Blues are back

The Blue Angels will be streaking across the skies again around Havelock as they return to headline the 2010 Cherry Point Air Show on May 21 to 23.

The world renowned F/A-18 jet performance squadron last appeared at Cherry Point in 2008 and was seen by a record 170,000 spectators.

"The command is excited about the return of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team as we prepare to host North Carolina’s largest air show on those dates," said Bob Kenward, who organizes the air show through Marine Corps Community Services at Cherry Point.

Kenward said the Cherry Point event is the state’s only air show scheduled for 2010.

"Many other shows are set up to be biannual, but we’re glad to be hosting the only show in the state during that calendar year," he said.

The Blue Angels have been thrilling audiences since 1946 when the group gave its first performances in World War II-era, propeller-driven F6F Hellcats, according to a history of the Blue Angels on its Web site.

The team switched to jets in the late 1940s, and in 1986, began flying its current aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet.

Also joining the Blue Angels will be Fat Albert, a C-130T Hercules that is used as a maintenance aircraft for the jets.

All three of Fat Albert’s pilots — Maj. Brendan Burk, Capt. Edward Jorge and Capt. Benjamin Blanton — were trained at Cherry Point as part of Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Training Squadron 253.

Another Cherry Point connection for the Blue Angels is Capt. Tyson W. Dunkelberger, a Marine public affairs officer. Dunkelberger served with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs Office at Cherry Point and managed the base newspaper, The Windsock. Dunkelberger also managed the local community relations program and external media program, according to the Blue Angels Web site.

Kenward said work is ongoing to complete the list of aerobatic acts for the air show. One possibility is the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, which flies four propeller-driven AT-6 Texans.

The 2010 show will begin with a night show on May 21. Two day shows featuring the Blue Angels are scheduled for May 22 and 23.

For more information, go online to the air show Web site at www.cherrypointairshow.com or call the toll free information line at 1-866-WINGSNC.