bluesadrift1115

are now back in pensacola, florida. the world reknowned military flight demonstration team wrapped up their 2016 performance season — with their homecoming air show at the naval air station this past weekend. the spectacular event — not only celebrated veteran’s day weekend — but also the 70th anniversary of the blue angels team. a big year — but also a tough year — for the blues. 2 and a half months into this season…the team lost one of their pilots in a catastrophic crash. the shock and pain resonated across the country. especially here on delmarva — since the blue angels recently headlined the o-c air show. in a 47 abc special report — we follow up with the team to find out how they’re doing now. sound of jets flying by “i love it when they fly over us.” “it’s just so much fun, you know?” this family is from california… just a few – of the many – fans of the u-s navy blue angels who had their eyes set on the skies in baltimore — for maryland fleet week. and this was just a practice session. sound of jets flying by it’s easy to understand the draw… speed… agility… the raw power — that shakes you to the core — as the jets roar overhead… sound of jets flying by for some — the spectacle is so impressive — there are no words. “it’s …it was wonderful.” “it’s great!it’s great. very proud.” sound of jets flying by but the dedication of fans goes far beyond the air shows. judging by their following on social media alone — there are millions who bleed blue. “it’s amazing that we have that much support.” major mark montgomery — is new to the blue angel team this year. he flies the c-130 hercules — nicknamed the “fat albert”. we spoke with montgomery — after a community event with students at kenwood high school in baltimore county. sound of students clapping he admits it’s the commitment of fans that lifted the blues up this summer — after tragedy struck. “it’s hard, you know? i still watch them take off and can still get a little bit jittery at times, just with the memory of that.” the afternoon of june 2nd… during the team’s first practice for the great tennessee air show… “there had been an accident…involving a plane” u-s marine corps captain jeff kuss — crashed the f-a 18-c jet he was flying — shortly after takeoff.– sound of planes flying over someone screaming “no…oh my god!” the navy investigated — and determined the blue angel number 6 crash was primarily due to “pilot error”. when transitioning from a takeoff maneuver, the god!” the navy investigated — and determined the blue angel number 6 crash was primarily due to “pilot error”. when transitioning from a takeoff maneuver, the aircraft was quote “simply too low and too fast” to avoid hitting the ground. captain kuss attempted to eject — but was unsuccessful. major montgomery admits immediately after the crash — it was hard for the whole team. “it’s getting better everyday.so, the healing process is real, and you go through the anger and the sadness and remorse and all the guilt and everything…you see all that, but each day you look out and you look at all these fans and all these kids, and this is what helps.” the blues took some time off to mourn the loss of their friend and team member. they cancelled the rest of their air show dates in june. but returned to the skies july fourth weekend — for the national cherry festival in traverse city michigan. sound of jets flying by that’s 47 abc’s emily lampa reporting. it wasn’t only the fans that supported the blue angels through their tough season this year. tomorrow night — we’ll hear about how the air show community rallied behind the blues in their time of need. find these stories and more online – just logon to 47-abc-dot-com. expect the sky to