Harley Hall II Honors his father's legacy with a VIP flight in the back of Blue Angel #7

03/26/23 • 48 min

With the U.S. Navy Blue Angels launching into their 77th year, the 2023 airshow season kicked off in grand fashion at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. The event not only marked a rare occurrence for both the Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds performing at the same airshow, but also the Blue Angels paying tribute to CAPT Harley H. Hall, the Team’s former Flight Leader and the last naval aviator to be shot down during the Vietnam War.
Honoring Boss Hall’s legacy and sacrifice fifty years after his disappearance on January 27, 1973, the Blue Angels extended an invite to his son, Harley Hall II, to participate in a VIP ride in the back seat of the Team’s #7 F/A-18 Super Hornet. With his name emblazoned in the famous yellow Blue Angels font beneath the canopy rail, Hall climbed into the cockpit with one goal in mind, to make his father and all those that served with him proud.
At the controls of Harley’s ride the afternoon of March 17, 2023 was LCDR Thomas Zimmerman, the Blue Angels Narrator and # 7 pilot, who was charged with demonstrating the full characteristics of the Super Hornet. Enduring nausea-inducing high g-force maneuvers including the Minimum Radius Turn (MRT), Horizontal Rolls and the Carrier Break, Hall’s genetic makeup prevailed as he completed the ride without passing out or getting sick. Upon landing, Hall was greeted by the entire Blue Angels team led by CDR Alex Armatas
In this brand new interview, Harley Hall II opens up about the significance of the opportunity to honor his father at Point Mugu and the internal pressure he placed on himself to ensure he represented his family, the Navy and all those that served alongside father to the best of his ability. Hall also provides insight into the weeks leading up to his VIP flight, including a bout with illness that almost jeopardized his participation at the airshow.
With great attention to detail, Hall discusses all aspects of his day with the Blues, including having Bill Switzer, a former F4 Phantom pilot that flew on Boss Hall’s 1971 Blue Angels team, on site to support him. He also describes his appreciation for LCDR Zimmerman, Crew Chief Sean Donoghue and the culture of excellence displayed by the entire Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.
Hall goes on to share several of the techniques he used throughout his flight to endure high g-forces without succumbing to a loss of consciousness and what it felt like to have seven times his body weight pressing him into his ejection seat.
As the discussion comes to a close, Hall opens up about a moment of closure he felt in the hours that followed his ride of a lifetime.
Special thanks to the Hall family, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Blue Angels Association

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Previous Episode

Meet the NEW Blue Angels' Flight Leader: Cmdr. Alex Armatas

For the first time in three years, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels have a new flight leader. Cmdr. Alexander Armatas officially took command of the Naval Flight Exhibition Team on November 13, 2022, at a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. He replaced Captain Brian Kesselring, who led the Team during its 75th anniversary and the transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
In this interview, Boss Armatas discusses his priorities and focus as the new commanding officer and flight leader for the Blue Angels, including getting to know each member of the Team, mastering the 45 minute air show demonstration, and ensuring his fitness and nutrition are optimized for high intensity flying and a rigorous schedule. With winter training in El Centro, California just weeks away, Boss Armatas also provides insight into the current flying syllabus and milestones the Team are focused on achieving, including flying the first Delta Formation for the 2023 Blue Angels.
A native of Skaneateles, New York, Boss Armatas cites flyovers by a formation of F-16 Falcons from the New York National Guard and exposure to cargo operations at the Syracuse International Airport as early influences that sparked his passion for aviation. He also attended a number of airshows in London, Ontario, Canada during his informative years where he witnessed the Blue Angels perform for the first time.
Graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a degree in aerospace engineering, Boss Armatas earned his Wings of Gold in June of 2005 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Mississippi. Initially assigned to NAS Lemoore, California, he served in a variety of different roles as part of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, the “Eagles” and deployed three times on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
In 2009, Boss Armatas graduated from the world famous TOPGUN course at NAS Fallon, Nevada before joining VFA-122 the “Flying Eagles” where he was named the 2010 VFA-122 Instructor Pilot of the Year.
Transferring to VFA-14 the “Tophatters”, Boss Armatas supported Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013 aboard the USS John C Stennis (CVN-74). Following this tour, he reported to NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia to serve as the Department Head for FVA-143 the “Pukin’ Dogs” and deployed aboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
After serving as a Strike Fighter Placement Officer for the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) in Millington, Tennessee in 2017, Boss Armatas reported to VFA-105 the “Gunslingers” where he served as both Executive Officer and Commanding Officer during his tenure and deployed twice aboard the USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69) in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
With the encouragement of former Blue Angels pilot, John Hiltz, Boss Armatas submitted his application for the Blue Angels after accumulating more that 4,100 flight hours and 911 carrier-arrested landing. He was announced as the Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels in April of 2022 and officially joined the team in August.
2023 Blue Angels Team
1. CDR Alexander Armatas
2. LCDR Chris Kapuschansky
3. LT Amanda Lee
4. LT Scott Goossens
5. LCDR Julius Bratton
6. LCDR Griffin Stangel
7. LCDR Thomas Zimmerman
8. LCDR Brian Vaught
XO CRD Jon Fay
M1 CAPT Jackson Streiff, USMC
M2 MAJ Joshua Soltan, USMC
M3 CAPT Samuel Petko, USMC
MO LT Henry Cedeno
Assistant MO LCDR Gregory Jones
Flight Surgeon LT Philippe Warren
SO LT Paul Kruger

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The TRUE STORY of the Blue Angels' F7U Cutlass Featuring Edward "Whitey" Feightner

With its sleek and unusual tailless design, the Vought F7U Cutlass seemed like a perfect fit for the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. However, as the Blues would find out, the aircraft's complex development history led to significant challenges and several near brushes with tragedy.
In this brand new episode of the Blue Angel Phantoms Podcast, you'll hear directly from RADM Edward "Whitey" Feightner, a WWII Ace and Navy test pilot, who was charged with developing the Cutlass program on the Blue Angels for the 1952 airshow season. What makes this particular interview all that more special, is that it was conducted over 25 years ago by aviation historian, Nicholas A. Veronico, who is publicly sharing this historic treasure for the first time.
Originally recorded as research for Veronico's book "The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History", Rear Admiral Feightner provides detailed insight into the Blue Angels reformation after the Korean War, the selection process for the F7U, and the painstaking task of performing aerial demonstrations with the Cutlass' faulty controls. RADM Feightner also discusses the Blues' challenges with the Grumman F9F-5 Panther and recalls his tragic final day on the Team in which pilot Buddy Rich was lost in a midair collision at NAS Corpus Christi.
RADM Feightner's naval career spanned over 33 years, where he achieved early success flying both the F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat during WWII and earning 9 aerial victories. Post war, he became a prolific test pilot for the Navy where he was introduced to the F7U Cutlass and holds the distinction of being the only pilot to launch and recover the F7U-1 on a carrier.
In 1952, Feightner was asked to take command of the Blue Angels and install the F7U as the Team's primary demonstration platform. Aware of the F7U's extreme limitation, Feightner was able to persuade the Navy to select the F9F Panther instead and reserve the Cutlass as a solo act. This resulted in Roy "Butch" Voris, the Team's first flight leader, to return and take point and allow Feightner to focus on the F7U.
The airshow season was plagued by technical problems including a loss of flight controls on several occasions. With increased strain on maintenance and growing safety concerns, the Blue Angels canceled the F7U program after 7 months.
RADM Feightner retired in 1974 and passed away on April 1, 2020 at the age 100.
Special thanks to Nick Veronico for sharing this cassette tape with the Blue Angel Phantoms YouTube Channel.
The interview featured within this video is protected by copyright owned by Nicholas A. Veronico. Any unauthorised reproduction, distribution, or public display of this interview or any part thereof is strictly prohibited without written consent from Mr. Veronico. © 2023 Nicholas A. Veronico

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