Katie Peterson, a math teacher at Grand River Academy, and former Colorado Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs took to the skies over Grand Junction this past Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in a U.S. Navy Blue Angel F/A-18 Super Hornet. The high-performance flights from Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) served as a promotional event leading up to this weekend’s Grand Junction Air Show, offering two Coloradans an up-close look at the squadron’s aircraft.
Before their flights, both Peterson and Spilborghs underwent medical examinations and received a briefing on maintaining consciousness under high G-forces. Ryan Spilborghs, who is also a broadcaster for Rockies TV and the Major League Baseball Network Radio, noted he wasn't nervous, but anticipated an intense ride. He shared his expectation was "to get my teeth pushed into the back of my skull," adding that he spent the prior month training with running and wall-sits to prepare for the G-forces.
The flights themselves began with the F/A-18 Super Hornets roaring down the runway at GJT. After a brief period airborne, the jets swung into a steep vertical climb, appearing from the ground to shoot hundreds of feet straight into the sky. For the following 45 minutes, Lieutenant Commander Ronny Hafeza, pilot of Blue Angel No. 7, told observers that the passengers experienced flight at 95% of the speed of sound while the planes performed "every maneuver under the sun."
Peterson’s flight took her over familiar Grand Valley landmarks, including her own school, Grand River Academy, alongside the Bookcliffs, and above Highline Lake. Interviewed after landing, Peterson described the craft’s sheer speed as locking her in place. She indicated that watching videos cannot convey what to expect inside the jet. Peterson also highlighted the unique perspective, saying that flying upside down provided a vastly different view compared to looking out a small window on a commercial flight into or out of Grand Junction.
Spilborghs also shared his post-flight thoughts, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that the experience was "a once in a lifetime thrill" that "kicked my butt."
The selection process for the guest passengers involved airport staff members. Peterson was chosen partly because an airport staff member’s child is one of her students. Spilborghs received his invitation from Jesse Van Meter, an employee at West Star Aviation and a self-described die-hard Rockies fan.
Lt. Cmdr. Hafeza explained that the Blue Angels conduct two such demonstration flights before every air show they attend. He noted that guest passengers display a wide spectrum of reactions, ranging "Anywhere from fear to complete bliss." Hafeza observed that initial apprehension often gives way to a sense of considerable liberation after the high-performance climb, with most people returning to Earth feeling it was the "coolest experience I’ve ever had."
This unique opportunity for a local educator and a well-known sports personality offered a dramatic preview of the precision and power that the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will bring to the Grand Junction Air Show this weekend, highlighting the capabilities of their F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft over the Grand Valley.
