Wisconsin

Chatting with Blue Angels pilots in La Crosse, including jet No. 5, Madison’s Griffin Stangel

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An F-22 Raptor flies over the Blue Angels at the La Crosse Regional Airport on Thursday, June 13, 2024 (PHOTO: David Knutson)

The Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s F-22 Hornets have made it to La Crosse, for anyone that didn’t notice military jets flying around the Coulee Region Thursday.

Support staff for the Navy’s Blue Angels huddled around the jets at the La Crosse Regional Airport on Thursday, June 13, 2024 (PHOTO: David Knutson).

The Blue Angels pilots were available for interviews on Thursday.

We spoke with Griffin Stangel, who is a Madison native and pilots jet No. 7. We also spoke with Alexander Armatas or “The Boss” as they call the pilot who flies jet No. 1.

Interviews with Blue Angels pilots Griffin Stangel and Alexander Armatas at the La Crosse Airport.

After the interviews, the Air Force’s F22 Raptors just happened to be landing at the La Crosse Regional Airport. Two of the F22s will perform maneuvers, along with the Blue Angels and four other civilian teams.

Airfest begins at noon both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can only be purchased online.

The Air Force’s F-22 Raptors landed in La Crosse on Thursday, June, 13, 2024 (PHOTO: David Knutson).

One military team that will not be making the airshow is the 101st Airborne Apaches out of Fort Campbell, Ken., who had to cancel.

The Coast Guard’s Eurocopter MH-65, otherwise known as the Dolphin, making its way from Detroit is still scheduled to perform but is not on the list.

Back in May, Airfest’s Dave Larsen and Bruce Mathew gave La Crosse Talk PM the rundown of what to expect and also told some fun stories.


La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

1 Comment

  1. nick

    June 16, 2024 at 6:08 am

    I can be a party pooper when I want to be.
    13 air shows in June alone. How much fuel is used?
    How much contribution to global warming? How many during the rest of the year. A total waste of tax payer dollars and does not help the cause to slow global warming. Of course, many countries are not doing a thing regarding global warming.
    Jill Biden went back and forth several times between Europe and U S due to the conference in Europe and the trial in the US.
    Nothing of course said about that.
    She should have stayed in the US and help save the planet.

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