Introduction: A Distinguished Guest for Episode One

The Aviator Edge Podcast kicks off with a phenomenal guest—Chris Collins, a former United States Marine Corps aviator, Blue Angels demonstration pilot (#4), and current FedEx MD-11 pilot. In this compelling conversation, Chris walks us through his remarkable journey from a childhood dream fueled by Top Gun to elite military aviation and beyond.

‍

Early Inspiration: A Dream Born in 1986

Chris grew up in Darien, Connecticut, and traces his passion for aviation back to a pivotal moment in 1986. At age 12, on a flight home from visiting a friend in Phoenix, he saw Top Gun on the airplane. That night, he told his parents he wanted to become a fighter pilot—and he meant it. He began mowing lawns to pay for flight lessons and soloed on his 16th birthday, ironically before he even had a driver’s license.

‍

Military Path: From Rejection to Redirection

Though Chris initially aimed to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, he was turned down due to his GPA. Instead, he attended Norwich University in Vermont, where he met a Marine recruiter who introduced him to Marine aviation—a domain Chris admits he knew little about at the time. He was soon commissioned as a second lieutenant and earned a jet slot through flight school, where his journey with the F/A-18 Hornet began.

‍

Carrier Operations: The Art and Stress of Naval Landings

Chris completed 350 carrier landings, 200 of which were at night. He describes the intense precision required, especially at night over a moving ship, often in poor visibility. Technologies like ILS (Instrument Landing System), ACLS (Automated Carrier Landing System), and the Fresnel lens (the "ball") play crucial roles. Pilots fly all the way until a Landing Signal Officer (LSO) calls for a wave-off, with the margin of error often only a few feet. Chris, who also served as an LSO, explains the psychological toll and importance of maintaining composure.

‍

Go-Arounds: From Shame to Safety

In GA (general aviation), go-arounds can be seen as failures. Chris discusses how commercial aviation culture has shifted—especially at FedEx—toward encouraging go-arounds when needed. Safety is prioritized over fuel costs, unlike earlier military and GA perspectives that sometimes penalized go-arounds.

‍

Training for Carrier Landings: Repetition and Simulation

Before ever landing on a carrier, pilots perform dozens of field-based landings that replicate carrier conditions. Tools include the Fresnel lens and painted landing zones. The process includes angle-of-attack guidelines, relative glide slope considerations, and aircraft-specific hook-to-eye height measurements. For instance, an F/A-18 pilot uses an 8.1-degree angle of attack to ensure the tail hook strikes the arresting wire correctly.

‍

Close Calls and Hook Skips

Despite all training, hook skips happen due to high descent rates or minor misalignments. Pilots always go full throttle upon touchdown—either they stop from catching a wire or they launch again if they miss. This margin for error emphasizes the split-second decisions inherent in carrier operations.

‍

From Marine Corps to Blue Angels: The Selection Process

Chris applied to the Blue Angels three times before being accepted. The selection process is competitive and includes multiple air show visits, social events, and personality assessments. A pilot needs around 1,250 tactical jet hours to apply. Personality fit is just as important as flying skill, as the team spends more than 320 days a year together. Final selections are made via a suspenseful call with the Blue Angels commanding officer.

‍

Flying as a Blue Angel: Modifications and Maneuvers

Chris flew the #4 jet in the famed Diamond Formation. The Blue Angels fly with 40-pound springs on their sticks to remove slack and enable ultra-precise control. Pilots rest their arms on their legs to stabilize control input. While the Thunderbirds fly the F-16 with nose-down trim for artificial feel, they cannot replicate the Blue Angels’ precision.

Aircraft modifications also include:

  • Removal of the 20mm cannon to install a smoke system
  • Sticker-based jet number and nameplates for quick jet swaps
  • Paint schemes carefully aligned for visual references in formation

The precision goes so far as to require matching paint placement across aircraft. Deviations of even inches in the paint can confuse wingmen and disrupt training.

‍

Formation Flight: Inches from Perfection

In the Diamond 360 maneuver, wingtip distances can shrink to as little as 2 inches. Chris’s job was to monitor and call out corrections with simple commands like "little spread it," ensuring the 2 and 3 jets maintain safe spacing. The aircraft’s paint serves as visual guidance tools—every stripe and emblem is functional.

Flying over calm water offers the best air conditions, while places like Phoenix—with varying terrain and heat—create turbulent challenges. In such cases, formations are widened slightly, though the jets remain absurdly close by civilian standards.

‍

Safety, Schedules, and Life On the Road

Pilots must avoid dangerous hobbies like skiing or riding motorcycles during their time on the team—there are no backups. Blue Angel pilots train together, travel over 320 days annually, and fly two extra jets during tours to keep newbies current. Uniforms, including flight suits, are highly regulated. Chris humorously recalls receiving his at a shop called Feminine Flair, which also sold swimsuits and lingerie.

‍

Transition to FedEx: Life After Blue

After his military career, Chris considered working at an equity firm in the Bay Area but chose FedEx after a friend’s recommendation. The lifestyle change—only flying 12 days a month—was welcomed. FedEx pilots, many former military aviators, enjoy a structured schedule and the freedom to pursue hobbies or business ventures.

He also noted an odd trend: many former Blue Angels join FedEx, while ex-Thunderbirds gravitate toward UPS.

‍

Special Cargo: Horses, Zoo Animals, and the Unexpected

One of the lesser-known aspects of freight flying includes transporting live animals—especially horses. These animals travel in specially designed crates and often with a vet tech. These techs have logged hundreds of flights and surrender all medication to the captain for safety reasons. Chris noted that some horses are frequent flyers and even handle the process better than humans.

‍

UFOs and Night Flights

Despite 20 years in the military without any UFO sightings, Chris admits he’s seen unusual lights while flying night cargo routes with FedEx. He describes rotating lights that disappear and reappear in ways that do not match satellite or Starlink behavior. ATC chatter confirms others have seen them too.

‍

The Infamous Solo Flight Over School

A lighthearted story from Chris’s youth: At age 16, he skipped school under the pretense of a funeral, rented a Cessna 152, and buzzed his high school field at 500 feet. He was reported, suspended from school, grounded by his parents, and temporarily lost his student license. Ironically, years later as a Blue Angel, he’d fly legally at 500 knots and 50 feet over schools and stadiums.

‍

The Blue Angels’ Peak: Perfection Every Flight

Chris emphasizes the relentless pursuit of perfection in the Blue Angels. Unlike general aviation, where perfection is aspirational, in formation flying it’s mandatory. From training to painting to social integration, every detail matters. He also highlights the age range of most Blue Angel pilots (around 33 years old), noting that this stage offers the best mix of technical proficiency and mental sharpness.

Commanding officers, typically near 40, rely on younger pilots to stay updated on systems and procedures. The team operates like a close-knit family, where egos are set aside and every member contributes to a collective goal.

‍

Final Thoughts: Time, Legacy, and Living with Purpose

Chris closes the conversation by reflecting on the importance of family time and life balance. The FedEx schedule offers him time for hobbies and quality time with his wife and kids—something he values deeply after years of demanding military service. The Aviator Edge hosts sum up the session by noting how much they learned and how much respect Chris commands for his service, humility, and insights.

‍