Blue Angels Thrill in Michigan

By Raymond Rolak

The highlight at the Willow Run-Thunder Over Michigan air show last week was the Navy Blue Angels high performance flight team.  The show is operated by the Yankee Air Museum located at the Willow Run Airport in western Wayne County.  The Blue Angels did not disappoint as a main attraction.  Thousands in attendance applauded and shouted approval while watching the intricate maneuvers with awe and amazement.

Some of the Blue Angel choreography has the planes at only 18 inches apart.  Also, as part of the air show, vintage World War II planes reenacted a South Pacific dogfight between Corsairs and Zeros.  In addition more than two dozen F/A-18 Hornets from across the country were showcased.

Before the two day event at Willow Run Airport, Navy Lt. Commander, Jim Tomaszeski, 31, of Orange Park, Florida spoke about some of the preparations before a show.  “During high altitude aviation, hydration is a must.  When you think you have had enough water, drink some more.  I usually have some pasta in the evening, carbo-loading, just like in sports,” said Tomaszeski during a break at the Thunder Over Michigan.  “There sure were a lot of people out on Belleville Lake and Ford Lake watching today.” 

Tomaszeski is the second plane on the right side during the precision flying of the F/A-18 Hornet squadron.  He is a Florida State graduate and is steeped in the long tradition of the Navy and Marines as his father was an Admiral.

Tomaszeski had completed several Western Pacific Group deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk before joining the Blue Angels in September of 2009.  He has accumulated more than 2,000 flight hours and has 271 carrier arrested landings.
The demonstrations mix solo flights with their famous four-plane diamond and the six-plane delta patterns. When the routines are over, the six pilot’s taxi and park their planes within viewing distance of the grandstands and make themselves available for questions.     


Part of the mission statement for the Blue Angels is public relations and outreach.  The Blue Angels team is empowered to credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation and enhance recruiting. They are the consummate ambassadors of team work and good will.

Blue Angel pilot, Lt. C.J. Simonsen and Airman Issac Dominguez spoke at the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology in connection with the team’s appearance at Thunder Over Michigan.  According to Charles Hawes, President of MIAT, the visit provided an up-close and personalized experience for the students and visitors.  Hawes added, “This was the third time we have hosted the Blue Angels and we hope to do it again.”  The event was in the state-of-the-art MIAT hanger at their Canton, MI facility and over 500 attended.

Simonsen and Dominguez, who is a specialized aviation mechanic, spoke to the group about all aspects of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron including power plant maintenance for the aircraft.  “Nothing moves until the mechanics sign off,” said the ever smiling Dominguez.   

Originally from Odessa, Texas, Dominguez spoke about his three-year tour commitment with the squadron. “The team consists of seven distinct departments, jointly responsible for guaranteeing readiness.  We do a lot of cross utilization, so training is key,” he added.  A tribute to this dedicated team approach is that the Blue Angels have never canceled an air show due to a maintenance problem.

The Blue Angels had a change of command recently and Capt. Greg McWherter is in his second tour as the Blue Angels’ Commanding Officer.  The Chief of Naval Air Training selects the ‘Boss’.  The C.O. or ‘Boss’ must have at least 3,000 tactical jets flight-hours and have commanded a tactical jet squadron.  It is not a desk job by any means as the Commanding Officer flies the Number 1 jet for the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels will be in Seattle, Washington, August 6-7, for SEAFAIR-2011 and Fleet Week celebrations.  They will perform over Lake Washington.  The annual festivities take on an added significance as this is the Centennial of Naval Aviation which will honor aviation-related achievements and a century of mission-ready men and women in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

A three show swing for the Blue Angels will commence in California on October 1-2, at the Marine Corp Miramar Air Show in San Diego.  That will be followed by Fleet Week October 8-9, in San Francisco and the Central Valley Lemoore Air Show, October 15-16.

The MCAS will have more than 100 military and civilian display aircraft to explore.
There will also be simulation rides and a special presentation celebrating San Diego as the birthplace of Naval Aviation.
www.blueangels.navy.mil 
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