CLEVELAND — Most people know about the pilots who fly the Blue Angels, but they wouldn’t be able to do their jobs without the team of people who work on the ground.

One of them is Grant Causey, who is on the Blue Angels’ Life Support team.

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland National Air Show is Labor Day weekend at Burke-Lakefront Airport 

  • The Blue Angels will be doing their flight demonstration, and there's a lot of moving parts to make it happen

  • There are the pilots, but also many team members doing work behind the scenes to make sure the planes do what they need to do and keep the pilots safe

“I maintain and repair the systems that support the life of the pilot during normal and emergency situations,” he said.

He is the first responder if anything were to happen to the aircraft and even has the control over the ejection seat.

“They trust me to make sure they get out of the jet safely if anything is to happen. So that’s very important to me and obviously to the pilots and their families as well,” he said.

Lt. Commander Natalia Luchetti has been in the Navy for 23 years and now works for the Blue Angels as an assistant maintenance officer.

“I never thought I would be this far in my career in the Navy,” she said.

Luchietti communicates with the jets throughout their flight demonstration. She’s excited to be a part of the Cleveland National Air Show.

“So being able to be here and then just showcase what my brothers and sisters in arms do on a daily basis is just a huge honor,” she said.

Causey explained how special the air show is for him, especially since he’s from Ohio.

“It gives me goosebumps. We’re in the birthplace of aviation as everyone knows and being able to showcase to Cleveland what the Navy does,” he said.

Causey said his favorite part of the air show is seeing kids reactions to the Blue Angels.