Nos. 7 and 8 visit MCAS Beaufort, gone as quickly as they arrive
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
One of the Blue Angels’ familiar blue and gold Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets touched down at 8:55 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at MCAS Beaufort in advance of the Airshow set for Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13.
High-ranking MCAS Beaufort officers, members of the media and several area Marines ROTC outfits were on hand to greet Blue Angel No. 7, USMC Maj. Scott Laux, and Blue Angel No. 8, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Lilly Montana, who made the 55-minute or so flight – at .95 MACH (658 mph over the ground) – from Punta Gorda, Fla.
“We went about as fast as we could and it still took about an hour,” Laux said.
According to Montana, the two of them will visit each of the 32 show sites between now and the beginning of the 2025 season. They’ll meet with air show organizers, community leaders and individuals that are coming together to support the Blue Angels when they come to town.
“Our mission is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps,” Laux said. “We hope that we inspire young people to be interested in aviation, in service to country and just to be excellent in everything that they do. … Adults as well.”
Both Laux and Montana said that the travel, before and during the air show season, is one of the best parts of being a Blue Angel.
“We meet so many incredible people that are so enthusiastic about what we do, and how it reflects on the country, the military, and it’s a very high-energy crowd to be around, and that’s something I thrive on and I enjoy,” Laux said.
“I love the travel, and I’ll add on that I just love being a part of the organization,” Montana said “We’re 140 sailors and Marines, we’ve got a civilian support staff, and everybody that has gone through the application process is at absolute peak performance in their military career and everybody is so excited to be with the team, with the organization, and the teamwork is phenomenal.”
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
