Blue Angels Excited to Perform at Pease

With their Blue Angels F/A-18 jet parked outside Alpha Flying this morning, US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Todd Royles and Lt. Mark Tedrow met with members of the media and air show sponsors to discuss the 2012 Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.

Both Navy pilots said they are excited that the Blue Angels will perform at Pease International Airport for the second time in three years. The Blue Angels last headlined the air show in 2010.

When asked what they enjoy about flying at Pease, Royles replied, "the hospitality and the recreation in the area is tremendous."

He also said the Blue Angels appreciate the great patriotic spirit that people from all over New England display when they previously performed in the event in 2010.

The two pilots arrived at Pease International Airport on Tuesday evening to meet with air show organizers and sponsors as part of their winter meeting. The air show is scheduled to take place on June 30-July 1.

During their press conference, Tedrow explained that six Blue Angel F/A-18 jets will perform. He also said they have an extra jet onhand as a spare aircraft that also provides V.I.P. rides.

Royles said the show doesn't differ much from the other shows the Blue Angels will perform in 34 North American cities this year. He said it will include its share of diamond formations, low fly-overs and other military maneuvers to demonstrate pilots' skill and their aircrafts' performance.

From a logistical standpoint, Royles said it takes many people to even make an air show possible for the Blue Angels and that all of their contributions are very much appreciated.

"Across the board, it's the volunteers, the sponsors and the people out in the trenches" that make events like the Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show work.

The two pilots were scheduled to depart Pease about an hour after their press conference concluded, but had to taxi their jet back to Alpha Flying to check a mechanical problem. Their arrival at Pease on Tuesday was delayed about three hours because of a similar issue.

From Pease, Royles said they were scheduled to fly to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada to do a site review of the Canadian Snow Birds air show.