Flight of Angels

Sam Kaufman/Bigfork Eagle Members of the Blue Angels perform aerial acrobatics during last weekend's Mountain Madness Airshow.

The skies above the Flathead Valley last week were full of smoke trails and the relentless thunder of jet engines as the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets and other military and performance aircraft took to the air over Glacier International Airport.

Although a handful of residents believed the air show to be an inconvenience, the majority of those both in and around the valley were singing only praises when they were singing the Blues.

Throughout the week, whenever the Blue Angels would practice their routine, spectators lined up along Montana Highway 102 to catch a glimpse of the aerial charisma of some of the finest pilots in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. However, when show time came, Highway 102 became a sea of cars full of excited fans who hoped to find a place to park. Nearly 1,000 volunteers aided the process of keeping the traffic moving, both on the highway and in the demo area behind Edwards Jet Center.

Although the air show was a cooperative effort on the part of Glacier Park International Airport and the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, much of the facilities, including the use of both hangers, the jet fuel farm and fuel trucks were made available by Edwards Jet Center, owned by Cliff Edwards and the Edwards family.

Jim Thomas--a 30-year veteran of Glacier Park International Airport and general manager for Edwards--ensured that the many needs of the Blue Angels prior to and during the show were adequately met as far as could be assisted by the crew of Edwards Jet Center.

A number of the Edwards' family and friends were present to watch the weekend's events in a special tent set up near the flight deck.

"It was a great experience," Chris Edwards said. "It's been a lot of fun to have them here. The Blue Angels are welcome at Edwards anytime. It's been kind of a family tradition that we've always gone to air shows, since I was a kid, and it's been a privilege to be able to do something like this."

A short list of the military vehicles from the past and present, which were showcased during the event, include the A-10 Warthog, the AH-1 Cobra Gunship, the AH-6410 Apache Attack Helicopter, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the C-5 Galaxy, the C-12 Huron, the C-17 Globemaster III, the C-21 twin turbofan engine aircraft, CH-47D Chinook, the E-2C Hawkeye, the EA-6B Prowler, the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Falcon, the F-117A Nighthawk, the P-3C Orion, the T-38A Talon, the TH-57 Sea Ranger, the T-45C Goshawk and the UH-60 Blackhawk.

The show opened with a local skydiving group from Skydive Lost Prairie. Among the favorites featured during the show were the T-6A Texas II Aerial Demonstration Team, the U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle Demonstration Team, the stunt flying of Kent and Warren Pietsch, and Les Shockley's Jet Powered Truck--a triple engine Peterbilt truck,which thrilled spectators with 36,000 horsepower and a race against one of the aircraft featured in the show.

Of course, the highlight for most show goers was the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The Blues had everyone standing at attention for a number of highly skilled maneuvers in their signature four-plane Diamond Formation. Solo maneuvers were also performed by jets five and six, which made a couple of close passes, including inverted and sneak passes--performed at 750 mph, just 50 feet above the ground--that caused a number of spectators' hearts to skip a beat or two. In addition, all six jets performed together in the renowned Delta Formation.

"You just about can't watch without feeling a sense of American Pride," one spectator commented.

The Blue Angels' define their mission as enhancing Navy and Marine Corps recruiting and representing the armed services to the United States and foreign nations. Consequently, the Blue Angels act as goodwill ambassadors for both the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps. Over the years, the Blue Angels have performed in a number of other countries, including a European tour of Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Although the team consists primarily of Naval officers, the 2005 Blue Angels team includes 14 Marines, two of which pilot the C-130 crew transport affectionately named Fat Albert. There are a total of 11 jets in the fleet, although only seven of them are present at any given air show.

This year, 63 Blue Angels team members were present at the Mountain Madness Airshow. Usually, the number of team members is limited to the 45, who can be transported on the C-130. However, two planes were used to bring in crewmen for the Kalispell air show.

Each of the team member, whom chief maintenance officer Louis Arrazola referred to as being among the finest flight technicians and support staff in the world, is handpicked based on stringent requirements.

"It's a very big privilege," maintenance officer Steve Gifford noted. "You submit a package to be on the team, and it is screened by everyone. They absolutely put you through the ringer to see if you have what it takes. They only choose the best of the best, and its probably the highlight of my Naval career. It's very high profile. People are always coming up to you, because they know you're a Blue Angel."

Blue Angels C-130 pilot Major Stefan Mueller felt that the demonstrations are indicative of the skill, training and dedication of military pilots. It is the precision of that very skill and training, Mueller noted, that the Blues Angels represent when they fly for audiences throughout the U.S. and around the world.

"We work hard," Mueller said. "We put in long hours and practice at each location to make every maneuver look effortless. We take our job very seriously."

Mueller and fellow C-130 pilot Matt McGath both said that flying in Glacier Country has been one of the highlight of this air show.

"It's just spectacular," Mueller said. "Montana is inspiring."

Glacier International Airport was selected as one of 34 locations in the U.S. and Canada, where the Blue Angels are scheduled to perform nearly 70 air shows. Since its inception in 1946, the Blues have flown for more than 393 million fans, including more than 17 million in the last season alone.

Among those attending the show from the West Shore was veteran Air Force Tip Clark, who formerly served as wing commander of an F-15 wing.

"It was a great show," Clark said. "It's really good for the community and the recruiting efforts, particularly during times when the country is at war. Like the Thunderbirds and the Army's Golden Knights, the Blue Angels are ambassadors for their service and for America. Those guys are selected as the creme of the crop from out in the field."