Blue Angels pilots to give free talk at MTSU June 6 ahead of Great Tennessee Air Show

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are the elite flight demonstration squadron known for their high-flying maneuvers and precision aerobatics. Pilots from the team will speak at 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 6, in the Learning Resource Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University, ahead of the Great Tennessee Air Show set for Saturday-Sunday, June 7-8, at the Smyrna (Tenn.) Airport. (Photo courtesy the U.S. Navy)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Pilots from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will speak at Middle Tennessee State University Friday, June 6, ahead of their headlining performances Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, at Smyrna Airport for the biennial Great Tennessee Air Show.

Members of the legendary flight demonstration team will share stories and answer questions from 8:30-9:30 a.m. June 6 on campus in Room 221 of the Ned McWherter Learning Resource Center, 1558 Military Memorial.

The speaking engagement is free and open to the public.

A parking pass is required for all off-campus visitors attending the event. The cost is $2 and can be obtained via the pay-by-plate system or by visiting parking services at 205 City View St. Learn more at https://parking.mtsu.edu. Guests are encouraged to park in the Bragg Parking Lot. A searchable campus parking map is available at https://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

Visit https://www.greattennesseeairshow.com/ for more details about other air show performers and tickets.

The Blue Angels are the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron known for their high-flying maneuvers and precision aerobatics. The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps through the performances and community outreach.

In 1946, the Blue Angels team was formed as a way to increase public support for naval aviation and boost morale after World War II, according to the official military website.

The Blue Angels’ air show season annually runs March through November, kicking off the performance schedule at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California, and concluding with a homecoming at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

During the off season, the team wows spectators with regularly scheduled flight practices in the skies over the Florida Panhandle around the base. A viewing area where visitors can watch the team practice is located at the National Naval Aviation Museum at the base in Pensacola. The team visits the museum to answer questions and sign autographs after most Wednesday practices.

Visit blueangels.navy.mil/show to learn more.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)