Blue Angels call signs span from 'Scribe' to 'Cheese'. Here's how they earned them
What goes into picking a name? The answer depends. Naming a child can be a lengthy process involving not just the parents but families and their history. Naming a child’s favorite toy could simply be up to the fate of the name the child had in mind at that time. Aviator call signs are names, too, but probably more so than any of the above, they can truly say something personal about the pilot to whom a call sign is attributed.
While many budding pilots usually want a call sign that sounds cool, the reality is that even among the skillfully elite, like the Blue Angel pilots, call signs are anything but cool. Call signs tend to be playful nicknames that reference where a pilot might be from, their physical appearance or even their habit to make a mistake.
The current Blue Angels pilots’ call signs aren’t exactly mysteries, but how they got the names can be.
Here’s a list of each pilot’s call sign and what we know about its origin.
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Cmdr. Alexander ‘Scribe’ Armatas
Cmdr. Alexander Armatas is the pilot for the No. 1 jet, the flight leader and the commanding officer of the 2023 Blue Angels team. His call sign is “Scribe,” which is a reference to his early and unofficial role as his squadron’s “keeper of history.” In an interview with Forbes, Armatas told the publication that he wasn’t a big drinker and after nights out, he would be the one helping others piece together what happened the day before.
Lt. Cmdr. Chris ‘Cheese’ Kapuschansky
Lt. Cmdr. Chris Kapuschansky is the pilot for the No. 2 jet and his call sign is “Cheese.” In an interview on T-Mobile’s Sidekicks Conversation, Kapuschansky told a story about when he received his call sign while he was deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in 2016. In his story, Kapuschansky said he was with two of his squadmates, “Tickled," who he described as being from the “boonies” of West Virginia, and another person named “Humpty.” The two had trouble pronouncing Kapuschansky’s last name and ended up making a joke about it sounding like a “cup of cheese.”
Lt. Amanda ‘Stalin’ Lee
Lt. Amanda Lee is the first female flight demonstration jet pilot to serve with the Blue Angels, piloting the No. 3 jet that serves as the left wing. Lee hasn’t made any public interview appearances and her foreboding call sign, “Stalin,” has led many to wonder about the circumstances surrounding how she got it.
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Lt. Scott ‘Jamz’ Goossens
Lt. Scott Goossens's call sign, “Jamz” is another mystery as the No. 4 pilot hasn’t made any public statements surrounding how he received the nickname.
Lt. Cmdr. Julius ‘Whiskers’ Bratton
The No. 5 pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Julius Bratton, goes by the call sign “Whiskers.” In an interview with Forbes, Bratton says that he received his call sign because he was “curious like a cat.” The story also notes that Bratton’s call sign is fitting because the No. 5 jet often performs the “sneak pass,” where the No. 5 jet will “sneak” up on the crowd as it performs a flat pass with just 50 feet of clearance.
Lt. Cmdr. Griffin ‘Push Pop’ Stangel
Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel’s call sign is “Push Pop,” which is a reference to the fact that he is a bonafide “ice cream-eating champion.” At least locally. Stangel earned his call sign when he was challenged to an ice cream eating contest onboard a carrier. The pilot of the No. 6 jet said he managed to win the contest but might have overdone it in the process.
Lt. Cmdr. Thomas ‘Franz’ Zimmerman
The pilot of the No. 7 jet and air show narrator, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman, goes by the call sign “Franz,” which was inspired by the Saturday Night Live skit featuring characters Hans and Franz, who were portrayed by Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon. The exact reference remains shrouded in mystery, but the iconic skit follows Hans and Franz, two jocks who idolize Arnold Schwarzenegger and want to help their audience develop a Schwarzenegger-like physique through their workout program. Throughout the skit, the duo synchronously pepper their iconic catchphrase, “We want to pump you up” while also using funny but confusing wordplay like “Hear me now and believe this later.”
What is an aviator call sign?
Call signs are assigned to aviators to serve as short nicknames that can be used during fast-paced operations. It's not quite clear how the use of call signs originated but the process has evolved throughout the years to become what is now an almost formal process throughout the branches of the U.S. military.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels call signs range from 'Scribe' to 'Cheese'. Their stories
