Every summer Pensacola Beach holds an airshow, hosting the Blue Angels for the hometown crowd.  The people of Pensacola love their Blues, and are extremely supportive.  Even though the team practices daily at NAS Pensacola the beach drew large crowds.  This year was especially meaningful, it was the first home show since the tragic accident in April that claimed the life of Opposing Solo, LCdr Kevin “Kojak” Davis. 

  In May the team brought back LCdr Craig “Merlin” Olsen to fly Opposing Solo, a position he flew during the 2004 season.  He was also the Narrator and Lead Solo, leaving the team at the end of 2005 for Oceana NAS where he was assigned to VFA-32 and preparing to deploy to the Persian Gulf.  After practice with the team Merlin was recertified to fly airshows.  He’s still improving, and said, “Some things come back faster than others, and some maneuvers are different, but it’s getting better every day”.  Merlin loves flying in Pensacola for the home crowd, “We won’t disappoint this weekend”.

  Performances at the beach show included the AeroShell Aerobatic team, Trojan Phlyers, Vortex Aerobatics, and a demonstration by the US Coast Guard Search and Rescue team.  The show’s headliners, the Blue Angels, dedicated their portion of the show to Kojak.  According to Merlin, the team honors him every time they fly.  Though LCdr John “JB” Allison missed the practice and Friday show due to sinus trouble, he returned for the Saturday show.  With a 6-ship formation the team ended the weekend by flying a missing man formation, one final salute to a fallen comrade.

  An important bit of business was also completed during the weekend, the selection of the 2008 officers.  More than 50 officers, from duty stations all over the world, applied for the seven available positions.  After months of interviews and meetings with the team the selections were finalized on Thursday night.  Joining the team for 2008 will be three new F/A-18 pilots:  Lt Paul Brantuas, a former West Coast demonstration pilot, currently assigned to VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore; Lt Mark Swinger, currently assigned to VFA-106 at NAS Oceana; and Lt Frank Weisser, currently assigned to VFA-87 at NAS Oceana.  Flying Fat Albert next year will be Capt Brendan Burks, currently assigned to Expeditionary Warfare School at MCB Quantico.  The new support officers for 2008 are:  Maintenance Officer Lt Manuel Sanchez, currently assigned to VFA-27 in Atsugi, Japan; Public Affairs Officer Capt Tyson Dunkelberger, currently assigned to MATSG-21 at NAS Pensacola; and Supply Officer Lt j.g. Anthony Robinson, currently assigned to CNAF Supply at NAS North Island.