United States Air Force Thunderbirds command the skies upon their arrival at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. The sky was cloudy and the F-16 Fighting Falcons brought the thunder. The team will conduct annual joint-training with the United States Navy Blue Angels in preparation for the 2023 airshow season.
The flight demonstration teams will practice over the base and at Shade Tree which is a secluded military reservation located in the Imperial County desert. They will co-headline the 2023 Naval Base Ventura County Air Show March 18-19, in Point Mugu.
Fun fact: I always wanted to be the Blue Angels’ photographer.
The Blue Angels maintenance crew are superstars. Because of their dedication to excellence, the Blue Angels have never had to cancel a show due to maintenance issues. These men and women work tirelessly to keep their planes in the air.
“Introducing Blue Angel #3, flying left wing, in her first year with the Flight Demonstration Squadron, please welcome Lt. Amanda Lee of Mounds View, Minnesota.”
Acknowledgments: Images courtesy of United States Navy Blue Angels, United States Air Force Thunderbirds, United States Department of Defense, and Naval Air Facility El Centro, California (my hometown!)
Copyright © In Pics and Words
In Pics and Words 
Great blog post David!
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Thank you, Anne. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform at the California Capital Airshow, Sept 23-24.
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😊
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