‘Fat Albert’ flies over Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Hornets parked on the NAS flight line during the previous “Wings Over South Texas” Air Show. (Photo by Maryann Shramko). There may only be a dozen or so shopping days until Christmas, but that’s not what’s generating a buzz around NAS Kingsville these days This week, the buzz is all about the Navy’s Blue Angels who officially announced that they will, indeed, be headlining the 2010 “Wings Over South Texas” air show Match 27-28.

“We’re excited to announce that the Navy’s Blue Angels will be headlining our 2010 show,” NAS Kingsville Commanding Officer Capt. Phil Waddingham said shortly after the official announcement. “We’ve been awaiting the official word, and now that we have it, we can move “all ahead full” getting ready for the show.”

The 2010 air show will feature a practice show on Friday, March 26 for NAS Kingsville personnel, and a special event for area school children at Texas A&M Kingsville in Javelina Stadium. Weekend events include a Saturday evening concert, a kids’ zone for the children, more static aircraft displays than past years, and a lineup of military and civilian acts that will literally “blow your socks off.”

Civilian performers already on board include 2008 World Aerobatic Champion and AirShowBuzz 2008 “Person of the

Year” Rob Holland, and Corpus Christi native Paul Fiala. Holland will arrive the weekend prior to the air show and will be participating in a number of Community Outreach programs to help promote the show throughout South Texas. Holland is no stranger to flying the most challenging and most exciting aircraft in the world of aerobatics. Holland flies the incredible MX2 from MX Aircraft in North Carolina. The MX2 is a 385- plus horsepower masterpiece powered by the Lycoming AEIO-540 Aerobatic Engine that gives air show fans a whole new perspective at what an aircraft can do.

The MX2 can pull a Gload of plus and minus 16 G’s -- which results in tighter turns and loops and a whole variety of maneuvers that helps redefine the word “aerobatic.” The MX2 can roll at an astronomical 400-plus degrees per second, where viewers will see only a blur.

Fiala has been performing in air shows across the country for more than 30 years in his vintage biplane. Paul began flying at age 15 while attending high school in Corpus Christi, receiving his commercial pilot license and beginning his professional career while still in school.

Paul served as a charter pilot and flight instructor early in his career, before turning to corporate flying in 1962. Paul completed training at both Flight Safety International in New York, and American Airlines Flight Academy in Dallas/Fort Worth.

More acts will continue to be added to the line-up as the show nears, and NAS Kingsville officials are going

all-out to ensure the 2010 event is the “best ever” in South Texas.

For updates on the 2010 show, including performers and static displays, show times, and other information.,

Visit the air show web site at http://www.wingsoversouthtexas.org/wost.