TRAVERSE CITY -- The Blue Angels are happy to be back in Traverse City.
“Great scenery…especially during the loops over the peninsula and having the West and East Bay right underneath us. It was pretty awesome,” said Blue Angel Pilot Major Chris Collins.
Around town, eyes have been glued to the sky, watching the Blue Angels practice for their weekend of flying high at the Cherry Festival.
“Flying over the water, it’s always very smooth, so it's great for formation flying. The challenges are stetting up for the maneuvers when we are over the land. As the land heats up differently and the wind hits the land differently, it becomes very challenging for us as we are setting up for maneuvers, but once we get over the water it's great. It’s very smooth,” said Blue Angel Pilot Lt. Rob Kurrle.
The pilots said they are confident that the quality of their performance will live up to the splendor of their venue, and despite how risky their routines seem the pilots said they are always in complete control.
“What we do is not dangerous. A lot of the things we do this weekend, we make them look dangerous. It’s a lot of smoke and mirrors type stuff but I mean we do get close to each other...as close as 18 inches,” Collins said.
