Soaring high-speed maneuvers from jets operating inches apart will fill the skies off east beach this summer when the vaunted Blue Angels headline the “Blues Over Biloxi” Air Show July 21-22, Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich announced this afternoon.
“It’s been too long since we’ve had the excitement of an air show on the Coast, and we’re honored that the Blue Angels will be here to punctuate another summer of family fun in Biloxi,” Gilich said at a news conference at the Biloxi Visitors Center.
Representing the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels at the news conference were Lt. Andre Webb and Lt. Dave Steppe. Webb, who joined the Blue Angels in September, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has logged more than 2,100 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. Steppe is an Auburn graduate who joined the Blue Angels in 2016. He has more than 1,400 flight hours and more than 300 carrier arrested landings.
The two-day July show will be centered off the beachfront near the Great Lawn between Harrah’s and Margaritaville.
“We expect huge crowds both days,” Gilich added. “It’s the perfect location for viewing aerial acrobatics over the water.”
Along with the Blue Angels, the show will feature all the popular performances spectators have come to expect from a large regional air show including the world famous Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, the US Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team, the USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team, ACEMAKER Airshows T-33, a number of aerobatic solo performers, warbird flyovers, Coast Guard rescue demos, and a host of modern military aircraft.
The “Blues Over Biloxi” show will be operated by David Schultz Air Shows, which will coordinate the event. Seizing upon the natural viewing area, Schultz will offer dozens of gourmet food trucks to serve the thousands expected to gather at the Great Lawn and along the beachfront.
“We wanted to give spectators a huge variety of dining options and food trucks is the way to do it,” said Mark Boyd, Schultz’s Project Development Manager. “Many air shows are under-served by food vendors and attendees sometimes miss some of the air show action waiting in line.”
Other street vendors and performers will be present up and down the public display areas along Beach Boulevard.
More information about the show and sponsor inquiries may be made to Mark Boyd at 407-883-1628.
Photo gallery: See images from the press conference
Video: See the video of the press conference
Facebook: See the Blue Angels online
