The Navy’s elite precision-flying team the Blue Angels will highlight the Great State of Maine Air Show in Brunswick next summer.
Herb Gillen, spokesman for the air show, made the announcement Tuesday, two days before two Blue Angels pilots arrive in Maine to tour the airfield at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. Gillen said Lt. Brandon Hempler, of Wamego, Kansas, and Lt. Dave Steppe, of Birmingham, Alabama, are scheduled to do a flyover Thursday afternoon. They are then expected to land at the Brunswick Executive Airport around 3 p.m. before meeting with air show organizers.
Gillen said the air show will be held at the airport Aug. 26-27. The Blue Angels’ demonstration in Brunswick will be the team’s only New England appearance in 2017. Gillen said the Blue Angels last came to Brunswick last year.
“It was a great show in 2015,” Gillen said.
The Blue Angels are known for their precision formation flying and have proven to be a crowd favorite wherever they appear. During their appearance in Brunswick, the pilots will be flying six distinctive blue and gold F-18 Hornets.
The Blue Angels will be accompanied by their C-130 aircraft known as “Fat Albert.” The C-130 is a Hercules airlifter, which also performs at the airshow.
The gates to next year’s air show will open at 8 a.m. Flying demonstrations being at noon with the show ending around 4:30 p.m. Organizers do not release times for specific performances.The complete list of aerial performances has not been finalized yet.
Tickets are on sale at www.GreatStateOfMaineAirShow.us. Admission will range from general admission to private chalets where spectators get exclusive seating, private amenities and good views of the show, Gillen said.
The event has attracted 50,000 to 60,000 people in previous years.
The Brunswick Executive Airport is part of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station which was decommissioned on May 31, 2011, after Congress authorized several base closures across the nation.
The full-service airport is operated by the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority and has two 8,000-foot-long runways and 650,000 square feet of hangar space.
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