Thunder over Louisville: The Blue Angels Soar Over Louisville Waterfront

By Carmelo Turdo

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight demonstration Squadron continued to roar through the spring schedule with a performance last weekend at Thunder Over Louisville.  The airshow box over the Ohio River is unique in that it crosses the river at an angle, not just Contained parallel to the river banks.  This unique  arrangement allows for a more dynamic presentation of the Blue Angels' maneuvers as the F/A-18C Hornet fighters enter and exit over the city in an echoing blast of jet power.  The Aero Experience was in town for the Friday practice session, and had a front row seat for all the action.  A front was entering the area when the Blue Angels entered the airspace around 3:30pm, and the team performed their flat show routine for the gathering crowd of VIPS and early bird fans. 

By Leo Cachat

The following sequence presents the performance in roughly the order the maneuvers were flown.  Notice that No.7 two-seat aircraft, normally flown by Narrator Lt. Ryan Chamberlain and Events Coordinator Lt.Cmdr. Michael Cheng, is being flown in the No.5 Opposing Solo role during this Friday performance.