Blue Angels Land in Billings Ahead of the Yellowstone International Air Show

We were in the backyard last night hitting golf balls when we heard it. A deep, powerful rumble rolled across the sky. It was loud enough to send our dogs running in circles and stop my son mid-swing. He stood there with the golf club still in his hands, staring straight up.

We weren't the only ones looking. Neighbors began stepping out onto their decks, trying to figure out what was making that unmistakable sound.

Then my son spotted the source of all the noise. The second he saw the aircraft flying overhead, he started jumping up and down with excitement. Even my husband stopped what he was doing and looked toward the sky with a huge smile.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have arrived in Billings ahead of this weekend's Yellowstone International Air Show.

Billings Is Already Looking Toward the Sky

The Blue Angels are scheduled to headline the Yellowstone International Air Show at Billings Logan International Airport this weekend and will be practicing above us on Friday.

There's just something about hearing a powerful aircraft overhead that turns everyone into a kid for a moment. You stop what you're doing, point to the sky, and call for everyone else to step outside and see it, too.

Traci Taylor

That's exactly what happened in our neighborhood. Catching an early glimpse of the Blue Angels was enough to send a wave of excitement through our neighborhood.

The Blue Angels Celebrate 80 Years of Aviation Excellence

The Blue Angels were created in 1946 after Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Chester Nimitz called for a flight exhibition team that could build public interest in naval aviation and strengthen Navy morale, according to the official Blue Angels history.

The team first thrilled crowds with precision combat maneuvers in the F6F Hellcat. Over the following decades, the Blue Angels flew several different aircraft, including the F8F Bearcat, F9F Panther, F9F Cougar and F11F Tiger.

During the 1950s, the team introduced the six-aircraft delta formation that remains one of its most recognizable sights today. More background on the squadron's evolution is available through the Naval History and Heritage Command.

The Blue Angels later flew the F4J Phantom II, the only two-seat aircraft the delta formation used. In 1974, the team transitioned to the smaller and lighter A4F Skyhawk. Its tighter turning radius helped make the flight demonstration even more dynamic.

In 1986, the team celebrated its 40th anniversary by moving to the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. The Blue Angels transitioned to the Boeing F/A 18 Super Hornet in 2021. This year, the team is celebrating 80 years of precision flying, teamwork and naval aviation, a milestone History.com also marked with a rundown of the squadron's most notable moments.

Meet Fat Albert, the Blue Angels' Support Aircraft

The Blue Angels aren't only made up of the six blue and gold jets most people recognize. The team has relied on a support aircraft since 1949 to transport personnel and equipment between air show locations.

Over the years, several aircraft have filled that important role, including the Douglas R4D Skytrain, Curtiss R5C Commando, Douglas R5D Skymaster and Lockheed C121 Super Constellation.

In 1970, the team received a Lockheed Martin C130 that became affectionately known as "Fat Albert."  In 2020, Fat Albert transitioned to the C130J Super Hercules. The aircraft continues to carry the people, supplies, and equipment needed to take the Blue Angels' show across the country.

Montana Has Its Own Blue Angels Connection

Montana also has a special connection to the Blue Angels. Retired Brigadier General Kendall "Thumper" Switzer, who lives in Bozeman, served as a solo demonstration pilot with the Blue Angels during the early 1990s, as he told Montana Talks.

Switzer is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and TOPGUN who flew the F/A 18 as a Marine Corps pilot. He later served in the Air Force and Montana Air National Guard. His story is especially meaningful for Montana kids who might look up at the Blue Angels this weekend and begin dreaming about flying themselves someday.

There is another Montana connection, although this one comes with a funny twist. The current Blue Angel Number 8 is Commander Lillian "Lilly" Montana. Despite her last name, Commander Montana is actually from Vienna, Virginia, not the state of Montana.

Yellowstone International Air Show Is August 22 and 23

The Yellowstone International Air Show takes place Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, at Billings Logan International Airport. Gates open at 9 a.m. both days. The air show begins at 11 a.m., and the Blue Angels are scheduled to perform at 3 p.m.

Official full practice sessions are planned for Thursday and Friday, although those sessions are closed to the public. That doesn't mean the skies over Billings will be quiet. If we're lucky, we may catch a few glimpses of the Blue Angels flying overhead as they prepare for the weekend.

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If you hear that unmistakable rumble over the next few days, step outside and look up. You might get an early preview of the Yellowstone International Air Show right from your own backyard.