Plymouth residents heard the loud rumbling and looked skyward in surprise on July 6 as the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels made an unexpected pass over Plymouth Harbor.
According to local pilot Michael Goulian, owner of Mike Goulian Aviation, who assisted in coordinating the event, the dramatic flyover wasn’t a practice run or a public performance — it was part of a carefully coordinated photo mission designed to capture one of the nation’s most iconic flight teams over one of America’s most historic landmarks.
“The Blue Angels had just completed their Fourth of July weekend air show at Jones Beach in Long Island, New York and were en route to an air show in Brunswick, Maine,” Goulian said. “Plymouth was an ideal midway stop,” where he says the team hoped to photograph the aircraft flying over Mayflower II as part of imagery being created for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
A well-known aerobatic pilot, Goulian assisted the Blue Angels in coordinating the shoot and the visit, which he said is the teams’ first appearance over Plymouth. During the flight, one of the F/A-18 Super Hornets served as a photo platform while Goulian flew a distinctive yellow airplane positioned behind the formation. The resulting images are expected to be considered for commemorative Blue Angels promotional posters tied to the nation’s semi-quincentennial, although weather considerations may not have cooperated for the best shot.
“They are planning to do commemorative posters of our 250th celebration and they wanted to get a good shot of the Mayflower with the sails up,” Goulian said. “The weather wasn’t quite as good as we had hoped, so I am not sure if they got the shot they wanted. We will have to see once they finalize all of the photos from the last few days.”
The formation continued north after leaving Plymouth, making additional photographic stops, including at Portland Head Light in Maine, before heading on to Brunswick for the next air show.
For many on the waterfront, and down the coastline of Plymouth, however, the brief appearance became an unforgettable moment. Residents and visitors stopped in their tracks as the jets roared overhead, unaware they were witnessing a once-in-a-generation mission that linked one of the Navy’s most celebrated aviation teams with one of America’s most enduring symbols of its founding.
“We were absolutely thrilled to see the Blue Angels soaring above Mayflower II,” said Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ Executive Director Tom Begley. “Their incredible flyover created an unforgettable moment for our staff, guests, and visitors.”
Here’s just one of the many videos and photographs plastered all over social media platforms. For information about the Blue Angels go here.