I was lucky enough to see the Blue Angels flying over San Francisco last year during Fleet Week, and they make regular appearances at Sacramento’s annual Capitol Air Show — but until watching this episode of California’s Gold, I never realized they have winter headquarters in El Centro in Southern California. Most of us will never have the opportunity to experience those thrilling aerobatics firsthand, but don’t worry! We can enjoy the view as Huell very bravely straps himself into the cockpit and takes a wild ride for all of us at home.

On this particular adventure host Huell Howser accepts an invitation to spend a couple of days with the Blue Angels and ends up not only watching them train, but actually gets to go up with them in an F/A18 Hornet for the ride of a lifetime. Huell also meets former Blue Angel pilots who talk about the”good old days,” and visits with local citizens who talk about the pride the community of El Centro feels in having the squadron there each winter.

All in all, it’s a fast-paced, high-powered, high altitude adventure in search of “California’s Gold.”

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)