THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604210108
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALISON BOLOGNA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Blue and gold streaked the sky above Norfolk Naval Air Station on Saturday as the Blue Angels dazzled a crowd of 200,000 with precision moves so rapid that keeping track of all six planes was a challenge.
``Are they trying to confuse us?'' one woman yelled. ``Where did the other two go?''
Even for those whose eyes couldn't keep up with the Navy's elite aerobatic team, the combination of roaring planes and roaring spectators created plenty of excitement at the air show of the 43rd annual Azalea Festival.
``It was cool because it looked they were going to crash,'' said 11-year-old Lisa Groover.
Brian Archer, 12, said, ``When they divided it looked they were going to hit each other. This is even better than I expected.''
The Blue Angels, celebrating their 50th anniversary, were clearly the highlight of the show, but they certainly weren't the only attraction.
Alton Lee, a 20-year Air Force veteran who has come to the show for the past five years, said: ``I like to watch the Angels, but I also like to see all of the old planes. I guess I've just got flying in the blood.''
The gates opened at 9 a.m., and demonstrations by performers like The Red Baron Squadron entertained visitors until around 3 p.m., when the Angels performed.
One of the top attention-getters never even left the ground: The ``Super Shockwave,'' a bright red truck that spit fire out its back and reached speeds of almost 300 mph on a runway, got people out of their seats.
``I liked that truck and wouldn't mind being in it,'' said spectator Cindy Sanderson. ``That was something I never saw before.''
The show also featured exhibits of aircraft ranging from F-14 fighter jets to H-53s - huge, black helicopters that work in mine sweeps.
But the Angels were still easily the biggest draw.
``I heard about the Blue Angels,'' said Jose Salvosa, an 18-year-old visiting from the Philippines. ``I heard they've got smoke that comes out the back of their planes and that they can make figures in the sky and formations. I want to see those tricks.''
Another first-time spectator, 24-year-old Antonio Sorgi, said, ``I'm expecting to see something spectacular.''
``I want to see them go upside down, fly close to each other and then split up like a flower - like I saw them do on TV.''
Bobby Jenkins came for another reason.
``I want to see where all my taxes are going,'' he said. ``I came to see those $20 million planes.'' MEMO: Related photos/A1
ILLUSTRATION: AIR SHOW TODAY
The Azalea Festival air show continues today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at Norfolk Naval Air Station. The Blue Angels perform at the end of
the day's demonstrations. Admission and parking are free.
by CNB