Riding Shotgun in a Blue Angel's F/A-18 Super Hornet: An Unforgettable Journey

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) The Beaufort MCAS Air Show is expected to attract thousands of spectators this weekend; however, only a few have the opportunity to soar through the sky themselves. I had the chance to experience an awe-inspiring flight with a Blue Angels pilot performing spectacular stunts right from my seat in the cockpit.

It's the adventure of a lifetime. The roar of the jet engine fills your ears as you lift off aboard the 2-seater F/A-18 Super Hornet.

This is a smooth departure, maintaining a low altitude consistently as it ascends from the ground. With each passing moment, the velocity builds rapidly until it shifts into a direct climb towards the heavens.

"We began with great momentum, securing $6000 immediately and then ascending vertically to take flight from Beaufort," stated Maj. Scott Laux of the USMC Blue Angel No. 7.

As you ascend, you're greeted with a panoramic vista of the clouds all around. Eventually, this gives way to a more serene panorama of Beaufort’s waters below.

As you admire the scenery, Major Scott Laux, your pilot, contacts you over the radio, informing you that it's time to begin the various acrobatic moves demonstrated during their airshows.

“Initially, we perform a G-awareness exercise. Just some gentle maneuvers at 1G, followed by increases to 3Gs, 4Gs, and finally 6Gs to acclimate our bodies to these gravitational forces,” explained Maj. Laux.

Every move attains varying velocities and offers distinct viewpoints.

Following several gravitational awareness exercises, the initial one among numerous airborne stunts commences.

The initial move is known as a diamond roll. This technique involves executing a full 360-degree rotation with the aim of appearing elegant, as Major Laux explained.

We accomplished this with just one ship," stated Major Laux. "Imagine performing that roll with three additional planes surrounding you. Quite insane.

The following stunt involved a complete circular loop. Think of a rollercoaster loop, but magnified significantly in size.

"I created the smoke effect, we completed a loop, and then we went right through the smoke trail from below once more," explained Maj. Laux.

A minimal turning radius came next, marking the beginning of truly intense G-force maneuvers.

We initiated the maneuver at 350 miles per hour and engaged the full afterburner. The initial part of our turn exerted 7Gs," explained Maj. Laux. "We maintained between four and five Gs throughout most of the turn, then sharply raised the nose at the conclusion, demonstrating just how swiftly the F-18 can realign its nose following the tightest possible turn.

A significant part of flying involves observing either the terrain below or the expanse above, often at very high velocities. The Aileron Roll merged these two aspects together.

"That was moving the joystick two positions to the left and then quickly rolling it once to the right. I simply pushed the stick with all my strength." Major Laux called this movement 'sneakers in a dryer'.

Following this was a 15 to 20-second upside-down flight at a speed of 450 miles per hour.

Following the inverted flight came a zero gravity pushover.

"We positioned the aircraft at a 45-degree angle with the nose pointing upwards, and then we let it free fall experiencing zero gravity to achieve that weightless feeling." Laux likened this sensation to what one might experience when venturing into space.

Prior to executing the highest G-force move, Major Laux decelerated the craft to approximately 120 miles per hour. He mentioned that although these jets are renowned for their speed, they are capable of flying at much lower velocities as well.

We essentially pitched the airplane up to around 25 degrees, with the nose elevated, but without ascending or descending, continuing to fly level.

Following that, the concluding phase was upon us. We descended rapidly and deeply. Major Laux communicated via radio, emphasizing the importance of performing proper breathing and strain exercises to endure the extreme G-forces.

We were traveling at around 670 miles per hour, approximately 500 feet above the ground," stated Major Laux. "Afterward, I held onto the controls tightly. During this maneuver, we experienced 7.5Gs, which is the maximum our plane can handle. We ascended vertically during this run and after getting upright, we performed several barrel rolls in the vertical position, taking us from 500 feet to roughly 15,000 feet.

In mere moments, we'll experience our peak and most intense G-force maneuver for today.

The journey lasted for 45 minutes. Once we completed all the acrobatic moves, we still had enough time remaining to enjoy exploring and having a good time on that lovely sunny day with just the right amount of clouds.

We caught some air with cloud surfing and later zoomed past the Watchtower located at the Townsend bombing range.

Envision all those aerial moves performed within mere feet of five additional jets flying closely together. Major Laux explained that this is precisely why they undergo rigorous training and practice sessions—to ensure they deliver a spectacular performance for audiences nationwide.

It involves extensive training. A significant portion covers fundamental aspects such as staying hydrated, eating properly, getting enough rest—basically taking good care of yourself. However, much of it also focuses on mastering techniques," explained Major Laux. "As with everything, practice makes perfect.

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