Meet Blue Angel #8
The Woman Making the Magic Happen Behind America's Most Famous Flight Team
When six gleaming blue-and-gold F/A-18 Super Hornets roar across the Montana sky this August, most eyes will be fixed on the pilots flying just inches apart at nearly 700 miles per hour.
But behind every breathtaking maneuver is another kind of precision—one that begins months, even years, before the first jet ever reaches Billings.
Meet Commander Lillian "Lily" Montana, better known as Blue Angel #8, the woman who helps make it all happen.
“You can’t help but be aware and kind of be in awe of the Blue Angels and what they do,” Lily says. “We all work together to essentially take our show on the road.”
While she isn't in the diamond formation soaring overhead, she's the logistical mastermind responsible for making sure this elite flight demonstration team can perform safely and seamlessly at every one of its 32 show sites across the country.
“It’s my responsibility to make sure that there are hotels booked, that airspace is reserved correctly, and that we are following FAA guidelines and regulations. What hangar space are we using?” Lily says, among a whole host of additional details to check off her list. She also helps organize the community outreach events that have become just as important to the Blue Angels' mission as the flight demonstration itself.
“Even though seeing six shiny blue planes flying in close proximity to one another is pretty inspiring, the second prong of our mission is community outreach, inspiring a culture of excellence in service to country,” she says. “We're visiting high schools, youth programs, summer schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts. We’ll go to children's hospitals and do patient visits and engage with those families that may be going through a hard time and bringing a little bit of Navy and Marine Corps magic to them.”
Of course, there’s also time spent signing autographs, answering questions and encouraging the next generation to dream big. Lily recalls meeting young girls who had never imagined a woman could fly military aircraft, teenagers asking how they could someday become a Blue Angel, and families who drove hundreds of miles just to watch the team perform.
"Seeing that little spark ignite," she says, "is what makes it all worthwhile."
Billings Has Been Preparing for Months
While many Yellowstone Valley residents have only recently begun anticipating the Yellowstone International Air Show, planning for Billings actually began back in December of 2024 when the 2026 schedule was announced.
Commander Montana visited Billings this past January to inspect facilities, meet with organizers and identify potential challenges. Since then, coordination has continued between the Blue Angels, the FAA, airport officials and local organizers to ensure every detail is in place before the team arrives. She is quick to credit the local volunteers and organizers doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
“Yellowstone International Air Show has got a fantastic lineup of performers, and it takes an absolute village working to come up with the logistics,” she says.
Precision You Never See
The team travels with a C-130J Super Hercules affectionately nicknamed "Ernie" this season while their famous aircraft, "Fat Albert," undergoes scheduled maintenance. The cargo plane transports roughly 45,000 pounds of fuel, 35,000 pounds of equipment, and nearly 50 personnel needed to support the demonstration team.
The fighter jets themselves may surprise people as well.
“What few folks know is that we've got the oldest Super Hornets in the Navy. These were some of the first planes off the assembly line, you know, 20 or so years ago,” Lily says.
Although they are no longer combat-ready aircraft, they are meticulously maintained by enlisted sailors who keep them flying six days a week.
"You could eat lunch off their wings," she laughs, describing the incredible pride the maintenance crews take in every aircraft.
Commander Lily Montana with Blue Angel #7, Lt. Ronny HaFEZA
A Career Built on Excellence
The journey to becoming Blue Angel #8 wasn't something Lily planned as a little girl. Growing up in Vienna, Virginia, she initially pursued an ROTC scholarship simply because she needed a way to afford college.
"It wasn't possible unless I found a way to pay for college," she says.
That decision changed her life.
After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in political science, she earned her Wings of Gold in 2012 before serving as a Weapons Systems Officer aboard the F/A-18F Super Hornet. She’s served as an instructor, training future Naval Flight Officers and earned honors doing it. She has logged more than 1,000 flight hours and more than 180 carrier landings while receiving numerous military commendations for both operational excellence and leadership.
Today, she brings that same attention to detail and energy to one of the military's most recognizable public-facing organizations.
The Show Never Gets Old
After traveling to more than 30 air shows each season, one might assume things become routine. The checklist remains the same. So do the timelines and safety procedures. Even the song, “Kickstart My Heart,” by Mötley Crüe is cued up from city to city at max volume during the critical moment the Blue Angels’ jets push throttle and lift off the runway.
“It's funny, I can't hear any of the songs that are in our flight demonstration without it immediately just pulling me to the demo and thinking about the maneuver that's associated with it,” Lily says.
Still, the thrill never seems to fade.
“Flying in, let's say, to Seattle or Key West is going to be worlds different than our experience flying along the beach line in Fort Lauderdale, or up on the plateau in Billings. Everything is just different enough, just unique enough that it really doesn’t get old.”
And that's perhaps the secret behind the Blue Angels. The crowd sees six jets performing impossible feats. But, for Commander Lily Montana, she sees thousands of moving pieces coming together perfectly along with another opportunity to inspire the next generation.
“There truly are no words for how I feel about what we do here,” she says.
And so, when the end of August rolls around and the team starts to make its way to Big Sky Country, Commander Lily Montana will not only be ready, she’ll be excited.
“I mean, my last name is Montana. I am a big fan!” she says, adding that the team has heard how wonderful the air show organizers are and how welcoming the town is. “That’s why we can’t wait.”
Yellowstone International Air Show
The Yellowstone International Air Show hits the skies over Billings August 22nd through the 25th. For more information about the aerial performers and static displays, visit www.yellowstoneairshow.com. That’s also where you can snag your tickets before they sell out.
