The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, has announced its show schedule for the 2009 season. Following winter training, the team begins the season March 14 at Naval Air Facility El Centro, CA and will conclude the season Nov. 14 at NAS Pensacola, FL. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform 67 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Demonstration sites are selected in support of U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Department of Defense objectives with safety as a primary consideration. Performances greatly assist in the recruiting and retention goals of the military services, enhance esprit de corps among uniformed men and women, and demonstrate the professional skills and capabilities of the Naval Services to the American public and U.S. Allies.
Members of the 2009 season U.S. Navy Blue Angels Team:
Flying Blue Angel No.1 CDR Greg McWherter (Commander/Leader)
Flying Blue Angel No.2 LCDR Paul Brantuas (Right Wing)
Flying Blue Angel No.3 Major Chris Collins (Left Wing)
Flying Blue Angel No.4 LT Mark Swinger (Slot)
Flying Blue Angel No.5 Major Nate Miller (Lead Solo)
Flying Blue Angel No.6 LT Frank Weisser (Opposing Solo)
Flying Blue Angel No.7 LT Ben Walborn (Advance Pilot/Narrator)
LT Amy Tomlinson (Events Coordinator)
Major Drew Hess (C-130 Pilot)
Capt Brendan Burks (C-130 Pilot)
Capt Edward Jorge (C-130 Pilot)
LT Manuel Sanchez (Maintenance Officer)
LT Johannah Valentine (Flight Surgeon)
CFO4 Adolfo P. DeMontalvo (Executive/Administrative Officer)
Capt Tyson Dunkelberger (Public Affairs Officer)
LT Anthony Robinson (Supply Officer)
Although the following dates have been approved, they are subject to change. For the most current schedule information, log on to http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/.
The Blue Angels 2009 Schedule:
This schedule is subject to change without notice.
March
March 14 NAF El Centro, CA - El Centro Air Show 2009 https://www.cnic.navy.mil/elcentro/airshow/index.htm
March 21-22 Punta Gorda, FL - 2009 Florida International Air Show http://www.floridaairshow.com/
March 28-29 Tyndall AFB, FL - Era of Airpower Air Show http://tyndall.schultzairshows.com/
April
April 4-5 Tuscaloosa, AL - Tuscaloosa Air Show http://www.ci.tuscaloosa.al.us/index.asp?NID=846
April 18-19 NAS Corpus Christi, TX - NAS Corpus Christi Air Show 2009 http://www.airshownetwork.com/show.php?id=282
April 25-26 Seymour Johnson AFB, NC - 2009 Wings Over Wayne http://www.wingsoverwayneairshow.com/
May
May 2-3 NAS/JRB New Orleans, LA - Nawlins Air Show 2009
May 16-17 MCAS Beaufort, SC - Blues Over Beaufort http://www.beaufortairshow.com/
May 23-24 NAS Patuxent River, MD - NAS Patuxent River Air Show 2009
May 30-31 Janesville, WI - Southern Wisconsin AirFEST http://www.swairfest.org/
June
June 6-7 Indianapolis, IN - Indianapolis Air Show http://www.indyairshow.com/
June 13-14 Denver, CO - Front Range Air Show '09 http://www.rmrfi.org/airshow.htm
June 20-21 Pittsburgh, PA - Wings Over Pittsburgh http://www.wingsoverpittsburgh.com/
June 27-28 North Kingstown, RI - North Kingstown Air Show
July
July 4-5 Binghamton, NY - Greater Binghamton Air Show
July 11-12 Detroit, MI
July 18 Pensacola Beach, FL - Pensacola Beach Air Show http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/what/airshow.asp
July 25-26 Sioux Falls, SD - Power of the Prairie http://www.siouxfallsairshow.com/
August
August 1-2 Seattle, WA - KeyBank Air Show at Seafair http://www.seafair.com/events/airshow/
August 8-9 Salinas, CA - California International Air Show http://www.salinasairshow.com/index1.htm
August 22-23 Fargo, ND - Fargo AirSho 2009 http://www.fargoairsho.com/
August 29-30 Offutt AFB, NE - Defenders of Freedom Air Show http://www.offuttairshow.com/
September
September 5-7 Toronto, ON - Toronto Air Show
September 11 NAS Fallon, NV - Fallon Air Show
September 19-20 Reno Stead Fields, NV - Reno Air Races http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php
September 26-27 Redding, CA - Redding Air Show http://www.reddingairshow.com/
October
October 2-4 MCAS Miramar, San Diego, CA - MCAS Miramar Air Show http://www.miramarairshow.com/
October 10-12 San Francisco, CA - Fleet Week San Francisco 2009 http://www.military.com/fleetweek
October 17-18 NAS Oceana, VA - 2009 NAS Oceana Air Show http://www.oceanaairshow.com/
October 24-25 Fort Worth, TX - Spirit of Freedom Air Show http://www.allianceairshow.com/
October 31 Houston, TX - Wings Over Houston http://www.wingsoverhouston.com/
November
November 1 Houston, TX - Wings Over Houston http://www.wingsoverhouston.com/
November 7-8 Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Sea and Sky Spectacular http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Special+Events/Sea+and+Sky+Spectacular/default.htm
November 13-14 NAS Pensacola, FL - NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming 2009 http://www.airshownetwork.com/show.php?id=76
Don't forget to checkout our tenth annual Air Show Guide that will appear in the March 2009 issue of Monitoring Times magazine. It will be loaded with the latest frequencies (for US and foreign teams), combined schedules, and radio equipment recommendations to make your air show experience an enjoyable and pleasurable one.
The web version of our March guide won't be posted to the MT website until mid to late April. This is done as a courtesy to our subscribers and readers who pay the freight. So get your copy of the March issue before it sells out when it is released in the last week of February. Better yet, get a subscription and don't miss a single exciting issue of Monitoring Times magazine.
Thanks Jack for the heads up.