JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An Action News crew was scheduled on Friday afternoon to ride Fat Albert, the C-130 operated by the Marines. The crew was strapped in, ready to go, when something went wrong.
All signs pointed to go, until the crew noticed one of the engines wouldn't start.
The crew was disappointed but agreed it is better safe than sorry. Action News got off with the rest of the media and became spectators like everyone else.
"There's a lot of things to do for the kids. There's a kid zone out here, as well as food. Drinks. It's affordable for your family," said spectator Regina Littlejohn.
The Navy's Blue Angels squadron was grounded in 2013 because of the government shutdown, so this year is a real treat. In all, about 250,000 people are expected over the weekend.
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The Blue Angels are certainly a fan favorite. People came from far and wide to see the aircraft. The mission of the flight demo is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
"I'm loving it. It's my first time at an air show, so it's really cool to see the Blue Angels fly," said spectator Seth Coyn.
Even though Fat Albert was a no-go for Action News, the rest of the air show was a big win for onlookers. No matter what the age, everyone seemed excited to watch the nation's best.
One of the pilots believes it was probably a valve or something minor that grounded Fat Albert's engine. The hope is to get it back up and running for the rest of the weekend.
Click here for more details about the air show, including what you can and can't bring onto the base.
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