Blue Angels land in Milwaukee ahead of Air & Water show this weekend

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - Ahead of the Waterstone Bank Air and Water show this weekend, the Blue Angels and their crews landed in Milwaukee on Thursday, July 17, at the 128th Air Refueling Wing.

Six jets and a spare jet arrived, along with the C-130 plane holding the rest of the crew.

“This team is made up of 160 sailors, marines, pilots, aircrew, and maintenance," Command Master Chief Matt Dawson said. "This is hands down the best force that we have as far as team players and team everything.”

The crews will be spending time prepping for the show by marking checkpoints along the show route and making sure everything is in place.

“My favorite part is seeing the faces that are in the crowd, getting to see the F-18s and the C-130 isn't something we get to do every day," Supply Officer Lt. Mara Mason said.

The Blue Angels will be flying faster and lower than usual at this show according to crew members,

“There’s a lot of maintenance and a lot of moving parts that goes into getting these jets here from point A to point B," Dawson said.

Sharon Kuharske and her granddaughter Kalea Gaffney live near the airport and got a look at the Blue Angels on Thursday.

"It’s like an exciting sound," Gaffney said. “It’s so cool seeing them taking off and coming back in."