00:56:47,570 --> 00:56:49,780
- is watching the Daytona 500.
- Is watching.
905
00:56:49,781 --> 00:56:50,782
No pressure.
906
00:56:51,408 --> 00:56:56,161
And we're expected to hit
the national anthem at the "B" in "brave,"
907
00:56:56,162 --> 00:56:58,914
at exactly that microsecond.
908
00:56:58,915 --> 00:57:02,876
And we're supposed to split
the "C" and the "E" in "world center."
909
00:57:02,877 --> 00:57:05,922
We're expected to hit
within inches and microseconds
910
00:57:06,589 --> 00:57:08,508
for our first ever public appearance.
911
00:57:16,433 --> 00:57:18,851
Here to perform today's national anthem,
912
00:57:18,852 --> 00:57:23,064
please welcome platinum artist
and songwriter Breland.
913
00:57:28,236 --> 00:57:30,112
As soon as that guy's established,
914
00:57:30,113 --> 00:57:33,032
give Boss a warm fuzzy
and reiterate the TOT.
915
00:57:34,075 --> 00:57:38,996
O say can you see
916
00:57:38,997 --> 00:57:44,002
By the dawn's early light
917
00:57:44,752 --> 00:57:46,753
What so proud...
918
00:57:46,754 --> 00:57:48,089
Let's start it at 10.
919
00:57:48,840 --> 00:57:50,174
This is five seconds less 40.
920
00:57:50,175 --> 00:57:51,133
On time, boss.
921
00:57:51,134 --> 00:57:52,718
330 and holding.
922
00:57:52,719 --> 00:57:56,430
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
923
00:57:56,431 --> 00:57:59,517
TOT Bravo, one nine four eight four five.
924
00:58:00,018 --> 00:58:02,186
- Copy that.
- Little power back.
925
00:58:02,187 --> 00:58:03,479
300.
926
00:58:03,480 --> 00:58:08,026
And the rocket's red glare
927
00:58:08,693 --> 00:58:09,693
Five second slip.
928
00:58:09,694 --> 00:58:10,861
It'll turn a bit.
929
00:58:10,862 --> 00:58:13,405
Five nine one five new TOT. One minute.
930
00:58:13,406 --> 00:58:15,574
Push it up, Boss. Five seconds late.
931
00:58:15,575 --> 00:58:18,577
Easing forward just a bit, 340.
932
00:58:18,578 --> 00:58:20,997
O say, does...
933
00:58:21,664 --> 00:58:22,999
Smoke on, ready now.
934
00:58:23,875 --> 00:58:27,503
Banner yet wave
935
00:58:27,504 --> 00:58:28,796
He's off his splits.
936
00:58:30,924 --> 00:58:32,133
Push it up, Boss.
937
00:58:32,759 --> 00:58:33,759
Ten seconds late.
938
00:58:33,760 --> 00:58:37,263
Of the free
939
00:58:38,181 --> 00:58:40,391
We're gonna miss it. It's too late.
940
00:58:41,267 --> 00:58:45,730
Of the brave
941
00:58:55,240 --> 00:58:57,199
Let's hear it for Breland's performance...
942
00:58:57,200 --> 00:58:59,369
- Show center.
- ...of our national anthem.
943
00:58:59,953 --> 00:59:05,333
{\an8}Along with the United States Air Force
Thunderbirds for today's flyover.
944
00:59:09,087 --> 00:59:13,549
I missed the time when he started at 47
because I was trying to freaking add.
945
00:59:13,550 --> 00:59:14,967
- Nobody likes that.
- No.
946
00:59:14,968 --> 00:59:18,262
The organizers
don't like it and the teams don't like it.
947
00:59:18,263 --> 00:59:19,763
You cringe going,
948
00:59:19,764 --> 00:59:22,850
"Oh, dear God, the race'll be
over by the time they get here."
949
00:59:25,061 --> 00:59:28,564
The Thunderbirds
have been training to hit maneuvers
950
00:59:28,565 --> 00:59:29,857
with fractions of seconds.
951
00:59:30,817 --> 00:59:35,154
And today we missed the national anthem
by 10 seconds.
952
00:59:38,116 --> 00:59:39,658
We got some things to work on.
953
00:59:39,659 --> 00:59:43,204
Boss is pissed. The team is pissed.
954
00:59:44,372 --> 00:59:45,331
Yeah.
955
00:59:47,667 --> 00:59:52,964
You feel that burden
of the huge mistake for the flyover.
956
00:59:54,966 --> 00:59:56,508
You fail as a team,
957
00:59:56,509 --> 01:00:00,513
and it is tough to do when
certification is right around the corner.
958
01:00:01,222 --> 01:00:03,975
And, you know,
I still feel like I'm behind.
959
01:00:11,190 --> 01:00:14,234
Stand by the break.
Let's break. Ready now.
960
01:00:14,235 --> 01:00:15,653
Smoke on.
961
01:00:17,238 --> 01:00:18,197
And rejoin.
962
01:00:19,073 --> 01:00:21,075
Roll. Power.
963
01:00:22,577 --> 01:00:23,536
Three's gotcha.
964
01:00:27,165 --> 01:00:30,043
Mill. Roll. Pull.
965
01:00:30,543 --> 01:00:31,628
Boss up there.
966
01:00:33,755 --> 01:00:36,132
Rudder in. Forwards as required.
967
01:00:37,467 --> 01:00:38,509
And we're in.
968
01:00:49,687 --> 01:00:52,189
All right, well, you know
who we have on the show today?
969
01:00:52,190 --> 01:00:53,482
We have the new number 3.
970
01:00:53,483 --> 01:00:57,778
You're learning the ropes
as a member of the diamond.
971
01:00:57,779 --> 01:00:59,821
I mean,
what's going through your head right now?
972
01:00:59,822 --> 01:01:04,410
It's... I'll tell you,
demonstration flying is humbling.
973
01:01:05,536 --> 01:01:08,956
Imagination
974
01:01:09,999 --> 01:01:13,294
Where have you gone?
975
01:01:14,796 --> 01:01:16,755
Or has the train left the station?
976
01:01:16,756 --> 01:01:20,635
Here it's just strictly repetition.
You have to keep making the same mistake
977
01:01:21,844 --> 01:01:23,095
until it clicks.
978
01:01:23,096 --> 01:01:24,180
Traveling down.
979
01:01:27,600 --> 01:01:28,975
Wing tips facing.
980
01:01:28,976 --> 01:01:31,103
We're only as strong as our weakest link.
981
01:01:31,104 --> 01:01:32,521
Everybody's gonna struggle.
982
01:01:32,522 --> 01:01:35,775
But it's how do you handle
the difficult times.
983
01:01:36,984 --> 01:01:38,985
It's really hard to see progress
984
01:01:38,986 --> 01:01:41,364
when you're double turning
six times a week.
985
01:01:42,907 --> 01:01:45,742
You're just grinding,
trying to fly your best.
986
01:01:45,743 --> 01:01:49,747
A little bit early. And then being fast
also doesn't help. So...
987
01:01:53,167 --> 01:01:54,876
You're waiting for the breakthrough.
988
01:01:54,877 --> 01:01:56,670
Went through three or four planes
989
01:01:56,671 --> 01:01:58,297
before I learned to put the wheels down.
990
01:02:02,677 --> 01:02:06,430
Holy shit. He's looking at Boss.
He's, like, he's doing it. He's doing it.
991
01:02:06,431 --> 01:02:07,348
I like it.
992
01:02:08,349 --> 01:02:09,182
Pretty decent.
993
01:02:09,183 --> 01:02:11,309
Certification's coming,
it's a team effort.
994
01:02:11,310 --> 01:02:13,228
So is that adding pressure to this?
995
01:02:13,229 --> 01:02:14,813
It's a lot of pressure.
996
01:02:14,814 --> 01:02:17,525
Welcome back, everybody. Objectives were...
997
01:02:18,776 --> 01:02:22,028
Yeah, I think we did a little bit better
than first go.
998
01:02:22,029 --> 01:02:26,658
It never gets easy enough to be confident
about where you're at.
999
01:02:26,659 --> 01:02:31,955
It's gonna be easy at this point to want
to rest on how hard we've worked so far.
1000
01:02:31,956 --> 01:02:33,457
But that's not what we're gonna do.
1001
01:02:33,458 --> 01:02:36,042
Because that's not
what the Thunderbirds do.
1002
01:02:36,043 --> 01:02:37,503
This brand is what it's all about.
1003
01:02:39,547 --> 01:02:43,258
We are always concerned
that we won't get across the finish line
1004
01:02:43,259 --> 01:02:45,094
by the time
we get to COMACC certification.
1005
01:02:54,437 --> 01:02:55,771
I'm dying right now.
1006
01:02:55,772 --> 01:02:57,690
There's a bit of a game going on here.
1007
01:02:58,775 --> 01:03:02,986
You try to grab the person next
to you's hand right at the salute pop.
1008
01:03:02,987 --> 01:03:05,364
Okay, let's, uh...
Let's play it through one time.
1009
01:03:09,118 --> 01:03:10,285
Missed!
1010
01:03:10,286 --> 01:03:13,372
Oh man. Zeke, though. This is amazing.
1011
01:03:14,957 --> 01:03:17,251
You're our 2023 Thunderbird.
1012
01:03:25,176 --> 01:03:26,677
Hey, Tamayo! Come here.
1013
01:03:29,263 --> 01:03:32,433
Can you hold that far side of the ISA?
Help him stay to stable.
1014
01:03:33,226 --> 01:03:39,524
This week's been pretty rough so far.
We had a, uh, right stab servo fail.
1015
01:03:42,068 --> 01:03:45,195
Tamayo, you wanna give me
some snippers or dykes or something?
1016
01:03:45,196 --> 01:03:49,115
So right now it's wind chill
probably about 10 to 15 degrees.
1017
01:03:49,116 --> 01:03:52,370
Tonight's gonna be a long night.
They could be here one, two a.m.
1018
01:03:54,497 --> 01:03:55,873
It got dark real quick.
1019
01:03:56,749 --> 01:03:58,376
And it got cold real quick.
1020
01:04:01,754 --> 01:04:03,214
You're tired, you're cold,
1021
01:04:04,715 --> 01:04:05,550
you're hungry.
1022
01:04:06,342 --> 01:04:08,261
You just want to go home and go to bed.
1023
01:04:09,011 --> 01:04:12,807
But if we want that jet to fly tomorrow,
it's gonna fly tomorrow.
1024
01:04:31,909 --> 01:04:32,910
280.
1025
01:04:33,411 --> 01:04:34,245
300.
1026
01:04:35,913 --> 01:04:36,998
330.
1027
01:04:38,499 --> 01:04:39,458
340.
1028
01:04:41,002 --> 01:04:41,836
350.
1029
01:04:43,462 --> 01:04:44,297
360.
1030
01:04:44,881 --> 01:04:49,302
So he's about, like, 130 slice back.
1031
01:04:50,094 --> 01:04:51,094
Yeah.
1032
01:04:51,095 --> 01:04:54,765
That's a function
of how far laterally offset you are.
1033
01:04:55,266 --> 01:04:57,393
'Cause now that you've seen Boss do that,
1034
01:04:57,894 --> 01:05:01,354
like, maneuver a few times,
you know where he's going, right?
1035
01:05:01,355 --> 01:05:03,315
- Yeah.
- That's why I always ask Boss, like,
1036
01:05:03,316 --> 01:05:04,858
"Hey, what line are you gonna be on?"
1037
01:05:04,859 --> 01:05:08,153
So I know what line he's taking, so that
1038
01:05:08,154 --> 01:05:11,032
when I'm rejoining here,
I can, like, see where he's going.
1039
01:05:13,075 --> 01:05:15,660
Yeah, we're a few days away
from certification,
1040
01:05:15,661 --> 01:05:17,495
and I feel like, you know,
1041
01:05:17,496 --> 01:05:21,042
I'm still not at the point
where I need to be for the high BB.
1042
01:05:21,542 --> 01:05:25,754
And you don't want to be the guy
that is the reason the team fails.
1043
01:05:25,755 --> 01:05:28,007
I just don't think I have enough altitude.
1044
01:05:28,633 --> 01:05:31,092
Don't think about it too much, you know?
1045
01:05:31,093 --> 01:05:33,971
- I'm not thinking about it.
- You're doing too much.
1046
01:05:34,722 --> 01:05:37,474
As long as you don't hit the ground,
it helps a little.
1047
01:05:37,475 --> 01:05:38,392
Or do.
1048
01:05:39,226 --> 01:05:40,895
It'd be a quick way to fix it.
1049
01:05:53,783 --> 01:05:55,576
It's all numbers.
1050
01:05:57,370 --> 01:05:59,079
We're at the end of winter training.
1051
01:05:59,080 --> 01:06:04,084
So tomorrow we have our certification from
the commander of Air Combat Command
1052
01:06:04,085 --> 01:06:08,255
who will decide whether we are good enough
to represent the United States Air Force.
1053
01:06:08,965 --> 01:06:12,426
All the training that we've put into this
comes together starting tomorrow.
1054
01:06:15,221 --> 01:06:16,973
Okay. Pull set.
1055
01:06:19,016 --> 01:06:21,060
There. Put that there.
1056
01:06:29,986 --> 01:06:31,319
You want to see ducky?
1057
01:06:31,320 --> 01:06:32,445
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
1058
01:06:32,446 --> 01:06:34,781
If I'm being really honest,
1059
01:06:34,782 --> 01:06:37,200
this time has brought us
closer in some ways,
1060
01:06:37,201 --> 01:06:39,328
but further apart in other ways too.
1061
01:06:40,913 --> 01:06:42,455
It is very exhausting.
1062
01:06:42,456 --> 01:06:45,583
But that is why service in the military
1063
01:06:45,584 --> 01:06:48,629
is truly a family service.
1064
01:06:55,594 --> 01:06:57,303
We have engine start in four minutes.
1065
01:06:57,304 --> 01:06:59,055
So eat what you have down there...
1066
01:06:59,056 --> 01:07:01,808
No, I made the one that has the...
1067
01:07:01,809 --> 01:07:03,518
Your burrito is the one that doesn't have...
1068
01:07:03,519 --> 01:07:05,770
Whatever it is,
engine start in four minutes...
1069
01:07:05,771 --> 01:07:07,356
Things fall apart a lot.
1070
01:07:08,107 --> 01:07:11,985
And we put one foot in front of another
and we get to the next point.
1071
01:07:11,986 --> 01:07:14,195
Revan, stop it!
1072
01:07:14,196 --> 01:07:17,158
- No, DeeDee, can you just...
- Boys, come down and eat.
1073
01:07:17,658 --> 01:07:19,451
Okay, go ahead and talk, but...
1074
01:07:19,452 --> 01:07:21,370
Give Dad a hug. Dada has to go.
1075
01:07:22,079 --> 01:07:23,038
Come on.
1076
01:07:23,039 --> 01:07:25,206
I think anyone in this position
would question,
1077
01:07:25,207 --> 01:07:28,376
am I doing damage here
that I can't recover from?
1078
01:07:28,377 --> 01:07:30,920
- That's okay. Dad...
- Your soldiers are gonna fight...
1079
01:07:30,921 --> 01:07:33,006
Dada will fight it off. Come here.
1080
01:07:33,007 --> 01:07:35,091
Dada loves you very much.
1081
01:07:35,092 --> 01:07:39,513
And I hope I'm right, when I say,
"No, we're gonna be just fine."
1082
01:08:10,169 --> 01:08:11,003
Ten.
1083
01:08:15,091 --> 01:08:17,675
Five, four, three point six...
1084
01:08:17,676 --> 01:08:19,094
- Launch us.
- ...two,
1085
01:08:19,095 --> 01:08:20,261
one.
1086
01:08:20,262 --> 01:08:22,931
- Hack, Boss.
- All right, hack. Welcome everybody.
1087
01:08:22,932 --> 01:08:26,059
{\an8}We are stepping at 9:40.
We'll march at 9:50.
1088
01:08:26,060 --> 01:08:28,978
{\an8}We're on Delta 62 today
for COMACC certification.
1089
01:08:28,979 --> 01:08:30,438
We'll take off at 18:10.
1090
01:08:30,439 --> 01:08:33,191
Our objectives today are to put on
an outstanding high show
1091
01:08:33,192 --> 01:08:35,777
for our leadership
to show what this team is capable of.
1092
01:08:35,778 --> 01:08:39,115
We have one opportunity
to now go from being really, really good
1093
01:08:39,990 --> 01:08:42,618
to perfect,
have the best game of your life.
1094
01:08:45,079 --> 01:08:50,543
I've put so much work into this,
and you have one shot at it.
1095
01:08:51,794 --> 01:08:54,213
It's just a different amount of pressure.
1096
01:08:54,755 --> 01:08:56,464
The most important thing to all of us
1097
01:08:56,465 --> 01:08:59,468
is we wanna make this team
the best it can be.
1098
01:09:00,970 --> 01:09:04,765
Everyone just wants each individual
on the team to do their best.
1099
01:09:05,307 --> 01:09:08,561
Start one, ready now.
Canopy tower to ready now.
1100
01:09:13,149 --> 01:09:17,819
{\an8}Well, today's the big day. It is
certification day for the Thunderbirds.
1101
01:09:17,820 --> 01:09:20,572
{\an8}We've come down to that big moment,
you've checked all the boxes,
1102
01:09:20,573 --> 01:09:23,784
{\an8}you're good to go on the road or not.
1103
01:09:26,829 --> 01:09:30,124
All eyes today are gonna be
on our buddy, Primo.
1104
01:09:32,501 --> 01:09:35,420
The past two to three months
of training season,
1105
01:09:35,421 --> 01:09:38,424
living through blood, sweat
and tears as a team,
1106
01:09:39,884 --> 01:09:41,385
comes down to today.
1107
01:09:44,388 --> 01:09:47,098
Standby, smoke, smoke everything now.
1108
01:09:47,099 --> 01:09:50,102
Thunderbirds, release everything now.
Burners now.
1109
01:10:04,742 --> 01:10:05,826
Little power back.
1110
01:10:06,744 --> 01:10:12,916
Diamond is approaching from the right.
For your 2023 Diamond Pass in Review.
1111
01:10:12,917 --> 01:10:16,544
It's a signature Thunderbird
maneuver. The optics are key.
1112
01:10:16,545 --> 01:10:19,297
I'm most concerned
about the safety aspects.
1113
01:10:19,298 --> 01:10:20,841
Smoke on ready now.
1114
01:10:25,679 --> 01:10:26,597
Pull set.
1115
01:10:36,607 --> 01:10:40,777
From your right, Major Katz,
and from your left, Major Tise.
1116
01:10:40,778 --> 01:10:46,241
Inbound for show center at a closing speed
of over 1,000 miles per hour.
1117
01:10:46,242 --> 01:10:47,951
They're working on a razor's edge.
1118
01:10:47,952 --> 01:10:50,578
Does it happen 100 feet left?
Does it happen 100 feet right?
1119
01:10:50,579 --> 01:10:52,747
The 100,000 people watching will notice.
1120
01:10:52,748 --> 01:10:53,874
Ready, set.
1121
01:10:54,959 --> 01:10:57,670
All set, diamond...
1122
01:11:11,892 --> 01:11:14,686
Look to your left
as the diamond approaches
1123
01:11:14,687 --> 01:11:17,731
for the high bomb burst.
1124
01:11:21,902 --> 01:11:23,904
This is the one, team. Go get it!
1125
01:11:26,073 --> 01:11:27,950
Easy forward.
1126
01:11:30,786 --> 01:11:31,745
Little power up.
1127
01:11:33,872 --> 01:11:38,626
They've gotta show up at the exact
same place at the exact same time.
1128
01:11:38,627 --> 01:11:41,505
Standby, about break.
Let's break ready now.
1129
01:11:46,010 --> 01:11:47,011
Two miles action.
1130
01:11:53,100 --> 01:11:55,393
Looking good, looking good. Saddle it.
1131
01:11:55,394 --> 01:11:56,687
One mile.
1132
01:11:58,939 --> 01:12:00,815
There you go. Great stuff.
1133
01:12:00,816 --> 01:12:03,152
All right, Primo, all eyes on you.
1134
01:12:04,069 --> 01:12:05,154
Show me your talent.
1135
01:12:07,239 --> 01:12:09,533
One's on top. Five, two, two, three.
1136
01:12:15,956 --> 01:12:17,875
{\an8}Fight, fight, fight.
1137
01:12:19,585 --> 01:12:21,879
Finish strong, baby.
Get in there. Come on.
1138
01:12:23,047 --> 01:12:25,007
Come on, Primo. Get on that line.
1139
01:12:30,387 --> 01:12:32,388
Line's at 300. 310.
1140
01:12:32,389 --> 01:12:33,474
His line is off.
1141
01:12:34,058 --> 01:12:35,892
330, 340...
1142
01:12:35,893 --> 01:12:36,934
Close the gap.
1143
01:12:36,935 --> 01:12:41,148
350, 360, 370.
1144
01:12:42,608 --> 01:12:44,150
380.
1145
01:12:44,151 --> 01:12:45,944
Get there. Go on.
1146
01:12:59,416 --> 01:13:00,542
Show center.
1147
01:13:13,555 --> 01:13:15,724
- Hold the balance.
- You got this.
1148
01:13:17,309 --> 01:13:19,019
Yes! Awesome.
1149
01:13:38,580 --> 01:13:40,289
Three steps forward, one step back,
1150
01:13:40,290 --> 01:13:41,750
three steps forward, one step back.
1151
01:13:42,501 --> 01:13:45,421
Primo dealt with learning
the high BB rejoin.
1152
01:13:46,755 --> 01:13:48,590
Absolutely, I was proud of him.
1153
01:13:52,970 --> 01:13:53,846
I love Primo.
1154
01:14:09,945 --> 01:14:12,238
A three-floor elevator version
of how it went today,
1155
01:14:12,239 --> 01:14:14,365
and I think folks would say,
1156
01:14:14,366 --> 01:14:16,201
best we've ever done.
1157
01:14:16,785 --> 01:14:18,662
Really, really impressive show.
1158
01:14:19,329 --> 01:14:24,417
{\an8}I think I've seen more Thunderbird tapes
than any human alive.
1159
01:14:24,418 --> 01:14:30,215
And so in 40 years, I've seen, uh,
the team at its best and at its worst.
1160
01:14:31,091 --> 01:14:34,511
You are the best version
of yourselves right now.
1161
01:14:35,304 --> 01:14:36,388
Never been better.
1162
01:14:37,389 --> 01:14:38,223
Sorry.
1163
01:14:41,018 --> 01:14:41,852
All good.
1164
01:14:42,811 --> 01:14:44,688
America needs more of you.
1165
01:14:46,023 --> 01:14:47,733
We're at the top of our game.
1166
01:14:48,275 --> 01:14:53,322
Go out and present yourself as you are,
and you will make more people like you.
1167
01:14:53,906 --> 01:14:58,201
Okay, with that, um, you guys are
certified for 23, and you'll do great.
1168
01:14:58,202 --> 01:14:59,161
You'll do great.
1169
01:14:59,995 --> 01:15:02,788
Team 23's certification
was the best I'd seen
1170
01:15:02,789 --> 01:15:05,458
during my time as the ACC commander.
1171
01:15:05,459 --> 01:15:09,337
A lot of the work that had gone in
not just months, but years prior,
1172
01:15:09,338 --> 01:15:10,547
came to fruition.
1173
01:15:11,215 --> 01:15:14,717
I'm proud that we were able
to connect the past with the present,
1174
01:15:14,718 --> 01:15:16,385
but also to tie it to the future.
1175
01:15:16,386 --> 01:15:18,971
I'm just one of the contributors
that's gonna take us
1176
01:15:18,972 --> 01:15:20,890
to where I want the team to be,
1177
01:15:20,891 --> 01:15:23,434
which is perfection,
which is an elite team,
1178
01:15:23,435 --> 01:15:26,312
which is the golden era
of the Thunderbirds is out there.
1179
01:15:26,313 --> 01:15:28,815
It's in front of us,
we've got to keep driving towards it.
1180
01:15:49,044 --> 01:15:50,753
Somehow he answered our call again.
1181
01:15:50,754 --> 01:15:51,671
Yes.
1182
01:15:51,672 --> 01:15:54,006
- Hi, Primo, how are you?
- Can't believe it.
1183
01:15:54,007 --> 01:15:57,134
We know the team was certified,
which must mean
1184
01:15:57,135 --> 01:15:59,388
you got it done
or they did it without you.
1185
01:16:01,640 --> 01:16:05,184
I'm fantastic,
and no, Rick, I didn't ground abort.
1186
01:16:05,185 --> 01:16:06,769
I flew the certification.
1187
01:16:06,770 --> 01:16:09,397
For the record,
I never doubted you for a minute.
1188
01:16:09,398 --> 01:16:11,232
Rob and Rick did.
1189
01:16:11,233 --> 01:16:13,777
But listen, Team Primo right here.
1190
01:16:16,488 --> 01:16:20,324
From Nellis Air Force Base
in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada,
1191
01:16:20,325 --> 01:16:22,535
America's ambassadors in blue.
1192
01:16:22,536 --> 01:16:24,454
Thunderbirds!
1193
01:16:25,789 --> 01:16:30,751
Are you all ready for the Thunderbirds?
1194
01:16:30,752 --> 01:16:33,005
Every day I look at you
1195
01:16:34,381 --> 01:16:37,967
- Makes me cry to see you blue
- See you blue
1196
01:16:37,968 --> 01:16:40,971
Only thing for me to do
1197
01:16:44,141 --> 01:16:47,476
To make you believe all I want is...
1198
01:16:47,477 --> 01:16:51,105
We see a lot of these teams.
This team in particular...
1199
01:16:51,106 --> 01:16:54,900
The chemistry and the camaraderie
that has come together with this team
1200
01:16:54,901 --> 01:16:56,736
is just really, really special.
1201
01:16:56,737 --> 01:16:59,697
And it's carried right
into the performances.
1202
01:16:59,698 --> 01:17:01,491
That's right. That all translates.
1203
01:17:05,662 --> 01:17:08,706
Fight the good fight, yeah
1204
01:17:08,707 --> 01:17:11,876
Remember I'll be next to you
1205
01:17:11,877 --> 01:17:13,962
When you push on through
1206
01:17:17,591 --> 01:17:21,302
Across America, anywhere from
the Pacific Show in Huntington Beach
1207
01:17:21,303 --> 01:17:24,680
to the East Coast,
and all the crisscrossing that went on...
1208
01:17:24,681 --> 01:17:28,809
What I like about the Thunderbirds show
is the showmanship,
1209
01:17:28,810 --> 01:17:34,231
the inspiration to the youngsters
that they spend the time to connect with
1210
01:17:34,232 --> 01:17:35,733
at the fence line.
1211
01:17:35,734 --> 01:17:38,319
Take my hand and follow me
1212
01:17:38,320 --> 01:17:41,072
Oh, I, I wanna...
1213
01:17:41,073 --> 01:17:42,574
Dudes, that was awesome.
1214
01:17:44,117 --> 01:17:46,203
I'm confident that was
the best show we've ever flown.
1215
01:17:47,788 --> 01:17:50,123
They all love what they do.
1216
01:17:50,707 --> 01:17:54,001
But being on the road
250 plus days a year,
1217
01:17:54,002 --> 01:17:59,007
after the second year, they are ready
to come back to a more normal life.
1218
01:17:59,883 --> 01:18:01,593
Live a little
1219
01:18:02,302 --> 01:18:05,304
Fight the good fight, yeah
1220
01:18:05,305 --> 01:18:07,556
You know, the demonstration that you see
1221
01:18:07,557 --> 01:18:10,851
may look like six pilots
flying loops with smoke on.
1222
01:18:10,852 --> 01:18:16,107
The reality is, what it takes
is moving 130 people across the country
1223
01:18:16,108 --> 01:18:18,025
to two different cities every week.
1224
01:18:18,026 --> 01:18:21,822
I wanna give a huge round of applause
to my team for everything they've done.
1225
01:18:23,615 --> 01:18:25,867
I'll be next to you
1226
01:18:30,372 --> 01:18:32,541
When you push on through
1227
01:18:34,000 --> 01:18:36,253
You got to push on through
1228
01:18:37,879 --> 01:18:40,215
You got to push on through
1229
01:18:42,718 --> 01:18:46,470
Welcome, everybody. Team 23, last show.
1230
01:18:46,471 --> 01:18:50,726
This is crazy.
I put a picture up there for you
1231
01:18:51,393 --> 01:18:53,144
that I knew I'd use someday.
1232
01:18:53,145 --> 01:18:58,150
I took this picture
on Monday of training season,
1233
01:18:58,817 --> 01:19:01,902
the very first flight that we all
were in the same room together.
1234
01:19:01,903 --> 01:19:05,449
It's kind of amazing
to look back at that day
1235
01:19:06,032 --> 01:19:07,992
and then fast-forward a year
1236
01:19:07,993 --> 01:19:11,370
to how unbelievably good we are
at this demonstration right now.
1237
01:19:11,371 --> 01:19:15,416
So I want you all to just take a step back
and process what's about to happen.
1238
01:19:15,417 --> 01:19:18,670
Uh, you are the best
1239
01:19:19,212 --> 01:19:20,589
in the world
1240
01:19:21,339 --> 01:19:22,257
at what you do.
1241
01:19:23,675 --> 01:19:24,760
It's just amazing.
1242
01:19:27,512 --> 01:19:31,016
So, keep that in mind
and have fun with this one, all right?
1243
01:19:31,975 --> 01:19:34,311
Okay, let's get after it. You guys ready?
1244
01:19:34,853 --> 01:19:36,020
There it is.
1245
01:19:36,021 --> 01:19:37,229
Ready, Boss.
1246
01:19:37,230 --> 01:19:40,484
My God, just, moment destroyed. All right.
1247
01:19:42,235 --> 01:19:43,527
Well, this is it.
1248
01:19:43,528 --> 01:19:47,324
As I say goodbye to America's team
for the last time,
1249
01:19:47,824 --> 01:19:51,203
for me,
this is very much a time of reflection
1250
01:19:51,787 --> 01:19:53,454
and of gratitude.
1251
01:19:53,455 --> 01:20:00,169
In the United States, we are able to
create very real value out of inspiration,
1252
01:20:00,170 --> 01:20:02,087
out of ideas.
1253
01:20:02,088 --> 01:20:07,218
Our value, the Thunderbirds' value,
lies in the inspiration of all Americans.
1254
01:20:07,219 --> 01:20:10,471
If you're afraid
to put yourself out there,
1255
01:20:10,472 --> 01:20:14,184
to take risks in life,
you're gonna end up doing nothing.
1256
01:20:14,851 --> 01:20:16,812
And he loved what he was doing.
1257
01:20:17,562 --> 01:20:21,233
He impacted a lot of people's lives.
1258
01:20:22,442 --> 01:20:23,527
I still play golf,
1259
01:20:24,110 --> 01:20:27,656
and, uh,
I've traded my clubs for his clubs.
1260
01:20:28,782 --> 01:20:31,076
So every day I get to play with him,
1261
01:20:31,576 --> 01:20:35,205
and that's one of the ways
that I've kind of coped with it.
1262
01:20:35,789 --> 01:20:38,582
You know, as an individual,
we don't really do much.
1263
01:20:38,583 --> 01:20:43,171
But when we get the 130 members together,
that makes up the Thunderbirds.
1264
01:20:43,839 --> 01:20:47,926
We leave it all on the field,
and do it for nothing more than an idea,
1265
01:20:48,426 --> 01:20:51,054
but a very, very important idea.
1266
01:20:57,769 --> 01:21:00,563
Success as a squadron commander
is a very different thing than
1267
01:21:00,564 --> 01:21:01,730
how close did you fly,
1268
01:21:01,731 --> 01:21:04,526
how low did you get the formations
in front of the crowd.
1269
01:21:05,026 --> 01:21:07,946
Success for me
as Thunderbird 1 will mean that
1270
01:21:08,530 --> 01:21:11,241
the next version of the team
is better than ours.
1271
01:21:12,826 --> 01:21:14,118
{\an8}Welcome to the Thunderbirds.
1272
01:21:14,119 --> 01:21:17,621
{\an8}We're built around blind trust,
and throughout the training season,
1273
01:21:17,622 --> 01:21:20,207
{\an8}we're gonna earn that blind trust
as a team.
1274
01:21:20,208 --> 01:21:22,210
We're only as strong as the weakest link.
1275
01:21:23,044 --> 01:21:27,047
It is an absolute miracle
when a team pushes beyond the status quo.
1276
01:21:27,048 --> 01:21:30,676
One pilot decides not to push
for inches anymore, and it's broken.
1277
01:21:30,677 --> 01:21:34,930
My path to getting here
is probably not what you would expect.
1278
01:21:34,931 --> 01:21:37,182
I'm a trailer park kid from Florida.
1279
01:21:37,183 --> 01:21:40,436
If they could just see themselves
in me at all...
1280
01:21:40,437 --> 01:21:44,274
You can overcome anything in life,
and I'm just living proof of that.
1281
01:21:47,152 --> 01:21:47,985
Yeah.
1282
01:21:47,986 --> 01:21:51,155
I always thought
that if you could shape this team right,
1283
01:21:51,156 --> 01:21:56,493
you would create a culture that inspires
everyone in this country and beyond
1284
01:21:56,494 --> 01:21:59,414
to do extraordinary things
for the right reasons.
1285
01:22:04,920 --> 01:22:07,796
You know, he built a team this year
1286
01:22:07,797 --> 01:22:10,674
that's flown the best demonstration
that's ever been seen.
1287
01:22:10,675 --> 01:22:14,345
I would follow him into battle.
1288
01:22:14,346 --> 01:22:18,807
Before I hand this team to Sheik
and the next generation of Thunderbirds,
1289
01:22:18,808 --> 01:22:21,143
let me reinforce for you all
one more time.
1290
01:22:21,144 --> 01:22:25,482
The Thunderbirds are nothing
if they are not extraordinary.
1291
01:22:37,369 --> 01:22:40,162
Okay, guys, so here's the game plan.
1292
01:22:40,163 --> 01:22:43,415
Declan, you're gonna stand
right behind your plane.
1293
01:22:43,416 --> 01:22:46,251
Okay, this is Thunderbird 3's position.
1294
01:22:46,252 --> 01:22:49,880
You're in stripes aligned.
Very safe takeoff position.
1295
01:22:49,881 --> 01:22:51,840
Revan, this is you.
1296
01:22:51,841 --> 01:22:54,134
You're behind your plane.
You're Thunderbird 2.
1297
01:22:54,135 --> 01:22:56,095
- Stand here.
- Relegated to the back.
1298
01:22:56,096 --> 01:22:58,263
You are the slot. You're Thunderbird 4.
1299
01:22:58,264 --> 01:23:00,933
When I called
and removed my application from NASA,
1300
01:23:00,934 --> 01:23:03,686
it was effectively
the end of a childhood dream, um,
1301
01:23:03,687 --> 01:23:08,232
one that had driven me to everything
I had achieved to that point in my life.
1302
01:23:08,233 --> 01:23:10,944
At that moment, it was all gone.
1303
01:23:12,195 --> 01:23:15,407
Do you think you're looking
for reassurance that it was worth it?
1304
01:23:20,120 --> 01:23:20,954
Maybe.
1305
01:23:21,830 --> 01:23:22,831
Um...
1306
01:23:24,541 --> 01:23:27,459
Yeah, it would be great to know
if I made the right decision.
1307
01:23:27,460 --> 01:23:29,378
I don't know that I ever will.
1308
01:23:29,379 --> 01:23:30,380
The, um...
1309
01:23:32,215 --> 01:23:35,634
This job has been the most rewarding job
I've ever done in my life, though.
1310
01:23:35,635 --> 01:23:37,177
And...
1311
01:23:37,178 --> 01:23:40,390
I actually cannot imagine my life
without this job.
1312
01:23:41,099 --> 01:23:44,643
And I am happy with that decision,
1313
01:23:44,644 --> 01:23:47,521
as hard as it is
to look at what could've been.
1314
01:23:47,522 --> 01:23:51,775
I think I'll always look at my friends
that made the astronaut board
1315
01:23:51,776 --> 01:23:55,739
and watch them go to the moon and Mars
and wonder if I could've been there.
1316
01:23:56,406 --> 01:23:59,241
Standby, smoke. Smoking ready now.
1317
01:23:59,242 --> 01:24:02,369
Thunderbirds, release brakes ready now.
Burners now.
1318
01:24:02,370 --> 01:24:04,872
Oh! Oh!
1319
01:24:04,873 --> 01:24:05,790
Oh, no!
1320
01:24:07,917 --> 01:24:11,587
You know, we raise our children
with a lot of different goals.
1321
01:24:11,588 --> 01:24:15,382
Service above self, so important, so hard.
1322
01:24:15,383 --> 01:24:18,343
I think that this next one's
gonna be perfect.
1323
01:24:18,344 --> 01:24:21,848
And I think that Revan and Declan,
1324
01:24:22,849 --> 01:24:26,519
even though they may not be processing
everything right now,
1325
01:24:27,228 --> 01:24:31,649
they will have a better understanding
of what this time was
1326
01:24:32,192 --> 01:24:34,194
and is about when they get older
1327
01:24:35,195 --> 01:24:36,988
and be a better person for it.
1328
01:24:38,823 --> 01:24:41,825
I think the only way to fix this
is for Mama to lead.
1329
01:24:41,826 --> 01:24:44,996
Burners ready now!
1330
01:24:47,332 --> 01:24:48,791
Oh no, I'm dead. Oh!
1331
01:24:48,792 --> 01:24:51,919
- Oh!
- That was the best formation of the day.
1332
01:24:51,920 --> 01:24:54,588
Of everything that we've built together,
1333
01:24:54,589 --> 01:24:58,510
I am most proud
of this team's giving posture.
1334
01:24:59,302 --> 01:25:01,345
I have a team of 130 people
1335
01:25:01,346 --> 01:25:03,348
who give more than they take.
1336
01:25:03,932 --> 01:25:05,390
I wish I could replicate it
1337
01:25:05,391 --> 01:25:07,601
through everything else
we do in this country right now.
1338
01:25:07,602 --> 01:25:09,895
- I forgot the first part.
- Standby, smoke.
1339
01:25:09,896 --> 01:25:12,481
Standby, smoke.
Smoking ready now. Smoking ready now.
1340
01:25:12,482 --> 01:25:16,443
Release brakes ready now.
Burners now. Yeah!
1341
01:25:16,444 --> 01:25:20,072
We got it. We're going.
Oh, that was the best one. Oh!
1342
01:25:20,073 --> 01:25:21,574
- Oh!
- Oh no!
1343
01:26:17,255 --> 01:26:19,548
I don't know how else to say this
other than thanks.
1344
01:26:19,549 --> 01:26:23,427
You deserve closure and
to close this chapter of your life out.
1345
01:26:23,428 --> 01:26:26,638
And you are gonna get that closure
in about two years,
1346
01:26:26,639 --> 01:26:28,640
because you're gonna be Thunderbird 3.
1347
01:26:28,641 --> 01:26:31,185
- Yeah!
- Oh!
1348
01:26:31,186 --> 01:26:32,729
Yes, dude!
1349
01:26:34,564 --> 01:26:35,815
Look at the team.