Blue Angels C-130 Pilot: Maj Rick Rose - A New Era Begins

USMC Maj Rick Rose served as the C-130 Lead Demo Pilot for the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, for both the 2020 and 2021 air show seasons. Joining the Blues at the tail-end of 2019, Maj Rose's enthusiasm for military aviation is a result of exposure during his childhood, where is father served as a Navy P3-Orion pilot stationed at Moffett Field in Sunnyvale, California. While living in the Bay Area, Maj Rose and his family regularly attended the annual Fleet Week festivities in San Francisco, where the Blue Angels often perform as the headlining act and furthered his interest in becoming a pilot.

Maj Rose and his family eventually move to Napa, California, where he graduated from Napa High School before attending Mesa Community College in San Diego. He later transferred to and graduated from Sacramento State University while also completing Officer Candidate School during the summer months. Upon graduation, Maj Rose reported to The Basic School in Quantico, Virgia to complete his formal officer training.

Maj Rose earned an aviation contract and next reported to NAS Pensacola for primary flight training as part of Squadron VT-6 before reporting to NAS Corpus Christi for advance training in the T-44C Pegasus where he earned his "Wings of Gold" in 2014.

Awarded the C-130, Major Rose checked into VMGR 352, "The Raiders", a refueling transport squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. During his tenure the Raiders, he deployed twice to the Middle East before being forward deployed to Japan to join VMGR 152, "The Sumos".

It was during this time in 2019 that Maj Rose submitted an application and was accepted to the Blue Angels as the team's lead pilot for their C-130, affectionately known as "Fat Albert".

At the time Maj Rose joined the Blue Angels, the team had recently retired their C-130T model that had been supporting the logistical movements of the Blues for over a decade and had purchased a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the British Royal Air Force.

While preparing to transport the new C-130J back to the United States and certify it for the 2020 air show season, the global pandemic struck and postposed standard Blue Angels air show operations. Shifting focus, the team deployed on a multi-city tour flying over major metropolitan areas in a salute to front line healthcare workers as part of Operation America Strong, where Maj Rose played a significant role in the planning process, ensuring the team had logistical support in the event any of the demonstration aircraft had to divert for maintenance support.

It was during this time that Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group in Cambridge, England, completed their year-long overhaul and refresh on the new Fat Albert, where Maj Rose assisted in flying the J-model to the United States which included stops in Iceland and Bangor, Maine with the final destination at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas where the acceptance process was completed.

The C-130J model version of Fat Albert made its official air show debut in the 2021 season as well as several join appearances with the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, including a flyover of the opening ceremonies of a Kansas City Royals baseball game at of the Kauffman Stadium on July 2, 2021.

Maj Rose performed his final Fat Albert demonstration on Saturday, November 6, 2021, over the packed sands of Pensacola Beach as part of the team's homecoming weekend.

PRODUCED BY:
Ryan Nothhaft

EMAIL:
blueangelphantoms@gmail.com

This activity supports the U.S. Military and its Veterans; however, it is not officially connected to or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any of its branches.

Thumbnail Image: Laura Bogan Photography

2020 BLUE ANGELS TEAM

1. CDR Brian Kesselring
2. LCDR James Haley
3. MAJ Frank Zastoupil, USMC
4. LCDR James Cox
5. LCDR Brandon Hempler
6. LCDR Cary Rickoff
7. LT Julius Bratton
8. LCDR Adam Kerrick
XO Todd Royles
Capt Beau Mabery
Capt Rick Rose, USMC
Capt William Huckeba, USMC
MO LT Brian Abe
Doc Aaron B. Hicks
SO LTJG Kristin Toland
PAO LTJG Chelsea Dietlin

2021 BLUE ANGELS TEAM

1. CAPT Brian Kesselring
2. LCDR James Haley
3. MAJ Frank Zastoupil, USMC
4. LCDR James Cox
5. CRD Ben Walborn
6. LCDR Cary Rickoff
7. LCDR Julius Bratton
8. LT Katlin Forster
XO CRD Todd Royles
Maj Rick Rose, USMC
Capt William Huckeba, USMC
Capt. Jackson Streiff, USMC
MO LCDR Brian Abe
Assistant MO LT Henry Cedeno
Flight Surgeon Lt Monica Borza
SO LTJG Kristin Toland
PAO LT Chelsea Dietlin

Видео Blue Angels C-130 Pilot: Maj Rick Rose - A New Era Begins канала Blue Angel Phantoms