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Blue Angels will fly back to Cobb
By BRENDEN SAGER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/17/06
One of metro Atlanta's biggest — and loudest — crowd pleasers is set to make a return appearance after being canceled last year.
The Blue Angels squadron will perform at Naval Air Station Atlanta's "Angels Over Atlanta 2006" air show April 29 and 30. Last year, the air show was canceled by Dobbins Air Reserve Base officials because of budget constraints.
The U.S. Navy's airborne acrobatic team performed for two days over Cobb County in 2004, drawing an estimated 130,000 people to Dobbins and thousands more outside the base. It was the first time the Blue Angels had taken part in the air show in 18 years, and the crowds clogged traffic for miles on I-75 and streets around the base.
The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets, based in Pensacola.
The decision to cancel last year's show came amid concerns that Dobbins and NAS Atlanta would be included on the military's Base Realignment and Closure list. Officials in Washington spared Dobbins, but NAS Atlanta is scheduled to close.
NAS Atlanta spokesman Thom Cooney said the base closing and the air show have nothing to do with each other.
"The BRAC process is going to take a few years; that's why it's no big deal to put on the air show," Cooney said Thursday. "We put in a request for the Blue Angels before we even knew we were on a BRAC list. They're not connected."
NAS Atlanta and Dobbins share a 10,000-foot runway beside Cobb Parkway. The Air Force and Navy take turns playing host to the air show.
Cooney said the base can accommodate about 50,000 attendees each day. Thousands more will watch from rooftops, roadsides and hilltops throughout the county.
Cobb police spokesman Wayne Delk said a crew of traffic enforcement specialists will be deployed this year. "They have plans for helping to direct the traffic flow," he said.
Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said the crowds for the last show came from all over the Southeast.
By BRENDEN SAGER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/17/06
One of metro Atlanta's biggest — and loudest — crowd pleasers is set to make a return appearance after being canceled last year.
The Blue Angels squadron will perform at Naval Air Station Atlanta's "Angels Over Atlanta 2006" air show April 29 and 30. Last year, the air show was canceled by Dobbins Air Reserve Base officials because of budget constraints.
The U.S. Navy's airborne acrobatic team performed for two days over Cobb County in 2004, drawing an estimated 130,000 people to Dobbins and thousands more outside the base. It was the first time the Blue Angels had taken part in the air show in 18 years, and the crowds clogged traffic for miles on I-75 and streets around the base.
The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets, based in Pensacola.
The decision to cancel last year's show came amid concerns that Dobbins and NAS Atlanta would be included on the military's Base Realignment and Closure list. Officials in Washington spared Dobbins, but NAS Atlanta is scheduled to close.
NAS Atlanta spokesman Thom Cooney said the base closing and the air show have nothing to do with each other.
"The BRAC process is going to take a few years; that's why it's no big deal to put on the air show," Cooney said Thursday. "We put in a request for the Blue Angels before we even knew we were on a BRAC list. They're not connected."
NAS Atlanta and Dobbins share a 10,000-foot runway beside Cobb Parkway. The Air Force and Navy take turns playing host to the air show.
Cooney said the base can accommodate about 50,000 attendees each day. Thousands more will watch from rooftops, roadsides and hilltops throughout the county.
Cobb police spokesman Wayne Delk said a crew of traffic enforcement specialists will be deployed this year. "They have plans for helping to direct the traffic flow," he said.
Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said the crowds for the last show came from all over the Southeast.
