OCEAN CITY — As if the 2015 Ocean City Air Show wasn’t loaded enough with top attractions, the promoters announced this week the event in June will feature the first-ever female pilot to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
Marine Capt. Katie Higgins, a third generation military aviator, is originally from Severna Park, Md. She is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and then went on to Georgetown University where she earned a Masters in International Security and later started flight school training in Pensacola, Fla. in 2009.
Higgins is one of three Blue Angel pilots who fly the C-130 Hercules, also known as “Fat Albert,” and will be taking the controls of the huge aircraft during the Ocean City Air Show in June. The cargo plane flies all of the necessary personnel and supplies for the Blue Angels performance at the air shows. Higgins and “Fat Albert” will also perform a demonstration for the crowd on Saturday and Sunday of the Ocean City Air Show in June.
Higgins has flown almost 400 combat hours in support of numerous operations and exercises in Afghanistan, Djibouti, France, Greece, South Sudan, Spain and Uganda. She joined the Blue Angels in September 2014. Higgins has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours and her decorations include five Air Medals and various unit and personal awards.
“We are excited to welcome Katie to Ocean City and we know all of Maryland is proud of her,” said Ocean City Air Show President Bryan Lilley this week. “She will add even more excitement to this amazing lineup with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the Breitling Jet Team and the F-22 Raptor Demo Team. Those are the three biggest acts in the air show industry, all performing in the same year.”
With the 2015 Ocean City Air Show now less than two months away, ticket sales for the event are already brisk, according to promoters. VIP Penthouse tickets for Saturday are already sold out and promoters are encouraging fans to buy tickets early. Fans can save 25 percent off the day-of admission price by purchasing tickets in advance through May 15.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ocairshow.com or call 877-722-2927.