The famous Blue Angels flight demonstration team is stationed at Forrest Sherman Field, Naval Air Station Pensacola, during the show season. However, the squadron spends January through March training pilots and new team members at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. A Blue’s demonstration exhibits a choreographed refinements of skills possessed by all Naval aviators. It includes the graceful maneuvers of the four-jet Diamond Formation, in concert with the fast-paced, highperformance maneuvers of its two solo pilots. The team illustrates the pinnacle of precision flying, performing maneuvers in the renowned, six-jet Delta Formation. Meet the 2010 season U.S. Navy Blue Angels Team:  Flying Blue Angel No.1 Commander Greg McWherter (Commander/Leader)  Flying Blue Angel No.2 Lieutenant James Tomaszeski (Right Wing)  Flying Blue Angel No.3 Lieutenant Robert Kurrle Jr. (Left Wing)  Flying Blue Angel No.4 Major Chris Collins USMC (Slot)  Flying Blue Angel No.5 Lieutenant Commander Frank Weisser (Lead Solo)  Flying Blue Angel No.6 Lieutenant Ben Walborn (Opposing Solo) It’s July on the Florida Gulf Coast, and those who live around here (and perhaps some others) know what that means – it’s time for the Blue’s to fly!

An all-Marine Corps crew of three officers and five enlisted personnel operate the Lockheed-Martin C-130T Hercules, affectionately known as Fat Albert Airlines. Fat Albert joined the team in 1970 and flies more than 140,000 miles each season. It carries more than 40 maintenance and support personnel, their gear and spare parts and communication equipment for the air show. At select show sites, Fat Albert demonstrates its jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) capability. Eight solid-fuel rocket bottles, four on each side, attached near the rear paratrooper doors thrust the Hercules skyward. Fired simultaneously, the JATO bottles allow the mammoth transport aircraft to takeoff within 1,500 feet, climb at a 45-degree angle, and propel it to an altitude of 1,000 feet in approximately 15 seconds. Get ready to witness exhilarating stunts and heart-stopping maneuvers at the Pensacola Beach Air Show, July 9-10. The show features the Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, along with civilian and other military aircraft that will perform aerial acrobatics over the Gulf of Mexico during a weekend of high-flying fun.

Julian MacQueen Julian MacQueen, of Gulf Breeze, is among other things, a pilot. He is also the president and founder of Innisfree Hotels Inc. – which has earned him the title as the King of Hotels on Pensacola Beach. Julian MacQueen founded Innisfree in 1985 with one hotel in Alabama (see image), then moved to Gulf Breeze the following year, along with his wife, Kim MacQueen, and their children, Jonathan and Skye MacQueen. He has been developing hotels and condominiums ever since. On July 9-10, however, he will entertain beach visitors in another fashion – as an airshow pilot. He will be flying a Grumman Widgeon G-44 and entertaining the crowd as the opening act of the two-day event. Air show fans will have four opportunities this year to see the world-famous Blues in action on Pensacola Beach.

Skip Stewart Skip Stewart is one of the most entertaining airshow pilots in the country. He has nearly eight thousand hours of flying experience, is an airline transport pilot, certified flight instructor, has owned and operated an aerobatics flight school, competed in regional aerobatic competitions, worked as a chief pilot for a Fortune 500 company and has spent more than six years entertaining airshow fans. Skip practices tirelessly in the airplane he custom built himself to ensure the highest levels of proficiency. His show has been described as hard hitting, break dancing, and a rock-n-roll blow out. He is sure to be a hit when he takes to the skies at this year’s air show. You can see Stewart’s performance at both the Dress Rehearsal on Friday and the live show on Saturday. The Red, White and Blue’s week kicks off with Blue Angels jets performing Circle and Arrival maneuvers at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7. The Blues will also perform a practice session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 8.

Team RV Team RV performs in national air shows, local parades, missing mans, fly-ins, and other activities. It's flight members also travel the country and train other pilots on the art and discipline of formation flight. Team RV has flown in the largest air shows in the world to include Oshkosh and Sun-n-Fun. Team RV was also part of the Largest Civilian Formation world record flown in 2007 and 2009. Team RV is always working to improve the value of their shows and while the backbone of our show remains Precision Formation Demonstration, they've got a new twist coming for 2010. Be on the lookout for this exciting collection of six expert pilots, demonstrating precision formation flying. The full dress rehearsal begins at noon on Friday, July 9 and includes civilian and other military aircraft with the Blue Angels flying Fat Albert (C-130) and F/A-18 Hornets.

Red Star and The Dragon Red Star and The Dragon is arguably the most intense civilian jet air show act on the circuit. The combination of two totally different Jet Warbirds dueling it out in the skies above your show with a complete story line will in trance and amaze your audience, both young and old. The act encompasses two solo jets acts as well as a Jet Dog Fight act. Act One features the hottest Jet Warbird on the circuit, the Red Star Viper-29 performing blistering climbs and 6-G turns. Act Two features The Dragon, which reaches speeds up to 500 mph. Act Three features both aircraft locked in a mock dogfight, which is sure to be an exciting show. The main event, the Pensacola Beach Air Show, kicks off at noon on Saturday, July 10, with the Blue Angels flying at 2 p.m.

Aircraft and teams participating in the Pensacola Beach Air Show include:

 Grumman Widgeon G-44 flown by Julian MacQueen  Prometheus flown by Skip Stewart  Team RV  Red Star and The Dragon – Dragon Aviation  Fat Albert, a C-130 Hercules

 The Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets

For a complete schedule of Pensacola Beach Air Show activities, contact the Pensacola Beach Visitors Information Center at 850-932-1500 or 800-635-4803 or go to VisitPensacolaBeach.com.

Now, let’s take a look at each air show participant and learn a little more about the men and machines.