Blue Angels jets at the Lincoln Airport/Photo by Kevin Thomas, KLIN
The Blue Angels are coming to Nebraska.
The Blue Angels will be the featured attraction at the Guardians of Freedom Air Show in Lincoln Saturday and Sunday.
The director of the air show, Lt. Col. Kemper Hesse, says Blue Angels’ pilots are Air Force pilots who apply to be on the team.
“When they become a part of that team it’s a two to three year commitment and that is all they do,” Hesse tells Jack and Dave in the Morning on Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KLIN. “They practice for months over the winter, not show time, they’re just practicing and they need it, because they’re doing 45 minutes of precision maneuvers we’re they’re as close as 18 inches to each other.”
Photo by Kevin Thomas, KLIN
Civilian aerobatic acts, military and vintage demonstrations, as well as a parachute team highlight the two days of the air show at the Lincoln Airport this weekend.
Hesse says another plane will make its first appearance in Nebraska.
“The F-22 Raptor, that’s the premiere fifth generation fighter jet for the Air Force, and we have never had that demonstration here. And I will tell you, I’ve seen bits and pieces of this and it does things that an airplane doesn’t naturally do, just based on some of its capabilities,” according to Hesse. “So, to see this performance, it is really neat and it really demonstrates the capabilities of the United States Air Force.”
The gates open Saturday and Sunday at 9:30am and close at 5pm. Admission is free.