MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Pilots from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will speak at Middle Tennessee State University Friday, June 6, ahead of their headlining performances Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, at Smyrna Airport for the biennial Great Tennessee Air Show.

Members of the legendary flight demonstration team will share stories and answer questions from 8:30-9:30 a.m. June 6 on campus in Room 221 of the Ned McWherter Learning Resource Center, 1558 Military Memorial. The speaking engagement is free and open to the public.

The Blue Angels are the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron known for their high-flying maneuvers and precision aerobatics. The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps through the performances and community outreach.

Formed to boost morale after WWII

In 1946, the Blue Angels team was formed as a way to increase public support for naval aviation and boost morale after World War II, according to the official military website.

The Blue Angels’ air show season annually runs March through November, kicking off the performance schedule at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California, and concluding with a homecoming at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

During the off season, the team wows spectators with regularly scheduled flight practices in the skies over the Florida Panhandle around the base. A viewing area where visitors can watch the team practice is located at the National Naval Aviation Museum at the base in Pensacola. The team visits the museum to answer questions and sign autographs after most Wednesday practices.

For off-campus visitors attending the event, a searchable campus parking map is available athttps://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMapand more information about parking permits is available at https://parking.mtsu.edu.Visit https://www.greattennesseeairshow.com/ for more details about other air show performers and tickets. Visit blueangels.navy.mil/show to learn more.

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