Blue Angels Pilot: Major Frank Zastoupil | Inspiring a Culture of Excellence
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Major Frank Zastoupil currently serves
Major Frank Zastoupil currently serves as both the Slot Pilot and Safety Officer for the United States Navy Blue Angels. Originally joining the Team in September of 2019, Major Zastoupil had a desire to serve his country from a young age after attending a Blue Angels air show in Fort Worth, Texas with his father.
A native of Kingwood, Texas, Major Zastoupil began exploring military service opportunities while attending Kingwood High School where he graduated in 2005. After enrolling in a Summer seminar at the United States Naval Academy, Zastoupil elected for a more traditional college experience and attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2009. It was during Zastoupil’s final year of college that he earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course. He completed his training at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Virginia at The Basic School (TBS), a six month program that teaches the basics of leading a Rifle Platoon through combat exercises.
Upon completing his initial training, Zastoupil stayed in Virginia for an additional six months to attend the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL) for Russian language and culture training.
In January of 2011, Zastoupil reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for aviation indoctrination. He completed Primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and Advanced flight training in the T-45C Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. Zastoupil earned his wings of gold in April of 2013, four years after his commission.
Zastoupil then reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron (VMAT) 203, the “Hawks,” at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina for initial training in the AV-8B Harrier. He then reported to Marine Attack Squadron 231, the “Ace of Spades,” at MCAS Cherry Point in May, 2014 where he served as the Powerline Division Officer, Landing Signals Officer, and Airframes Division Officer. Zastoupil deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Iwo Jima and then to Sheik Isa Air Base, Bahrain in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
In January 2017, Zastoupil reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, the “Warlords,” at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina for F-35B training. Zastoupil remained on staff at VMFAT-501, where he served as an Instructor Pilot, Aviation Life Support Systems Division Officer, Standardization, NATOPS, and Flight Series Data Officer, Class Advisor, Aviation Safety Officer and F- 35B Demonstration Pilot. Zastoupil then reported to VFMAT 101, the “Sharpshooters,” at MCAS Miramar, California during the summer of 2019 for conversion training in the F/A-18 Hornet.
Recalling back to the air show he attended with his father, joining the Blue Angels was always the ultimate dream for Zastoupil, who submitted an application in 2019 to officially join the Team for the 2020 airshow season. After being selected for the Blue Angels, Zastoupil’s next hurdle was to learn how to fly the F/A-18 Hornet, an aircraft that he had never flown previously. He reported to San Diego for a syllabus including a 28 day course of ground school and cross country flights that accumulated 32 hours of flight time before beginning official training with the Blue Angels. Zastoupil was assigned the Left-Wing (#3) for his first season with the Blues.
Due to the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, the airshow season was canceled and the Blue Angels pivoted their efforts and teamed with the Air Force Thunderbirds to execute Operation America Strong, a multi-city flyover effort saluting healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel on the front lines of the pandemic.
In July of 2020, the Blue Angels took delivery of their first F/A-18E Super Hornet, which at the time was set to replace the team’s legacy Hornets which has been flown by the team since 1987.
With the Team frozen for 2021, Zastoupil reprised his role as Left Wing for the premiere season with the Super Hornet and the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels also shifted their focus back to public demonstrations including Corpus Christi, Texas, Melbourne, Florida, Niagara Falls, New York, Fargo, North Dakota, and London Ontario, Canada.
2022 marks Zastoupil’s final year where he currently flies as the Team’s Slot (#4). The Blue Angels’ demonstration includes maneuvers such as the Diamond 360, Diamond Dirty Loop, Double Farvel, Echelon Parade, Low Break Cross, and the Delta Break-Out.
Produced by: Ryan Nothhaft
email: [email protected].
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.
Special thanks to dvids for cockpit. and other assorted Navy and Blue Angels imagery.
A native of Kingwood, Texas, Major Zastoupil began exploring military service opportunities while attending Kingwood High School where he graduated in 2005. After enrolling in a Summer seminar at the United States Naval Academy, Zastoupil elected for a more traditional college experience and attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2009. It was during Zastoupil’s final year of college that he earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course. He completed his training at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Virginia at The Basic School (TBS), a six month program that teaches the basics of leading a Rifle Platoon through combat exercises.
Upon completing his initial training, Zastoupil stayed in Virginia for an additional six months to attend the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL) for Russian language and culture training.
In January of 2011, Zastoupil reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for aviation indoctrination. He completed Primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and Advanced flight training in the T-45C Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. Zastoupil earned his wings of gold in April of 2013, four years after his commission.
Zastoupil then reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron (VMAT) 203, the “Hawks,” at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina for initial training in the AV-8B Harrier. He then reported to Marine Attack Squadron 231, the “Ace of Spades,” at MCAS Cherry Point in May, 2014 where he served as the Powerline Division Officer, Landing Signals Officer, and Airframes Division Officer. Zastoupil deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Iwo Jima and then to Sheik Isa Air Base, Bahrain in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
In January 2017, Zastoupil reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, the “Warlords,” at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina for F-35B training. Zastoupil remained on staff at VMFAT-501, where he served as an Instructor Pilot, Aviation Life Support Systems Division Officer, Standardization, NATOPS, and Flight Series Data Officer, Class Advisor, Aviation Safety Officer and F- 35B Demonstration Pilot. Zastoupil then reported to VFMAT 101, the “Sharpshooters,” at MCAS Miramar, California during the summer of 2019 for conversion training in the F/A-18 Hornet.
Recalling back to the air show he attended with his father, joining the Blue Angels was always the ultimate dream for Zastoupil, who submitted an application in 2019 to officially join the Team for the 2020 airshow season. After being selected for the Blue Angels, Zastoupil’s next hurdle was to learn how to fly the F/A-18 Hornet, an aircraft that he had never flown previously. He reported to San Diego for a syllabus including a 28 day course of ground school and cross country flights that accumulated 32 hours of flight time before beginning official training with the Blue Angels. Zastoupil was assigned the Left-Wing (#3) for his first season with the Blues.
Due to the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, the airshow season was canceled and the Blue Angels pivoted their efforts and teamed with the Air Force Thunderbirds to execute Operation America Strong, a multi-city flyover effort saluting healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel on the front lines of the pandemic.
In July of 2020, the Blue Angels took delivery of their first F/A-18E Super Hornet, which at the time was set to replace the team’s legacy Hornets which has been flown by the team since 1987.
With the Team frozen for 2021, Zastoupil reprised his role as Left Wing for the premiere season with the Super Hornet and the 75th anniversary of the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels also shifted their focus back to public demonstrations including Corpus Christi, Texas, Melbourne, Florida, Niagara Falls, New York, Fargo, North Dakota, and London Ontario, Canada.
2022 marks Zastoupil’s final year where he currently flies as the Team’s Slot (#4). The Blue Angels’ demonstration includes maneuvers such as the Diamond 360, Diamond Dirty Loop, Double Farvel, Echelon Parade, Low Break Cross, and the Delta Break-Out.
Produced by: Ryan Nothhaft
email: [email protected].
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.
Special thanks to dvids for cockpit. and other assorted Navy and Blue Angels imagery.
2 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1401/07/29 منتشر شده
است.
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