MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT N.C. -- The 2010 Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Air Show was the first military installation to receive the Blue Angel Air Show of the Year award for 2010 at the International Council of Air Shows annual convention Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.
The 2010 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show was considered the best of 35 Blue Angel performance locations during 2010.
From May 21-23, Cherry Point opened its gates to the public and showcased many Marine aviation and Marine Air Ground Task Force capabilities. The 2010 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show featured various other top aviation performers, including the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, to the delight of approximately 156,000 air show spectators.
Cherry Point did an unbelievable job this year and it was a pleasure making them the first military installation to earn the Blue Angel Air Show of the Year award, said Navy Lt. Christian J. Simonsen, a Blue Angel pilot.
According to Simonsen, the criteria for this award consisted of complying with the Blue Angel’s support manual, meeting specific checklist timelines, maintenance support, media and community involvement and recruiting.
Cherry Point’s Blue Angel liaison officer, Maj. Todd E. Yeats, worked in coordination with all 2010 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show Committee leads to ensure the Blue Angels were taken care of before, during and after the air show.
"We coordinated everything from billeting to arranging fuel and maintenance support, as well as setting up recruiting events and community relations efforts for the Blue Angels," said Yeats. "We started this back in December of 2009."
Simonsen also commented on the superior maintenance support provided by Cherry Point during the air show and even after, when a Blue Angels jet remained at Cherry Point for two weeks following the air show for additional repairs.
During this time, Marine Transport Squadron 1 provided hangar space for the Blue Angels to conduct maintenance.
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Suadron 252 also provided hanger space and maintenance support for the Blue Angels during the air show.
The success at the 2010 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show was a result of a well organized team effort, said James Riemer, the director of the air show.
The next MCAS Cherry Point Air Show is scheduled for the spring of 2012 during the celebration of 100 years of Marine Corps aviation.