Wordless Wednesday: Saying ‘Hello’ to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Spectators Watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Perform at the Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012
Spectators Watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Perform at the Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012

If ya live in Southwest Florida then you certainly know the 32nd Annual Florida International Air Show took place last weekend at the Punta Gorda Airport. The show dazzled attendees with amazing aerobatics, military jet demonstrations, historic displays and other exhibits.

Thursday before the show, not only did I have an incredible flight experience with Team RV, the world’s largest air show team, but I had the honor of seeing the U.S. Navy Blue Angels team arrive AND interview Capt. Benjamin Blanton USMC, although I’m pretty sure I unintentionally insulted him. Well, he was very cool about it and it’s a story for another time, as well as my interview with him.

Did you miss the Florida International Air Show but still want to catch the Blues? View their schedule on the Blue Angels’ website (www.blueangels.navy.mil).

Enjoy these Blue Angels snapshots taken before the start of the Florida International Air Show.

The Blues Have Landed! Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012
The Blues Have Landed! Punta Gorda Airport, Fla., March 22, 2012
Blues Crew Gets Debriefed, Something Like "Turn Right, then Left, then Right, then Left..." Punta Gorda Airport, Fla., March 22, 2012
Blues Crew Gets Debriefed About their On-Ground Assignments, Something Like "Turn Right, then Left, then Right, then Left..." Punta Gorda Airport, Fla., March 22, 2012
Up Close with Blue Angels Jet #7, Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012
Up Close with Blue Angels Jet #7, Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012
No Skycap Here!
No Skycap Here!
Blues' F/A-18 Hornet's Get in Position, Punta Gorda Airport, March 22, 2012
Blues' F/A-18 Hornet's Get in Position (Yeah, I don't know the official military term for this), Punta Gorda Airport, Fla., March 22, 2012
Capt. Benjamin Blanton U.S. Marine Corp. He Pilots the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules Cargo Plane Known as Fat Albert Airlines.
Capt. Benjamin Blanton U.S. Marine Corp. He Pilots the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules Cargo Plane Known as Fat Albert Airlines.
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Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

That's me, Solo Travel Girl, swimming in Weeki Wachee Springs. Photo: Tammy Middleton/Studios Middleton
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