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April 2023
One of the world's best air shows coming to North Carolina in May
US Navy Blue Angels
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB / GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – Unquestionably one of the world’s best aerial exhibition teams, the US Navy Blue Angels will headline the Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro on May 20 and 21.
Typically held every other year and the largest air show in North Carolina, the Blue Angels attracted over 200,000 spectators to Seymour Johnson for their last headline performance in 2017.
“We look forward to showcasing the combat-proven F/A18 Super Hornet, the mainstay of modern naval air power, and the C-130J Super Hercules, the premier logistics support aircraft of the US Marine Corps,” said Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader (#1) Alexander Armatas. “Both aircraft operate worldwide carrying out the Navy and Marine Corps mission.”
The first-ever female fighter pilot on the Blue Angels jet demonstration squadron, Lieutenant Amanda Lee of Minnesota, will be flying left-wing (#3) in the formation.
Gates open at 8 AM each day with free admission and parking. Ceremonies begin at 10 AM, with an impressive array of flying exhibitions scheduled from 11 AM until 4:30 PM.
*Air show performances include:
US Navy Blue Angels
Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor demonstration
USMC C-130J Fat Albert Super Hercules
F-16 Viper Combined Arms Demonstration
Carbon Fiber MX Aircraft plane show by Rob Holland
Pearl Harbor reenactment – Tora! Tora! Tora!
Jelly Belly demonstration by Stunt Pilot, Kent Pietsch
Ace Maker T-33 air exhibition
Manfred Radius Sailplane demonstration
de Havilland Vampire jet warbird demo by Jerry “Vlad” Conley
Third Strike Wingwalkers — featuring the world’s only all-female team
P-51 Swamp Fox Mustang exhibition
Pitts Model 12 show by Trevor Rafferty
WWII-era P-40 demo (only about 20 in the world are airworthy)
New ground activities at the air show include a 40,000-square-foot hangar dedicated to STEM exhibits (science, technology, engineering, and math) from government, industry, education, entertainment, and defense. G-Force Robotics is helping to organize this educational and hands-on event with exhibitors nationwide.
Lt. Amanda Lee, MN – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
*Static aircraft displays include:
F-15E Strike Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-22 Raptor
F-35A Lightning II
F-33B Kingfisher
T-6 Texan
B-52 Stratofortress
C-5 Galaxy
E-3 Sentry
KC-46 Pegasus
KC-135 Stratotanker
C-130 Hercules
UNC Health Helicopter
British Spitfire
Sharp Nemesis NXT
P-51 Swamp Fox
NC Highway Patrol Helicopter
Cessna-172 Skyhawk
A Blue Angels themed Kids Zone activity area will be available in one of the large aircraft hangars for children two years of age and up. Admission for all-day access is $10.
F15E Strike Eagle – Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Six North Carolinians serve in crucial support roles on the elite Blue Angels team of 138 active-duty Sailors and Marines. They include Lieutenant Commander Gregory R. Jones, a Cary native and graduate of Green Hope High School; graduate of Burlington’s Elon University (BS Physics); graduate of Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI (US Navy Ensign commission); and recipient of two Navy Meritorious Service Awards and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.
The other five North Carolinians on the Blue Angels Team are Sgt. Dylan Lippard, USMC (Airframes), Statesville, NC; AO2 Leon Grant, Crew Chief, Fayetteville, NC; AE2 Blade Hiatt, Crew Chief, Morganton, NC; LS1 Gregory Lloyd, Logistics, Murphy, NC; and AD2 Dustin Beck, Power Plants, from Greenville, NC.
Jones and all team members ensure everything is in perfect working order for the Blue Angels.
Concessions and souvenirs will be available for purchase on the base. Free drinking water will be onsite. Attendees may bring clear, factory-sealed, reusable water bottles, 32-oz or less, and lawn chairs. Not allowed are coolers, large backpacks, pets, or tailgating. Visitors to the air show are encouraged to bring some form of hearing protection.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is home to the 4th Fighter Wing, formed in 1942 for the air war over Europe. Today, the F-15E Strike Eagles of the 4th Wing provide operational support worldwide, whenever and wherever needed. In addition, two Air Force Reserve units reside at Seymour Johnson, the 916th Air Refueling Wing, and the 414th Fighter Group.
*Air Show Performances and Static Displays subject to change
For more information:
Media contacts:
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
919-722-0027
Robert B Butler
North Carolina Press Release
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Commander Alexander Armatas – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
Lt. Commander Christopher Kapuschansky – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
Lt Scott Goossens – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
Lt Commander Julius Bratton – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
Lt Commander Griffin Stangel – F/A18 Super Hornet Pilot – US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
US Navy Blue Angels
Lieutenant Commander Gregory R. Jones, USN, Maintenance, Cary, NC
US Navy Blue Angels
F15E Strike Eagle – Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
US Navy Blue Angels Video
April 2017
Top Air Show Returns to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina
May 20-21, 2017
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB, GOLDSBORO, NC – Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the 4th Fighter Wing and military aviation in North Carolina, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will open its gates to the public for the biennial Wings Over Wayne County Air Show, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, 2017.
Headlining the air show will be The Blue Angels, the US Navy’s premier aerial demonstration team, performing a myriad of precise formations and maneuvers in six distinctive blue and yellow F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. Soaring at speeds of 120 to 700 mph, pilots will exhibit their extensive training and aircraft capability through a variety of extreme passes, rolls, tight turns, opposing passes, inverted flying, belly-to-belly flight, wingtip-to-wingtip formations, and the famous Diamond and Delta configurations.
“Wings Over Wayne is the top air show on the East Coast,” said 2017 Air Show Director Maj. Matthew R. Olde. “We’re looking forward to opening our doors and showcasing our air power and base with everyone.” In 2015, the air show at Seymour Johnson AFB attracted over 220,000 spectators featuring the US Air Force Thunderbirds.
The Wings Over Wayne family-friendly weekend includes a 20,000 square feet Kids’ Zone, occupying one of the largest aircraft hangars on the base. A $5 admission charge covers access to more than 15 attractions for the entire day, among them the Blue Angel Aircraft Carrier Slide, the 36 ft. Turbo Shuttle Slide, Space Camp Combo, Adventures in Aviation, Extreme Air Power Jump, the 52-ft Obstacle Course, and a lot more.
Seymour Johnson gates open at 8 AM. Ceremonies and demonstrations begin at 10 AM. Here is the tentative schedule for both May 20 and 21:
10:00
Opening Ceremonies / Demonstrations Begin
National Anthem by Danika Portz
US Army Special Forces Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team
F-15E Strike Eagle Flyover (4-ship)
Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Truck
Jacquie B Air Shows
10:40
B-2 Spirit Flyover (Saturday only)
Kevin Coleman Aerosports
The Lima Lima Flight Demonstration Team (6-ship T-34 Beechcraft)
T-33 Acemaker
Bill Stein Airshows
12:10
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Demonstration Team
Mike Wiskus with Lucas Oil Airshows Biplane Aerobatic Demonstration
12:40
Tora! Tora! Tora! A recreation of the attack on Pearl Harbor, featuring Japanese Zero aircraft
Kevin Coleman and Bill Stein Combined Performances
Combined Arms Demo featuring F15E Strike Eagle; F-16 Viper; A-10 Warthog; T-38 Talon; and a JTAC ground coordinated demo
13:30
F-15E Load Crew Demo
Air Force Drill Team Performance
Heritage Flight featuring P-51D Mustang; F-22 Raptor; A-10 WarthogF-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
4th Fighter Wing 75th Anniversary Review Flight
Jet Truck Race
15:00
US Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team
(SJAFB Wings Over Wayne Air Boss: George Cline)
Static displays include the: F-15E Strike Eagle; F-35 Lightning II; F-22 Raptor; A-10 Thunderbolt II; F-16 Fighting Falcon; F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet; C-17 Globemaster III; AH-60 Blackhawk; KC-135 Stratotanker; C-5 Galaxy; E-3 Sentry “AWACS”; T-38 Talon; T-1A Jayhawk; T-6A Texan II; KC-10; B-52H; C-130; CV-22; exotic automobiles; Civil Air Patrol; NC Highway Patrol; NASCAR; Vietnam-era helicopters; P-51 Mustang; Boeing Stearman; British Aerospace Bulldog; T-35; and, American Champion aircraft.
Additional displays include the SJAFB military working dogs, the Air Force Rifle Team, flight simulators, military equipment and other vehicles from several branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Seymour Johnson AFB gates will open at 8 AM on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21. There will be free water distribution sites located throughout the flight line. Food, beverages, and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Admission and parking are free.
Day passes for the Kids’ Zone are $5. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is home to the 4th Fighter Wing, consisting of approximately 7,000 people and 95 multi-role F-15E Strike Eagles. Formerly commanded by Chuck Yeager, the 4th Fighter Wing is one of the largest wings in the United States Air Force and has a highly decorated history spanning seven decades.
Media contact:
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
P. 919-722-0027
Robert B Butler
North Carolina Press Release
