Bill and Jean Kozy got an early taste of this weekend’s Wings Over Pittsburgh air show when they were stuck at Pittsburgh International Airport for an hour so the fabled U.S. Navy Blue Angels performance flight team could practice. Once they saw Thursday’s practice, the Kozys, Carnegie natives, who retired to Fort Myers Fla., decided the air show was a must. And the Blue Angels did not disappoint yesterday. “It’s amazing,” Jean Kozy said. “They go up and down, spin all around and really look like they are about to crash — and then it all works out.” About 175,000 people packed into the military side of Pittsburgh International Airport yesterday for Wings Over Pittsburgh, which featured airborne barnstormers, the Blue Angels, the Navy Leap Frogs jumping team, and even a graceful hang glider. People shrugged off the heavy traffic and endured the summer heat for a chance to watch the precisely-choreographed spins, climbs and maneuvers performed in formation by groups of aircraft and by solo pilots. Some people watched it all from under the wing of a parked airplane, where they found some shade. “This is just incredible,” said Ken Wade, of Beltzhoover, as he admired the Blue Angels. Katie Demi, 8, of Claysville, Washington County, considers herself an aspiring Blue Angel. She and her family waited patiently for a chance to sit in the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet — the same plane the Blue Angels fly. “I can’t wait to get inside,” said Katie, Her brother, Charlie, 10, wants to fly a B-2 bomber. “I want to fly high and not be seen and blow things up,” he said. The large turnout was gratifying to the annual event’s organizers. The theme of this year’s show is “Operation Homecoming,” in tribute to members of the 911th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command who have returned safely after deployments in Iraq. “It’s just great to have people at the base,” said Master Sgt. Jim George, with the 911th Air Wing, who is the show’s production superintendent and a 38-year Air Force veteran. “Not all of the news about the military in Iraq has been positive, and we are delighted to interact with people here in a positive way.” Some 30 military planes were on display at the show and open to tours. They included the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the B-52 Stratofortress and the C-5 Galaxy. The 911th Airlift Wing provided aerial demonstrations of its C-130 Hercules aircraft. The 911th’s Maj. Chuck Sargent, the show’s director, said Wings Over Pittsburgh is as much an open house as an air show. “It’s been great today — picture perfect weather and troops from our operations and maintenance group and air medical squadron are recently back from Iraq,” he said. The day’s flagship performance was the hourlong series of flybys and dramatic formations in F/A-18 Hornets by the Blue Angels. An elite group of Navy and Marine pilots formed in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for 414 million fans in six decades. It was the group’s first appearance at the Pittsburgh air show. State police closed Business Route 60 from 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. yesterday to create a required safety zone for the Blue Angel performances. Other performers included hang glider Dan Buchanan, who took up the sport after both his legs were paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 1981. “It’s great here today,” said Buchanan, who said he became interested in hang gliding because it does not require use of his legs. The air show continues today at the 911th Air Wing in Moon. Additional Information:

Wings Over Pittsburgh airshow, ‘Operation Homecoming’

When: Continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The gate will open at 9 a.m. Visitors already inside the gate are permitted to stay until 5 p.m., but base security and local police will begin turning around incoming traffic at 2 p.m. with the gate closing at 3 p.m. Admission: Free Where: 911th Airlift Wing, Moon

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