Augusta, GA
Blue Angels will soar over Augusta this weekend. What to know for the show
After a week off, the Blue Angels are back at it this weekend at the Air Dot Augusta Air Show in Georgia.
The air show will be held at the Augusta Regional Airport and it will feature the Blue Angels along with Buck Roetman, the SOCOM Para-commandos and several other performers.
Augusta Air Show tickets are on sale for a discounted price until 11:59 p.m. on Friday.
Here’s what to know about the Blue Angels and the Augusta Air Show.
When is the Augusta Air Show 2025?
The Augusta Air Show will take place on April 26-27 at the Augusta Regional Airport, located at 1501 Aviation Way, Augusta, GA.
Augusta Air Show 2025 tickets
You can grab general admission tickets for the Augusta Air Show on Saturday and Sunday for 25% off until 11:59 p.m. on Friday. Tickets will be $33.50 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-12 afterward.
Some preferred seating, ramp/lawn boxes and Flight Line Club VIP tickets are still available. You can find more information on the website.
What is the Augusta Air Show schedule?
Here is a look at the schedule for the Augusta Air Show schedule this year:
- 9 a.m.: Gates open
- 11:30 a.m. to noon: Opening ceremonies
- Noon to 2:30 p.m.: Flight performances
- 2:30 p.m.: The Blue Angels
The schedule is the same for Saturday and Sunday.
Who are the Blue Angel pilots in 2025?
Here is a look at the 2025 Blue Angel pilots and their roles:
- #1 | Cmdr. Adam Bryan | USN — Flight leader and commanding officer
- #2 | Cmdr. Jack Keilty | USN — Right wing
- #3 | Maj. Brandon Wilkins | USMC — Left wing
- #4 | Lt. Cmdr. Wes Perkins | USN — Slot
- #5 | Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman | USN — Lead solo
- #6 | Lt. Connor O’Donnell | USN — Opposing solo
How did the Blue Angels get their name?
During the winter, Floridians lament the influx of snowbirds from places like New York, but the state is actually somewhat responsible for how the Blue Angels got its name.
Right Wing Pilot Lt. Maurice “Wick” Wickendoll came up with the name after he read about the Blue Angel nightclub in “The New Yorker” magazine. Wickendoll through the suggestion out to his superiors, and the name stuck.
What planes do the Blue Angels fly?
In 2021, the Blue Angels transitioned from the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which the team has flown since 1986, to the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. The new Super Hornets are 25% larger, can fly 40% further and remain on station 80% longer.
How fast do the Blue Angels fly?
The fastest the Blue Angels fly during an air show is 700 mph during its Sneak Pass maneuver. The slowest speed is around 120 mph during the Section High Alpha maneuver.
How close do the Blue Angels fly?
The diamond formation the Blue Angels fly in during the Diamond 360 maneuver has the jets flying about 18 inches from each other.
How low do the Blue Angels fly during an air show?
Not every air show is the same, and because safety is paramount, the range of maneuvers the team performs depends entirely upon the conditions at the time of the show. That said, in general, the infamous Sneak Pass is the closest they’ll get to the ground. During this maneuver, the Lead Solo will “sneak” up on the crowd from behind and pass only 50 feet above it. Earbuds are recommended to protect your ears, but nothing will save you from the rumbling you’ll feel in your chest as it passes overhead.
What is the most impressive move the Blue Angels perform?
The Blue Angels allow media and other selected civilians to participate in rides ahead of some shows. Anyone selected to participate has to pass a physical exam and get a sign-off from their doctor. During these rides, it’s not uncommon for the rider to pass out at some point. All of this is to say that it’s demanding enough just to sit in the cockpit. All of the maneuvers performed by the Blue Angels are impressive.
Augusta, GA
Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.
Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.
“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”
Multiple Commission seats up for election
The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.
District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.
Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.
The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.
Suspect wanted for questioning
Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.
Crime data shows progress in 2025
The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.
According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.
Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.
Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.
“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”
As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta organizations win $200K award for community outreach
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two Augusta organizations have been awarded $200,000 for their community outreach initiatives.
The Hub for Community Innovation Augusta and the Medical College of Georgia were named winners of the National Institutes of Health Build UP Trust Challenge, according to a post on Augusta University’s Facebook page.
The organizations were recognized for their efforts in expanding access to care and elevating community voices in research and healthcare through their Community Outreach through Athletics in Colleges and High Schools (COACHS) program.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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