Everything You Didn’t Know About Commanding The Blue Angels 

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I was on the team during the Hornet transition, served with Boss Rud in 87, Boss Moneymaker in 88 & 89. Best tour of my 30 year Navy career.

I must comment on this one. Capt Rud was my CO on Connie 93-95. I was there the day he took command and watched him fly off in the Persian Gulf after he was relieved. Absolute best CO I ever had in 20 years of active duty. I loved his shipwide quarters in the hangar bay every Wednesday morning inport San Diego. He would stand up on an aircraft tow tractor and call us all (like 2000 sailors) to circle up around him. He would then give us the no BS scoop on what the ship was doing. Excellent leader who I tried to emulate his style in my own career. He took me to CO NJP in 1993 for being stupid off-duty. He did not bust me, put me on probation and I was able to get my stuff straight and make CPO before retirement in 2004. He also awarded me my ESWS and EAWS while onboard Connie, with pictures to prove which I still have at home. I remember him shooting his boots off the waist catapult as a last launch the day he left as I think he flew by helo to Bahrain. Great to see him so sharp nearly 30 years later! Thank you, Sir!

I am about to turn 70 years old. I have been a huge fan of the Blues since I first saw them fly when I was in grade school. Thank you for this wonderful story. I have huge respect for Boss Rud. You undersell your achievements.

In the late 70's, I was a Skyhawk avionics tech and loved seeing the Blues fly the A-4. The Delta landing was amazing! Later, in the mid 80's, I was designing avionics at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, and loved seeing the Blues fly the Hornet! Thanks to the pilots who made our aircraft look so incredible!

As the son of a Navy fighter pilot, other than the fly in after a deployment, there was nothing more exciting than going to a blue angel's airshow.. I think in my lifetime I must have attended at least 20 of these. 😎👍👍👍

I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't know about the Blue Angels, literally everyone knows who they are....when you think about that, it's pretty incredible. What a legacy

Always a pleasure to listen to Boss Rud. His book is outstanding.

I feel very, very fortunate to have attended the 1986 A4 Air Show and the transition Air Show to F18's in 1987 at Moffet Field in Mountain View, CA. I remember the excitement as a young kid in seeing the new F18's and the sound of those engines. I was fortunate to be able to meet Gil and the other Blue Angels and have them sign the Air Show program. Those Moffet Field Air Shows were by far the best in the arena of air shows. A huge runway and deck space brought in every imaginable aircraft in the military and civilian inventory. Thanks Gil for your service to our country and to inspiring this kid to a career in public service.

Captain Rud, I watched you and the Blues fly at NAS Oceana with my family in 1986. Hearing the oohs and ahs from not just my family but the entire crowd made me damn proud to be a sailor in the US Navy. Thanks for some awesome memories, Sir.

Gil, you're a pretty unique man. You're not arrogant, but you are assertive and still humble. What the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels, plus the various other teams around the world do is extraordinarily dangerous. I have seen many of the shows out at MacDill Air Force Base during the airfest that are hosted there. And I am always mesmerized by the pure precision of what you pilots do. It is incredibly dangerous. One mistake is all it takes. Yet every one of your pilots and the rest of the pilots climate their cockpits and wow the crowds. To me as a taxpayer I feel like the military is the one place where my tax dollars are used somewhat prudently. These shows are just the icing on the cake along with the Cherry. If I could I would shake your hand and thank you for all the pleasure that you gave me and those around me. My complete respect for you as a pilot and as a man is easy to give to you. Don't feel left out Ward, you're up there as well!

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Gil Rud several times during my career as a pilot in the North Dakota ANG. He is an excellent storyteller and I can highly recommend his book.

17:39 "Same way, same day". 😁 That's precision for you! I love it...

9:06 "Whatever you do Boss, don't try to fix it cuz that's when things get ugly, just stay with it." Awesome!

I was a civilian air traffic controller in Pensacola for nearly 10 years, and it was always a pleasure to see and work the Blues. Occasionally they'd pop into our airport (Pensacola Int'l - KPNS) and do a practice ILS approach. After their touch and go, they'd hit the burner, rattling the windows, and pop a bit of smoke. Good times.

Grew up near Pensacola. Love the Blues! That said, "Go Army! Beat Navy!"

I like this Captain Gil. I know people that can't drive 10 feet apart in traffic

Oh, I could just sit there and chat with Gil Rud all day. Well, I say chat, but I mean listen. What a fantastic guy with one very unique and amazing career.

There is another great Blue Angels Channel that has a great interview with Gil and several Team members past and present. The channel is "Blue Angels Phantoms" Ryan N does and amazing job covering the team. MK Blues channel also has daily performance videos from practice sessions January-March in El Centro.

As a civvie, it is difficult to understand all the intricacies and background work that goes into an Airshow (and one in which six aviators need to coordinate and work together to wow the crowd). Thanks Gil and Ward for educating us using simple and understandable words! Much appreciated!

If you thought a air traiffic controller has a stressful and always on the edge job, try Blue Angel (Boss)

What a great interview! I was a SWO on USS Constellation and had the pleasure of serving under commanding officer Capt. Gil Rud.

Scott Anderson was in that first or second group of Blue Angels who flew the Hornet I was proud to have served with him in VA-37 he was an A-7 pilot.

I'm old enough to remember this happening! Growing up in San Diego (and living next to Miramar in the 70's), I would love to watch the Blue Angels perform their show, flying the A-4 Skyhawks. I had discovered that on Fridays prior to the big weekend show, they would do a show for the Press to help market the event. They also opened it up to military dependents and groups like the Boy Scouts, etc. Knowing this, I would beg my father, who was retired Navy, to take me to Miramar for the Friday show. The best part about this show.... there was hardly anybody around on the tarmac, not like on the Saturday and Sunday shows. The weekend shows got fairly crowded, but not as much as it did after Top Gun (the movie) came out in the mid-80's. Then the crowds became so big that they did a 3 day Friday, Saturday, Sunday event. There went my private Blue Angel showing!.... sigh I tell you this because I remember when the transition from the Skyhawk to the big afterburning Hornets arrived. It was truly amazing. The A-4 was impressive in it's own right, but the roaring Hornets in afterburner made your whole body rumble and vibrate. It was exhilarating! The video brought all this back for me. I remember Cmdr Rud's name being called by the show announcer. I really enjoyed the stories in the video. Thank you.

Having spent four and a half years with the blues I always considered myself a quasi-expert on their operations, and having been there when Captian Rud came aboard was aware of some of the things they went through when we switched to the F18, but this was packed with information I did not know and was probably the best description of the change over I ever heard....they had some steller pilots back then, Curt Watson and Mark Bircher among them....I always thought an interview with either of those gentlemen would be a good one for you to do....Of course, being a Marine, I would love to hear Mark again..

Wow... that was a great vid, thank you both. Loved the roll rate story, I can't imagine being that pilot. Also the turn and burn one, the sound and raw power are amazing. Cheers and salute.

I first saw the Blues in '68 at age 12,while living in Reading,Pa. In '69 we moved to Orlando,Florida,and watched them once at Sea World,Sanford airport, and many times at Kissimmee. In '88 we moved to Pensacola, and of course,I've seem them at the NAS,and over the beach. Always thrilling,always fun. And always the best.

Capt. Rud was my CO onboard the USS Constellation. A huge influence on my perceptions of what a leader was. Great to see him again.

Jim Maslowski! My former CO of the USS Concord! Small world! Go Navy! Beat Army!

Fantastic episode. I love hearing from guys like Gil Rud. A man who did extraordinary things and is telling us how it was done.

Wow, thanks for this Mooch. What a story and what a great guy

Gil always has great insights from his time in the Navy. My first introduction to him was watching Rolling In The Sky from the 1987 season.

I'd like to see pictures of Gil with that red mustache.

Great interview Mooch! I was a high schooler the three years Gil Rud was Boss. I pestered my older brothers into taking me to EVERY airshow in Southern California from China Lake to Pt. Mugu to El Toro to Miramar to El Centro to see every show Gil flew & got to meet him dozens of times. I even got to meet him at Annapolis the week my cousin graduated in 1988. Gil and his team inspired me to strive for excellence, to always improve & never settle. My vision went south in high school and Coke-bottle glasses killed my dreams of being a naval aviator, but I’m a successful I.T. professional today and never lost that lovin’ feeling for aviation. I’m also a successful aviation photographer and my channel has clips of some of the amazing things I’ve managed to see and photograph. Thank you Mooch and thank you Gil Rud for inspiring me to be my best.

Jim Maslowski who first urged him to apply for the Blues was an Ensign with VA56 when I was an Airman Apprentice AT striker. I had gone into the Navy with a guaranteed “A” school, but when the “interview “ came to determine my career path they told me my scores on the GCT/ARI and my one year of college made me the ideal candidate to go directly to the fleet and learn on the job. When I got to VA56 they had no openings in the AT shop or the line shack. They put me in the office typing the POD. They also made me the legal yeoman. Ensign Maslowski was around the office a lot and he was the one who inspired me to apply for the NESEP program and get my commission. It was so good to just hear his name mentioned and to know others found him to be an inspiring and mentoring person as well.

Thanks Ward, saw the blues in A-4s as a kid at El Toro, will never forget it!

Station in Pensacola attending NAMI in 82 and 83. Watched the Blues from our classroom windows every morning when they were at home. Fast forward to 1992 I am out of the Navy and Living and working in El Centro. Around the 2nd week of January who comes landing down the road from my house? Thats right the Blue Angels for Winter training. 31 years later and I can hear them over my house as I write this.:)

Thanks Mr Carroll! Please keep making more content!

Great interview - during my flight student and then instructor time in Pensacola, the Blues were a major attraction

I have to say this particular interview really lifted my spirits @ 70 yrs old its impressive to hear the enthusiasm still in his voice, like he's still a kid at heart! I bet if you gave him a jet to fly some of his move today he would jump at the opertunity..Top notch interview along with great stories from Capt. Rud God Bless him and may he live a long and healthy life!!

These are great stories. Thanks for sharing them.

I was reluctant to watch this; but the interview was excellent, thanks again Ward.

Old school badassery! BZ to you, CAPT Rud, and great interview, Ward!

OUTSTANDING Thanks Mooch.... Old Steve Shoemaker🇺🇸

a Very informative interview - up to your usual standards... Capt Rud defintely had some challenges as Blue Angel 1 on the transition to the F/A 18 Hornet.

A Blue Angel pilot with an antique John Deere proudly displayed along beside fighter jets. My hat is off to you sir.

I always learn new and interesting stuff on this channel. Awesome.

I've seen the Blues fly in Phantoms, Skyhawks, Hornets and now Super Hornets. The dirty roll in the A-4 on takeoff looks sporty as they seem to barely clear the ground. That 6 ship formation landing though is unbelievable to watch. Blue Angels at NAS Barbers Point and Waikiki while I was in college....awesome memory.

I hope that you have a beautiful holiday with lived ones,Mooch!thank you for all that you give us!

Brilliant video. I have seen the Blue Angels perform at one of the air shows held at Duxford.

Mooch, I greatly enjoy and look forward to all your videos but this one is especially special for me. My dad and I had the great honor to meet and have dinner with "The Boss" Gil Rud and the entire Blues squadron back in the late 80s when The Blues put on a show at China Lake. My uncle Fred Lentz was a test pilot at China Lake at the time and he and Boss Rud were friends as former A7 guys. My Uncle invited my dad and I out to attend the show and meet the Blues and what a thrill and unforgettable experience that was. I will never forget how gracious and accommodating Boss Rud was to my dad and I, and it was something we used to reminisce about until my dad’s dying day. Thank you for producing a great video that rekindled those fond memories!!! (BTW, can't wait until you publish your next book)!!!

Man, I love this channel.

He reminds me so much of the Pilots in the 70’s and 80’s, hard chargers who knew how to work with a purpose and party just as hard. All good sticks and better men. In the Chiefs Mess, we knew when we were blessed with Leaders like him!

Love love love the Blue Angels

Another interesting and outstanding job.

What a great American! Your interviews are beyond compare. Thanks for some great memories!

Another great interview, Ward. Thanks to you and Capt. Rud.

Great episode! That brought a lot of context to the 11-year old boy who was standing underneath the mid-air in Niagara Falls. Very intense flying.

Outstanding interview, mate. Most interested in the burner work, and especially to learn about the modulated vs staged comparison with early F-16’s. No doubt that drove the USAF to evolve their engines….!

What a super great interview. This was thank you so much❤❤

And happy Thanksgiving to you as well Gil! Thank you !

Thank you for mentioning Adm. Tony Less. My father introduced him to me during the 1974 show season. He's probably one if the best A-4 pilots I've ever met and a true professional.

Fantastic Ward...thanks for taking us along

You really cannot beat quality, in aircraft or people, here we have both.

Great interview,. I have seen the Blue Angels perform dozens of times, they always impress.

That was a fantastic interview. One of the best so far.

This looks so awesome I am saving it to watch tomorrow on the holiday!

Unbelievable , what a life that gentleman got to live … Awesome stuff fellas , much respect

fantastic interview of a real hero

What a fantastic interview of a true aviation pioneer. Thanks for making the time so we can all hear your story!

Another outstanding episode Ward.

Gil is a delight. I saw the Angels in 61? 62? F-11s? I was astounded, I was 9 years old.

Outstanding story. I love your channel after just recently finding it on RU-vid.

Another incredible video and interview! Many thanks for your services.

Great episode, Ward! Thanks so much for the inside look at such an awesome outfit. Simply incredible flying by these guys.

The first of many airshows I went to was at Palm Beach County fairgrounds in the early 80s. I only remember the Blue Angels and those A-4s. I was instantly in love with airplanes. Thank you all for your service and inspiration!

I was in V-1 Division on the USS Constellation from 1983-1986. Once when we had just departed San Diego for a sea period the Blue Angels in their A-4's paid us a visit. It wasn't the entire team and they didn't do anything fancy but they did fly around us for a few minutes. The Connie was the first carrier to deploy the F/A-18 Hornet. I can't say what air wings deployed on the Connie after my departure but I don't think that the A-7 was ever part of the Connies air wing ever again. From the short time I've spent in doing some homework I see that after the SLEP In the early 1990's she deployed CVW-17 then CVW-2. I don't know the composition of those air wings at that time. I could be wrong and I would appreciate some clarification on this matter. You and Capt. Rud are far moreinformed than I am, being that I was a humble Yellow Shirt during my active duty service.

Great content as always. Keep it going .

Great interview and I definitely want to read his book. I was lucky enough to see the Blue Angels twice in the 80s when I was a teenager and they were flying the A-4 Skyhawks. The F-18s are impressive but the Skyhawks were beautiful and amazing.

Great stuff, thanks Ward.

Awesome video, Ward! What a story.

One of your best. I am 81 and a carrier sailor. We watched F4 and F8 in our air power demos on USS FDR in the mid 60s. I still get a thrill of AB takeoffs and flights. Scrotums to the bulkhead

love the channel keep up the interviews it is so informative thank you.

Excellent throughout!

That was badass! Great episode 😊

Loved it!! Gil is really enjoyable to listen to; I almost felt like I was there.

Awesome episode. Because I have family in the navy, I've seen them in F4s, A4s, and F/A18s. I think they're in Super Hornets now, so I need to see another show! It's funny that the Air Force Inc. has been using the same airframe for years and only the Navy have gotten better and better aircraft. Stay safe!

I met Boss Rud at an airshow in St. Louis after we toured the factory where Hornets and Super Horners were built in the late 90's during my tour in the Blues. We were all on a bus going somewhere, and I was seated behind Boss Rud and the current flight leader Boss Dom. The tales that Boss Rud was telling to Boss Dom were absolutely awesome! The things one could get away away with way back in the day! Cheers Boss Gil Rud!

Another great episode Mooch..

Amazing info, thank you Gil & Ward!

Great documentary!

Thank you for sharing. Always love learning about the Blue Angels.

Ward, you're always awesome, Sir.

Again, a fantastic story. I live in Jacksonville and can remember the first F-18 show! The afterburners were just another this teenager! Thank you all for your service

There was one big highlight during that 1986 season, when they were one of five aerobatic teams to perform at the Abbotsford Air Show, up here in Canada. The Blues flew alongside our Snowbirds, as well as the French, Italian and Brazilian teams. There is also a great shot of Snowbird 1 leading the other four team leads, for a photo op. Would have been a cool show to be at in-person. I found the rationale for not using the T-45 as a follow-on from the A-4 quite odd. They wouldn't have had to really fly 9 jets at all, otherwise they probably could have done that with the A-4. But in the end, going with a new, frontline fighter was the best move, considering the Thunderbirds did the same and brought in the F-16. Great interview.

Thanks again Ward..! Yet another great video and this time on a crowd favorite-- The Blues... Grew up watching them at El Toro before the Marines of El Toro moved to Miramar in about 1997 or so.

Very interesting. Really enjoyed.

Oh, I was relieved at a channel that didn't plug Patreon. That ended. No sponsor ads though. Well, there went that. Double tap a few times to the right to zoom past those as quickly as that $15.5M painting's masterful conveyance of speed in its blurred lines.

Some years ago, I was working over night at NASP. Sharing a hangar with the Blues. It was a Sunday night. The team was still up in Nashville for that weekends show, so it was very quiet with nothing going on. At about 0030, I heard jet noise over head, which was highly unusual. I went outside expecting to see an airliner headed to PNS that was probably just a tad to the left of their beach approach. I couldn't tell that it was a Hornet at the time, but I was surprised when the A/C made a left turn circling the base instead of continuing east. Keep in mind, this was a closed field. No tower. No lights. Very little activity going on anywhere. VT-4/VT-10 hangar had some maintenance going on, that was about it. Next thing I see is gear coming down and landing lights coming on as the A/C made it's way to runway 19 where it proceeded to land (with no field lights). I stood there in awe as I watched this A/C taxi to the Blues line where I could then see it was the Boss returning. He hops out. Starts heading to the hangar. He sees me and waves. I waved back. Went back in the shop thinking ain't this some $hit. 20 minutes later, I hear the engines spooling up. So, I go back outside to see what other craziness I am going to witness tonight. Figured for sure he must be heading back out. I watched as he headed back out to the end of 19. He sat at the hold short area for several minutes with every light he had pointed at the numbers. I was thinking why is he just sitting there? If he's going to go, just get going. Well, I got my answer. Next thing I saw was lights flash on just above the tree line and here comes Fat Albert lumbering in. Again, to a closed field. I watched as they both taxi'd in and shut down, then went back inside. That is the weirdest thing I have seen in over 30 years of naval aviation. Y'all Blue Angels are crazy! LOL

Insightful and entertaining interview. 🤠👍