Family of Blue Angels pilots and crew lean on each other
PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) - Tiffany Hopkins grew up in Pascagoula and since then has moved around the country with her husband Garrett. As a Navy maintenance officer, Garrett got a dream opportunity.
"He came up to me one day and said how do you feel about applying for the Blue Angels, and I said heck yea," said Tiffany Hopkins.
Garrett Hopkins just celebrated his one year anniversary with the Blue Angels, and when his wife watches the shows she gets chills.
"It puts a big huge smile on my face," Hopkins said. "It's like wow my husband is a part of this."
From the ground, Tiffany's husband makes sure nothing's wrong with the planes.
"With my husband being in maintenance, I learn a lot about the planes, how they work and what all goes together behind the scenes in order for the pilots to fly," said Hopkins.
The Hopkins have three children and Tiffany usually brings them to the shows. While the youngest just likes the music, the other two are always full of anticipation.
"They understand a little bit of it, but they don't understand a lot of it," Hopkins said. "They just always want to know when's it going to happen."
The Blue Angels pilots and crew stay on the road for more than 200 days a year. With her husband away so much Tiffany is thankful for the other Blue Angels wives who she calls her extended family.
"It's definitely a unique bonding experience that these ladies go through. We support each other when the guys are gone or when we're in a hotel, and we're all stuck and one's sick. It's just nice to have that bonding with any of the wives around and family."
Even though Tiffany has seen the Blue Angels zip through the sky many times, the show doesn't get old.
"You never know when a sneak attack is going to come through, so that's always a jump when it comes flying through, and the solo pilots or the diamonds are always fun. Just the show in general is a lot of fun to watch."
The "Blues Over Biloxi" show takes place on Saturday and Sunday and the best viewing spot is on the Great Lawn in Biloxi.
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