continued from page crew arrived ….
continued from page
crew arrived in the city first, as they landed at the Vidalia Regional Airport on Wednesday morning, April 22. The remaining six jets, pilots, crew, and C-130 plane full of gear soared in for a landing the next day, April 23.
“I think all of us are excited to be in Vidalia – everyone fights over coming to Vidalia,” Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Wilkins, pilot of Blue Angel #4, emphasized. “I got the chance to see [the Vidalia Onion Festival Air Show] as an applicant [two years ago]. An air show anywhere is great. An air show where folks really care about you is awesome. An air show where folks bend over backwards to make sure that everything we need is done and taken care of is second to none, and that’s this place.”
The Blue Angels spent two days practicing for their shows on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, as they even celebrated the 80th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ creation on Friday, April 24. “The team was founded in 1946, and the names that you see on the airplanes [this weekend] are the first people to ever fly in those positions,” Wilkins added. “We started off as a four plane demonstration, so those gentlemen are on jets one through four. Then, when we did pick up jets five and six, those first gentlemen to ever fly those airplanes are on those jets.”
Wilkins emphasized that performing such an enthusiastic crowd on this special weekend made the Air Show that much more exciting for the pilots. Blue Angels Squadron Commander and Jet 1 Pilot Adam Bryan agreed, as he shared that the crowd’s excitement was his favorite part of coming to the Sweet Onion City.
“Everywhere is good to us, but this place is great to us. To be here on our birthday, and then to sit back and realize that folks have been doing this job for 80 years and the legacy that they’ve built that we now have to maintain is special. And to do it all at a place that we all love coming to makes it even more special,” Wilkins said.
Commander Bryan added, “I can feel the energy here already. Anytime that we have high energy at a show site, the team feeds off of it. We get excited when everyone else is excited, and it’s like this ball of energy that goes up.”
The Blue Angels leader continued, as he said that he most looked forward to meeting the attendees of the shows. “I'm excited to see the crowds. I'm excited to meet the people in the community because that's what's very exciting. We go to different show sites all of the year, and some are iconic in their look. But the ones that make me feel the best are the ones that give me that energy back,” he commented. “Every time I get to see one of those young adults or even young kids, they saw something awesome. I'm not necessarily making them try to be a Blue Angel someday, but they're looking at something that's incredible and saying, ‘Hey, that's something I can do. I can do something really, really hard and incredible, and that's what we're looking forward to.’” He explained his role with the Squadron, and how he goes about leading the other five pilots. “I'm the commanding officer first; so, I’m responsible for the health and well-being of this team, ensuring that the Navy squadron operates correctly and safely. I'm also the flight leader, so I have the honor of flying the number one jet, leading the flight demonstration, both the Diamond and the entire Delta, getting us ready, and performing at every single show site.”
Bryan continued, “Our mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. We do that through flight demonstration and community outreach. What we're trying to do is inspire a culture of excellence in service to country.”
Commander Lilly Montana and PR2 Jose Figueroa also spoke about their roles with the Angels and excitement to be in Vidalia.
Montana, who serves as the Events Coordinator and Squadron Naval Flight Officer is responsible for planning and coordinating Air Show performances and visits, and often rides along in the jets during travels to airports and practices. “So in the aircraft, I'll ride in the back seat of the two-seat jets, typically to and from show sites, and then during practices when it's available. But my primary responsibility at the team is to do all the planning and coordination leading up to an air show. During the show, you'll catch me on the top of the air boss stand, the announcer stand – I'm supervising music and then providing our narrator his narration cues.”
She said that she enjoys traveling with the crew and appreciates the close bond that the group shares. “Being on this team is such a privilege, and it's such a unique opportunity that we probably wouldn't get anywhere else in the military. Getting to see the world – we travel to 32 different show sites – from Alaska, Key West, Hawaii, Maine, Vidalia, Montana, and just getting to meet different people and see different parts of the country is very special,” Montana emphasized.
Figueroa echoed these sentiments, as he added, “My favorite part about being a part of this team is just the family atmosphere that we have. Usually in the military, you don't get many opportunities to be a part of a special team like this. Also, being able to speak to the fans and also the kids that are really, really passionate about aviation [is amazing].”
He explained that he serves as the Crew Chief for Blue Angel Jet 2 and oversees the plane’s preparation for flight. “So my job is essentially not only to set up the cockpit, but make sure that the aircraft is ready for the number two pilot to do his performance,” Figueroa clarified.
The pair shared that they both were excited to be in Georgia, and specifically Vidalia, because of the southern hospitality and culture of the crowd. “What I'm most excited for is getting to perform for the people of Vidalia and everybody that comes in town just to see us. The town has been so welcoming and wonderful. The hospitality is fantastic. It's a beautiful show site and it's a beautiful time to be here in the south,” Montana said.
“I’m excited to see the fans in Vidalia and give them a good show,” Figueroa remarked.
The duo explained that the Blue Angels Naval Flight Demonstration Team performs at several air shows of various sizes each year, and that each size show has something special about it, but the distances which attendees are willing to travel from to come to the Vidalia show make it stand out among the others. “The fact that this isn't necessarily our largest crowd, but folks come in from all over, [makes] the energy honestly just as high,” Montana said.
“Being in Georgia, I've always heard that there's the southern charm. So I mean, automatically, as soon as we got here, it felt like I was just coming home and family. So that energy is contagious, especially when you're surrounded by people that actually like really love what you do. So, I'm really excited about it,” Figueroa concluded.
In fact, for one Blue Angel Crew Member, traveling to Vidalia was very close to coming home, as Petty Officer First Class Brandon Gatewood’s home county of Camden County is around 120 miles away.
“It feels great [to be back in Georgia],” Gatewood emphasized. “It’s not home, but it’s home – it’s just down the street.”
Lieutenant Hafeza, Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Wilkins, Commander Adam Bryan, Commander Lilly Montana, PR2 Figueroa, and Petty Officer First Class Gatewood worked together with their fellow crew members and pilots to fly safe and successful Air Show demonstrations before taking to the skies to return to their home base in Pensacola, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, April 26.
PREPARING FOR THE SHOW – Commander Lilly Montana (left) and PR2 Jose Figueroa (right) are responsible for preparing for the Air Show, as Montana coordinates the shows and events while Figueroa ensures Blue Angel Jet 2 is ready for flight.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
GREETING THE ANGELS – State Senator Blake Tillery, Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper, and Vidalia City Councilman Loyd Mobley greet U.S. Navy Blue Angels officers after their arrival in Vidalia.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
MEETING LOCAL LEADERS – U.S. Navy Blue Angels Commander Adam Bryan met local leaders after his arrival in Vidalia.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
