Two U.S. Navy Blue Angels touched down at the Augusta Regional Airport on Thursday afternoon in preparation for an air show that will make a tour stop in Augusta in spring 2025.
The Blue Angels are a flight demonstration squadron formed in 1946, coming up on their 79th air show season with the 2025 Air Dot Show Tour.
Thursday’s precision-flying visitors to the CSRA included Blue Angel #8, Lt. Cmdr. Lillian “Lunchbox” Montana, along with Blue Angel #7, Maj. Scott Laux.
The 2025 Air Dot Show Tour will begin next year with the Augusta Air Show, scheduled for April 26-27.
The tour will continue across the country in Fort Lauderdale, central Pennsylvania, Ocean City, New York, Atlanta and finally Orlando.
Getting performance ready
According to Montana, the duo paid a visit to Augusta because it’s vital for the Angels to get familiar with the places where they’ll be performing.
“We are here to do our winter site visit, to take a look at the spaces, facilities, meet with the air show organizers for the summer 2025 show,” she said.
“Our mission as the Blue Angels is to inspire, to service the country, inspire those to excellence through our flight demonstration and community outreach,” Montana added. “Our hope is to bring a little bit of that spirit to Augusta as part of the air show.”
Showcasing aircrafts
A small crowd gathered to meet with Montana and Laux and to get up-close and personal with a supersonic, two-seater blue and yellow F/A-18F Super Hornet – the current premier strike fighter within the U.S. Navy.
“This is an example of the aircrafts that are deployed on our aircraft carriers all around the world,” said Laux. “It’s the main piece of the Navy’s tactical air force.”
Laux added that the air show’s lineup will include six aircrafts, including the F/A-18E Super Hornet – the single-seater variant of the plane which landed in Augusta – and an all Marine-crewed C-130J Super Hercules.
2025 ticket information
Tickets have not yet gone on sale for the Augusta Air Show in April; however, those who plan to attend can sign up for ticket sale announcements on the Augusta Air Show webpage.
Price points have not yet been announced.
The ticket options will include general admission, preferred seating along the flight line, flight line VIP seating with catering and air conditioning and 10’x12’ private viewing lawn boxes.
