Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship Selected for Ride with Blue Angels at Rome Air Show

Centre, Ala. — Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship will soon fulfill a lifelong dream when he takes to the skies with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

Blankenship has been chosen to ride in “Fat Albert,” the Blue Angels’ C-130J military transport aircraft, during the Rome Air Show on October 17, 2025.

Those who know the Chief say it’s no secret what he loves most — family first, followed closely by the Blue Angels and Alabama football.

In addition to the Fat Albert flight, Blankenship is also under consideration for another rare honor: serving as a Key Influencer Rider. That distinction is voted on by the Blue Angels themselves and is reserved for community leaders who have made a meaningful impact.

“We are very proud of Chief Blankenship for being the kind of community leader that qualifies him for this recommendation,” the department shared in a statement. “We sincerely hope that he gets the nod.”

The Blue Angels are celebrating 79 years of aviation excellence. The squadron was first envisioned in 1946 by Admiral Chester Nimitz to raise public interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale. Over the decades, the team has flown an impressive lineup of aircraft, from the F6 Hellcat and F9 Panther in the 1940s, to the F-4 Phantom in the 1960s, the nimble A-4 Skyhawk in the 1970s, and the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which debuted during their 40th anniversary in 1986. In 2021, the Blue Angels transitioned to their current aircraft, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, while also marking their 75th anniversary.

Their famed support aircraft, known as “Fat Albert,” also has a rich history. First added to the team in 1949 to carry personnel and equipment between show sites, it has evolved through several platforms, including the Douglas R4D Sky Train, Curtiss R5C Commando, Douglas R5D Skymaster, and Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation. In 1970, the team received the Lockheed C-130, which fans affectionately nicknamed “Fat Albert.” The aircraft was upgraded in 2020 to its current platform, the C-130J Super Hercules — the very plane Chief Blankenship will fly aboard this month.

The Centre community, along with WEIS Radio, which will chronicle the event, joins in congratulating Chief Blankenship on what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime honor.