Blue Angels Prepare for Aerial Show in Fort Lauderdale This Weekend

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The U.S. Navy‘s Blue Angels squadron is set to showcase their aerial acrobatics this weekend during the 2025 Air Dot Show in Fort Lauderdale. The event will take place on May 3 and 4 at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty, a Blue Angels pilot since late 2023, will perform during the show. Keilty, who has over 2,700 flight hours, said, “It’s exhilarating; it’s focused concentration,” at a recent press event at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

The Blue Angels will perform in 11 Boeing Super Hornets jets, which include nine single-seat F/A-18E and two two-seat F/A-18F aircraft. Their 40-minute performance features 20 choreographed precision maneuvers, with some stunts requiring the pilots to fly just 18 inches apart, often at speeds exceeding 400 mph.

Each year, the U.S. Navy selects a team of skilled pilots who represent a proud legacy. This year, the team includes three tactical fighter or attack jet pilots, two support officers, and one Marine Corps C-130J pilot. Alongside Keilty, Lt. Cmdr. Natalia Luchetti, a 24-year Navy veteran from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, will also play a role in the performance, having joined the Blue Angels in 2023.

The Blue Angels’ team consists of approximately 140 service men and women who handle maintenance and support duties. About 45 crew members travel to shows, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Notable milestones for the squadron include welcoming its first female pilots, Marine Maj. Katie Higgins in 2014 and Lt. Amanda Lee in 2022. “We are looking forward to inspiring millions of people,” Luchetti added ahead of the show.

The opening ceremonies for the Air Dot Show will start at 11:45 a.m. each day, with the Blue Angels’ performances scheduled for 2 p.m. Children ages five and under can access the park’s Drop Zone seating area without a ticket at 3109 East Sunrise Boulevard. For more details, event organizers encourage attendees to call 954-241-7937.