Blue Angels name female F/A-18 pilot

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Blue Angels its first female F/A-18E/F demonstration pilot. The Navy flight demonstration squadron announced Monday six new officers to join the team for the 2023 air show season. The squadron selected two F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pilots, an events coordinator, a C-130J Super Hercules pilot, an aviation maintenance officer and a flight surgeon to replace departing team members. Although hundreds of women have served with the Blue Angels in a variety of capacities over 55 years, Lt. Amanda Lee, of Mounds View, Minn., will be the first woman to serve as a demonstration pilot. New team members will report to the squadron in September for a two-month turnover period. Upon completion of the 2022 show season, which concludes in November with the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, the team will embark on a five-month training program at NAS Pensacola and Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. (Source: USAToday, 07/18/22)