Blue Angels’ first female pilot in Owensboro airshow

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — With the Blue Angels in Owensboro ahead of this weekend’s air show, and flying one of the jets is the Blue Angels’ first female pilot.

The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels are gearing up for their 23rd show of the year in the Owensboro.

There are a few tweaks to the routine for new and improved shows each year. This year there’s a historic twist involving Lieutenant Commander Amanda Lee; the first female fighter jet pilot apart of the elite flight demonstration is breaking the glass ceiling.

“I set out out to be the best and kinda found myself here. Try to be the best at whatever you’re doing at that moment in time, and it will open up doors for incredible opportunities,” says Lcdr. Lee.

It’s her first time in Kentucky, and her first time flying over a river with both an airport and river within a five mile radius of the show.

“We’ll come in as all 6 aircrafts. Then, we’ll kinda split up, and we’ll have diamond solos. We’ll get all back together toward the end of the show … probably some aerobatic maneuvers at the end. First, we got Fat Albert performing their flight demonstrations before we come on board,” says Lcdr. Lee.

The Fat Albert is flown by an all-marine corp crew. Rigorous training begins in Pensacola, Fl. in November.

Officials say pilots rack up around 400 flying hours a year to prepare for the 45-minute show. She says they practice how they play so they can operate as safe as possible.

“We’ll have two flights today. The first one is to look at checkpoints. The second flight today is to do a full practice demonstration with all 6 aircraft. Tomorrow we’ll be ready to go,”says Lcdr. Lee.

Lcdr. Lee says she was inspired to try and fly the aircraft she worked with daily, and is honored to be able to represent the 800,000 Navy-Marine Corps out in the world.

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