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Where are the Blue Angels flying this weekend? the 2024 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
9 min read

The Blue Angels return to the skies over the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point in North Carolina this weekend.

The U.S. Navy flight demonstration team will headline the 2024 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show on May 11-12.

Last year's show broke records after it received three awards: the Pinnacle Platinum Award, the Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award and the Blue Angels Military Air Show of the Year Award.

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The air show is MCAS Cherry Point and 2nd MAW's way to show appreciation to local and regional community partners and neighbors. Here's what to know and how to watch.

Where is the Cherry Point Air Show located?

The Cherry Point Air Show is held aboard MCAS Cherry Point, which is centrally located in Havelock, North Carolina.

Parking and other transportation

As with any Blue Angels air show, arriving early is crucial to having a hassle-free experience. There are free parking areas for the air show onboard MCAS Cherry Point. A shuttle bus service will provide guests with transportation to and from the main parking area but don't forget where you parked.

Flightline Club ticket holders can enter the main gate at Roosevelt Boulevard. Make sure you have your premium parking pass on your rearview mirror. There will be people directing traffic once you make it through the gate. You can then proceed to the Flightline Club chalet to pick up your wristbands.

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Anyone who purchased premium seating will enter at the Cunningham Gate on Cunningham Road. You will be directed to where to go once you pass through the gate, and you can pick up your wristbands at the ticket booth. General admission and free vehicle pass holders will also enter through the Cunningham Gate.

Handicap parking is available in all parking areas.

Blue Angels Cherry Point Air Show schedule

Gates for the Cherry Point Air Show will open at 9 a.m. Here's a quick look at what visitors can expect:

  • 2d MAW Band/National Anthem

  • Invocation

  • Vet Jump Team

  • Opening Remarks

  • Aerobatic Performances

    • Steve Covington

    • Steve Covington vs. Hot Streak II Jet Truck

    • Jack Aces

    • Hubie Tolson

    • Harrier Level III Demo

    • RJ Gritter

    • MV-22 Osprey

    • Tom Larkin

    • F-35B

    • "Rooster" Schmidle Airshows Pitts S-2B

    • Vet Jump Team

    • F-22 Raptor Demo

    • RJ Gritter

    • Randy Ball

    • Randy Ball vs. Hot Streak II Jet Truck

    • MAGTF Demo

    • Blue Angels Demo

What to expect at a Blue Angels air show?

If you’re never been to a Blue Angels air show, you’re in for a treat. Plan for an all-day event, from waiting in line as you await the opening gates at 8:30 a.m. to when the show wraps up about eight hours later.

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Once the gates open, depending on which show you’re attending, you’ll likely be able to meander through vendors, claim spots to watch the show, enjoy performances from civilian and other military teams and learn about some aeronautical history.

Each show has a fairly strict schedule it follows, which can be found online. Taking a peek, you’ll see that there’s something to keep your attention every 30 minutes to an hour, starting with a parachute demonstrations and ending with a demonstration from Fat Albert just before the Blue Angels take to the skies.

How long do the Blue Angels fly?

A Blue Angels air show is typically an all-day event spanning about eight hours. Civilian acts and other military performers take to the skies throughout the day leading up to the final event: the Blue Angels. Fat Albert will lead the Blues with a short 10-15-minute demonstration, and the Blues will perform for about an hour afterward.

What planes do the Blue Angels fly?

In 2021, the Blue Angels started flying in a new airplane for the first time in more than 30 years — the Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F. The new jets are 25% larger, fly 40% further, remain on station 80% longer and can carry more weapons than their predecessors. The team previously flew F/A-18 Hornets, which they transitioned to from the A-4F Skyhawk II in 1986.

After completing her first public air show performance as a Blue Angel pilot, U.S. Navy Lt. Amanda Lee poses with her crew in front of her F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
After completing her first public air show performance as a Blue Angel pilot, U.S. Navy Lt. Amanda Lee poses with her crew in front of her F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

How fast do the Blue Angels fly?

The new Super Hornets can reach top speeds just under Mach 2 (about 1,400 miles per hour), almost twice the speed of sound. The jets can climb at a maximum rate of 30,000 feet per minute.

Blue Angels pilot salary

Blue Angels pilot salaries are no different from what their pay would typically be, based on rank and time in service.

Where are the Blue Angels based?

The Blue Angels are based onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida.

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Blue Angels 2024 air show schedule: Blue Angels release 2025 air show schedule. Here's where the team will perform in 2024-2025

Blue Angel pilots 2024

Here’s a look at the Blue Angel pilots for the 2024 air show season.

  • #1 Cmdr. Alexander Armatas — Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering.

  • #2 Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty — Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty, is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School, graduating in 2005. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he lettered in football and earned a Bachelor's Degree in history in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)."

  • #3 Lt. Wesley Perkins — Lt. James Wesley Perkins is a native from Pordenone, Italy, grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Hutto High School in 2009. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a degree in ocean engineering in 2014. Perkins commissioned as an ensign through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

  • #4 Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee — Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, ice hockey and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, Amanda enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician (AT) and reported to her first command, VFA-136 "Knighthawks." She was selected to commission as a pilot through the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program in 2009. The following year, Lee attended the Naval Science Institute (NSI) for officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, and simultaneously began her studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.

  • #5 Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel — Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in air traffic control in 2012. Immediately after graduation, he reported to Newport, Rhode Island, where he received his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy after completion of Officer Candidate School.

  • #6 Cdr. Thomas Zimmerman — Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Paul's School in 2004 lettering in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He lettered in lacrosse at both schools and graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering, earning his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009.

  • #7 Lt. Connor O'Donnell (Narrator) — Lt. Connor O’Donnell is a native of Freeport, Maine, and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 2011. Following high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in operations research."

  • #8 Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught — Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught is a native of Englewood, Colorado. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2004, where he lettered in lacrosse. After high school he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. Upon graduation, Brian worked in professional sports marketing and promotions, eventually attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2011."

Blue Angels schedule 2024

Here’s where you can catch the Blue Angels throughout the rest of the 2024 season:

  • May 4-5: Vero Beach, Florida

  • May 11-12: Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina

  • May 22/24: U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland

  • May 25-26: Jones Beach, New York

  • June 1-2: Terre Haute, Indiana

  • June 8-9: Chesterfield, Missouri

  • June 15-16: La Crosse, Wisconsin

  • June22-23: Dayton, Ohio

  • June 29-30: Traverse City, Michigan

  • July 6-7 Johnson City, New York

  • July 13 Pensacola Beach, Florida

  • July 27-28 Fargo, North Dakota

  • Aug. 3-4: Seattle, Washington

  • Aug. 10-11: Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • Aug. 17-18: Chicago, Illinois

  • Aug. 24-25: Wichita, Kansas City

  • Aug. 31: Cleveland, Ohio

  • Sept. 1-2: Cleveland, Ohio

  • Sept. 14-15: Owensboro, Kentucky

  • Sept. 21-22: Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia

  • Sept. 28-29: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California

  • Oct. 12-13 San Francisco, California

  • Oct. 19-20 Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida

  • Oct. 26-27 Houston, Texas

  • Nov. 2-3 Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

What you can bring to the Cherry Point Air Show

  • Cameras, video cameras, camera bags and tripods — Only small camera bags are allowed, and they are subject to search. You may also have to turn your camera off and on to verify its authenticity.

  • Pagers and cell phones

  • Medications — Organizers ask that you disclose upfront if you have a medical condition that requires you to carry a needle.

  • Wagons

  • Diaper Bags, baby strollers, wheelchairs and lawn chairs

What you can't bring to the Cherry Point Air Show

  • Containers — This includes coolers, picnic bags, Ruc sacks, backpacks, duffle bags or briefcases

  • Drones/UAS

  • Firearms and other weapons

  • Food

  • Pets

  • Transmitters or walkie-talkies

  • Walking sticks — Canes and other walking aids are permissible.

  • Beach umbrellas

  • Pop-up tents

  • Balloons

  • Bicycles

  • Skateboards

  • Scooters

  • Any type of skates

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels headline Cherry Point Air Show. Here's what to know

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