On September 20, members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Team visited Princess Anne High School, and spoke to students about the Navy, as well as what it takes to be a Blue Angel. The visit came ahead of their two performances at the NAS Oceana Airshow on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd. Team members Lieutenant Commander Natalia Luchetti, who is an Assistant Maintenance Officer, and Brett Lynch, who is a member of the life support team, spoke to a group of students gathered in the auditorium.
Luchetti started by sharing her journey from growing up in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, to becoming a member of the Blue Angels. She explained she originally wanted to be a doctor, however, her plan shifted. “I was working two jobs trying to put myself through college and at one point I felt like I was drowning,” she reflected. “So, I decided to join the military.”
After enlisting, she was sent to the USS Kitty Hawk in Japan, where she then transferred into aviation. “13 years after I was enlisted, I was commissioned as an aviation maintenance officer, which is what I am now,” she said. Luchetti elaborated on the duties of this job now that she is a member of the Blue Angels team. “Essentially, I oversee the maintenance of the jets, and during the show, I become a safety instructor,” she explained. She described that she ensures that every detail, from engine function to hydraulic systems, is meticulously checked and managed.
Luchetti also shared some general information about the Blue Angels flight squadron. “We have 19 F-18 Super Hornet Jets in our command and one C-130J Hercules which we call Fat Albert.” Fat Albert, affectionately nicknamed by the team, is the aircraft responsible for carrying the team from place to place, while the Super Hornet Jets are the jets flown in the show. In addition, they have a team of 160 sailors and marines that all assist in the Blue Angels’ performances.
Such a large team is necessary, Luchetti explained, to keep up with the intense schedule the Blue Angels have to follow. The team will visit 32 cities throughout the year and travel for roughly 301 days out of the total year. Winter training begins in Southern California, where they train for 12 different maneuvers. “We’re flying six days a week, six flights a day, so our day starts about 4:30 in the morning, and we continue until about 6-7 p.m.,” explained Luchetti. Despite the intense schedule the Blue Angles follow, she says it is worth it. “It’s so rewarding,” she shared. “We get to talk to you all, and just give you guys a lot of inspiration.” Lynch echoed these sentiments, saying “I love getting to stand up and talk to you guys.”
Lynch took to the stage after Luchetti finished, and shared some of his backstory, as well as his personal views on his time as a member of the Blue Angels team. He shared similar messages as Luchetti and emphasized the great experience he’s had being a member of the Blue Angels team. “It’s a great job, I love it,” he shared, later adding “it’s been phenomenal.” After Lynch finished speaking, the two took questions from the crowd, giving both students and teachers further opportunities to learn more about their careers.
The Blue Angels spend a lot of time visiting schools and hospitals, according to Luchetti and Lynch, and they aim to inspire the next generation. Their message to the students at PA was to pursue your passions, work hard, and never give up. “While the road to success may be tough, perseverance and teamwork can lead to greatness,” shared Luchetti. To close off the assembly, the two presented Principal Todd Tarkenton with a poster to commemorate the Blue Angels’ time spent at PA.
