The Patriot Post® · Blue Angels Thriller or Killer?
For a decade, I had the privilege of spending a couple of weeks at NAS Pensacola for annual national security forums. That location was special for two reasons. First, my father and uncle both got their “Wings of Gold” at Pensacola during World War II. And second, Pensacola is the home base of the Blue Angels, and they were often there between air shows.
There are countless videos of the Blues practicing at Pensacola, but this week is special — it’s the opening of Blues Week, their home air show. Thousands of aviation fans gathered on Pensacola Beach Wednesday morning for the “Breakfast with the Blues” event, and they were treated to an extraordinary low pass over the beach.
Fans were thrilled with the low pass, despite the fact that it kicked up some sand and a few lightweight beach covers — or maybe especially for that reason! But you wouldn’t know that given the mostly Leftmedia echo-chamber headlines about the horrors of the event.
Despite ABC News anchor David Muir’s drama-queen assertion about the “terrifying flyover” and how “people can be heard screaming,” Escambia County (Pensacola) Sheriff Chip Simons countered: “I was on the beach during yesterday morning’s flyover and joined thousands of others in cheering on the precision and power of the Blue Angels’ Demonstration Team. … A low flyover…involved the disruption of several tents and blankets on the beachfront. There were no injuries… Anyone describing this maneuver to be anything other than a spectacular and powerful moment of national pride is off base. We are proud of our Blue Angels!”
Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. The headlines and news stories read like they were from satire publications. I guess that’s to be expected when some low-testosterone tourists complain about an otherwise fantastic display of piloting skills and air power.
But I did not expect this nonsense from Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.
Last night, enduring the mandatory hour of cable news I record and review to see what and how the networks are spinning news, Fox’s Bret Baier repeated the Blue Angel horror stories, as did The Wall Street Journal. Yeah, they’re in the same building in Manhattan, and only some detached New York scribe would not understand that everybody on the beach and at air shows is most thrilled by the low pass!
Here is how the WSJ reported the deadly drama: “White House, Defense secretary celebrated the incident on social media after beachgoers scrambled and sand, umbrellas and chairs whipped through the air.” Seriously, that was the lead line.
Given that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth launched his campaign against medical testosterone deficiency among military leaders this week, predictably prompting beta male complaints, he might want to start with the Low-T Navy dweeb leftover from the Biden administration who felt an investigation into the low pass was necessary.
Of course, that investigation was terminated immediately by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, who declared, “Flight debrief complete. No reprimands. No firings. No problem. That’s the sound of Freedom!” For his part, Hegseth trolled the media, posting, “The flyovers will continue until morale improves.”
Despite the fact the Blue Angels make roaring surprise low passes directly over the heads of thousands of spectators at every air show, the pilot of #3 (whose name I will not mention here because of the haters) indicated he should have stayed over the water. Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-FL), who met with the pilot at a Blues reception after the incident, says: “He simply talked about the miscalculated turn… More than anything, he talked about the weight he’s been carrying since that moment. … He shared that he was shaken by what happened and needed time to process it. You could see the disappointment on his face. … What impressed me most…was the humility, accountability, and professionalism with which he has responded. We often celebrate people for flawless performances, but character is revealed when things don’t go according to plan. I saw character today.”
And having met many of these pilots over the years, let me assure you, character is their copilot.
Notably, this follows the suspension last week of eight South Carolina National Guard AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots after a July 4th “Salute from the Shore” low flyover near Myrtle Beach. That suspension was lifted immediately, and the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, declared, “Carry on Patriots.”
Question for Fox News and WSJ: Does your employee health plan cover low testosterone testing?
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776