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September 6-7, 2014 - 2014 Selfridge Open House with the Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels performed at Michigan’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base on Sept. 6 & 7, 2014. The 127th Wing Base in Harrison, MI, near Mount Clemens, hosted an open house and air show this year that featured the Blue Angels flying F/A-18 Hornets.

“The Selfridge Open House is the largest public military display in the state of Michigan, with equipment from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol/Customs & Homeland Security all on display at the base. Admission to the Open House is free, as is the parking at the base. As many as 75,000 spectators are expected to attend the Open House each of the two days, with tens of thousands more spectators watching the air show portion of the Open House from vantage points outside of the base…The Open House, typically held about every two or three years at the base, is one of the few times when the base is open to the general public.”

“Located on more than 3,600 acres along Lake St. Clair in Macomb County's Harrison Township, Selfridge Air National Guard Base is among the most diverse Air National Guard facilities in the nation. The base houses units of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol/Customs and Border Protection. Selfridge is the primary training site for more than 3,000 uniformed members of the military Reserve and National Guard components.”

In addition to the Blue Angels, American Aerobatic Julie Clark and her team were in town to put on an exciting air show with the entire Smokin’ Mentor T-34 team. Julie puts on a patriotic performance and said it is all about freedom in our United States. She asked the crowd to thank the Veterans. Julie was flying the MENTOR, her restored T-34 Free Spirit. In March of 2002, Julie received perhaps her highest honor, with induction into the Women In Aviation Pioneer-Hall of Fame of Women in Aviations, International. Julie’s ground crew travels an average of 30,000 miles per year. From one coast to another Julie paints the sky with her smoke-trailing loops rolls and hammerheads in patriotic red, white and blue.

On the grounds there were photo opportunities such as Poses with Rosie (the Riveter). There was also a Veterans Hanger one could tour and many aircraft on display such as ANG Stewart, numerous U.S. Air Force jets, Red Devil, helicopters, merchandise and food booths. There were dozens of military aircraft, ground vehicles, and information displays; something for everyone interested in military lore and equipment.

General admission and parking are free at the Open House, but this year some premium seating options were introduced; at a cost of $20 in advance or $25 at the event. Additionally there was Luxury Chalet seating, which included a catered lunch, available for $95 for adults and $50 for children, in advance, or $100 and $55 at the event.

The Blue Angels will be coming back to Michigan next year, this time to Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti on August 29th-30th, 2015, where they will perform at the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show

For more information about the Open House, go to http://www.selfridgeopenhouse.com.