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The Sky is the Limit on Pensacola Beach
Red, White & Blues Week July 12-15
No fireworks scheduled for July 4th on Pensacola Beach
Though there will be no fireworks on Pensacola Beach to mark Tuesday, July 4, the beach will light up with the glitter of speeding aircraft and the dazzling aerobatics of the Blue Angels during the Red, White & Blues week on Pensacola Beach. The Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will amaze fans with their exhilarating maneuvers.
The week kicks off with the Blues flying Circle & Arrival maneuvers at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12 and continues with a practice session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 13.
The full dress rehearsal begins at noon on Friday, July 14 and includes Julian MacQueen flying his Grumman Widgeon G-44, Fred R. Cabanas in a Pitts Special S2-C, Gary Ward flying his Giles G-202, the Trojan Phlyers in their T28Bs, Viper West, the U.S. Air Force F-16 west coast demo team and of course the Blue Angels flying Fat Albert (C130) and F/A-18 A Hornets. The main event, the Pensacola Beach Air Show, starts at noon on Saturday, July 15.
Following are details about aircrafts and teams participating in the Pensacola Beach AirShow: Julian MacQueen will get things rolling with his Grumman Widgeon G-44.
This fast amphibian or flying boat was designed for the "carriage trade" of private fliers. In July 1940, the prototype Widgeon flew for the first time, but America's impending entry into World War II stalled plans for civilian production. The planes served during World War II and in total, 266 Widgeons were built, including 176 for the military.
Fred R. Cabanas will dazzle air show fans in his Pitts S2-C with tumbling and wifferdill maneuvers, more commonly known as double hammerheads, torque rolls and eye-level precision aerobatics. Going from 0 to 215 mph, he is sure to stun the crowd while experiencing extreme G forces. Cabanas started flying at age 16 and has more than 20,000 hours of flying time.
Always a favorite, Gary Ward will come back to Pensacola Beach with his Giles G-202, a two-seat, all carbon-fiber monoplane built to be an unlimited aerobatic airplane capable of withstanding in excess of plus or minus ten Gs. Full power and 2,750 RPM is typically used throughout an aerobatic demonstration.
The Trojan Phlyers will perform their aerial maneuvers in three fully restored T28B aircraft, demonstrating aircraft rich in military history and heritage. Two of the three T-28Bs were used by the US Navy as primary flight trainers. The third aircraft was used in combat in Laos by the Royal Laotian Air Force, whose most famous fighter pilot, Lee Lu, flew over 5,000 combat missions. This aircraft was recovered and restored by the Trojan Phlyers several years ago, and comes complete with several patched-over bullet holes.
Viper West will follow. In addition to its power, the F16 can fly distances as far as 2,000 miles without refueling. The first F-16 became part of the Air Force inventory in 1979 and has earned the reputation as the most maneuverable fighter in the world with the ability to deliver bombs with deadly accuracy.
The Blue Angels dedicate this 60th anniversary show season to the memory of retired Navy Captain Roy M. "Butch" Voris and every Blue Angel who has kept his legacy alive since 1946.
For a complete schedule of Red, White & Blues Week activities, call the Pensacola Beach Visitors Information Center or visit www.visitpensacolabeach. com.
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