The Wings Over Houston air show brings education, service and community to Ellington Field

This weekend at Wings Over Houston you will hear and see planes and jets flying over Houston.

Ahead of the public show, KPRC 2 got a glimpse into how pilots and crew members prepare to bring magic to the skies.

The US Navy’s Blue Angels Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet will fly through the skies and perform breathtaking tricks. So much care is taken to ensure that their 40+ minute show runs smoothly. Captain Isaac Becker says repetition is key.

Even crew members like AM2 Ashely Del Obre continually check tires and gears to ensure the Super Hornet can fly properly.

“It’s rewarding for me to see all your hard work disappear in the air,” Del Obre said.

Lieutenant Commander Natalia Luchetti has served in the Navy for 23 years and hopes the Blue Angels demonstration will inspire everyone.

“I want them to be inspired and see how we are here, once again, representing the more than 800,000 Sailors and Marines who are out there defending our country, our nation and our families. “We will also hopefully inspire a little bit of a culture of excellence and professionalism in everything we do, serving our country and serving our community that truly counts on us,” said Lieutenant Commander Luchetti.

One of the Blue Angel’s logistics specialists is a Texan. Her family drives seven hours from Miles, Texas to see her and the show.

“I hope they are proud of what I do,” says Alisea Meza.

On the other side of Ellington Field, the Air Force’s F-16 Fighting Falcon waits to fly through the sky. The F-16 carries the original design for its 50th anniversary.

The 50th anniversary of Crew Chief Sargent Colton McMicken is profound. His grandfather was one of the first crew chiefs to receive the aircraft at the base.

Wings Over Houston showcases living history in the sky. A volunteer pilot group called “Tora! Torah! Tora!” will recreate the attack on Pearl Harbor. The show includes narration and even pyrotechnics.

Their name and aircraft come from a film produced in the 1970s (which also bore the title). Torah! Torah! Torah!).

After the film, the plane was for sale and her group purchased it to bring the story to life for generations to come.

Patrick Hutchins’ father flew in the first-ever demonstration in Galveston. Hutchinson continues to fly so that no one forgets this important piece of US history.

“A lot of people don’t know about Pearl Harbor…so kids can come to an air show and learn about the history. At our demonstration we also honor veterans. We honor all active military personnel. And we certainly honor the men who were at Pearl Harbor that day,” Hutchins said.

Wings Over Houston opens its doors on Saturday at 8 a.m., with the latest entry being 3 p.m

The forecast for the weekend calls for sunshine and temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s. So be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses to enjoy the show.