Blue Angels train in California for 70th anniversary
NAF EL CENTRO, Calif. (WEAR)
Pensacola's very own U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, will train in California for two months for their 70th season. Right now the Blues are at the Naval Air Facility (NAF) in El Centro, California to prepare for the upcoming show season. "For the last 49 years, NAF El Centro and the Imperial Valley have been the winter training home of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels,” said Captain William S. Doster, Commanding Office, NAF El Centro. “Everyone is looking forward to the arrival of the new team this year and helping to celebrate their 70th anniversary." The winter training takes 10 weeks and ends in early March after the team completes 120 flights during a rigorous flight schedule. The weather conditions of the Imperial Valley are optimal for the amount of flights the team is required to complete. "We are eager to begin training for our 70th season of putting on world class demonstrations," said Lt. Ryan Chamberlain, Blue Angels Lead Solo Pilot. "There is no better place than our second home in El Centro." The first public flight demonstration of 2016 will be at NAF El Centro on March 12. CLICK HERE to check out the 2016 air show season schedule.