The Reno Air Racing Association is celebrating 60 years of aviation in Reno. There won't be any racing... but there will be an air show with performances such as the Blue Angels who are practicing ahead of this weekend on Thursday and Friday.

This is the first time since 2016 that they've been at this particular airfield, and they're ready to take off!

Captain Alex Armatas, the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader for the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron says "So we're extremely excited to be back we've actually got different airplanes than the last time we were here so it's been a bit so we're excited to be here."

The Blue Angels start their training in November and continue for five months flying multiple times a day multiple times a week to get ready for air shows.

You also have to apply to be a part of the Blue Angels when you're in the Marines and Navy.

Those who are selected are a part of the group for two to three years and then they switch out with other members after their term.

A few of the Blue Angels pilots told us their goal is to be inspirational.

Captain Armatas goes on to say "My hope is that the air show will be inspirational. And our job is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy Marine Corps and our hope is that the general public will get to see a little bit of that this weekend through the blue angels."

For some pilots, being a part of this crew is a dream come true.

Jack Keilty, Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy and #2 pilot and right wingmen for the 2024 Blue Angels tells us "I'm originally from Midwest City Oklahoma just outside of Oklahoma City, and I saw the Blue Angels fly and thought that was pretty cool. I was pretty inspired by it so I went to college and graduated from college and found myself in Navy flight school."

He adds "I'm a diamond pilot so I'm looking forward to showcasing some of the diamond maneuvers. One of the first ones you'll see is the diamond 360 and we're in there really close we advertise about 18 inches from wingtip to canopy and also wingtip to wingtip."

He also tells us about his experience so far "It's such a humbling thing to be a part of this organization and to have this mission set to bring the Navy and Marine Corps down from the altitudes we normally fly and fly in front of a crowd to showcase to ever community and all the people what their Navy and Marine Corps team is capable of."

While the Blue Angels are spectacular to watch there are other things to look forward to at the air show...

Tony Logoteta, the President and COO for the Reno Air Racing Association putting on the Reno Air Show tells us "This week we have an incredible line up we have the Blue Angels and the Snow Birds coming out this weekend and the F16 and about a dozen civilian acts for the race fans out there who miss seeing the old racers we have a few of them coming back to perform."

Tomorrow night Friday, October 4th they have a twilight and night show. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the event will start at 5:30 p.m. and end around 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday they open at 8:30 a.m. and the show starts at 10 a.m. and ends around 4 p.m.

Those days will feature back to back flying performances.

If you would like to buy tickets to the Reno Air Show we have a link here.