Blue Angels talk 2012 season, homecoming

Pensacola, Fla. (WALA) - The Blue Angels took a break from flying to meet-and-greet some fans and fellow pilots at a premiere party aboard NAS Pensacola Thursday night.

The Blues, along with dozens of other pilots, are expected to take to the skies Friday, November 2. Numerous different flight teams packed the Naval Aviation Museum to talk about the 2012 season.

Photos: Blue Angels

The premier was held less than 24-hours ahead of the start of the Blue Angels 2012 Homecoming Air Show.

Civilian, stunt, and military pilots said they are pumped for the big weekend and expect the crowds will be too.

 “It’s great to see them year after year and watch how they perform. It’s truly impressive,” said M.D. Evans with the Emerald Coast Parachute team who will open Fridays day and night air show.

Pensacola, of course, is home to the Blue Angels. However, other civilian and military flight teams said they will also be putting on quite the performance this weekend and expect a little friendly competition.

“We’re going to put high energy aerobatics. We’re going to fly low to the ground. We’re going to race the jet truck and at the end it’s going to end up in a big wall of fire,” said Air National Guard Aerobatic Pilot, Lt. Col. John Klatt.

Founder and flight leader of Team RV Michael Stewart said, “I remind people that the blue angels are really cool, but there’s only 6 of them. I got 11. So we out number them. “

Friendly competition aside, flight crews said they are honored to be included in the Blue’s homecoming air show and to share the skies with the Navy’s elite precision flying team.