Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy Blue Angels
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels gave two Maryland community figures the ride of a lifetime Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Show.
On June 16, 2026, the Blue Angels flew Maria Derisavi, the 90th Miss Maryland, and Luke McFadden, a Chesapeake Bay waterman and social media creator, during flights launched from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
The flights came as Southern Maryland prepares for the NAS Patuxent River Air Show, scheduled for June 19-21.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy Blue Angels
McFadden, a first-generation commercial fisherman from Pasadena, traded his waders for a flight suit before taking off in a Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet. Before the flight, aircrew conducted a final inspection of the jet on the Pax River flight line.
McFadden has built a large online following by sharing videos about crabbing, small business ownership and conservation on the Chesapeake Bay. His social media audience has grown to millions of followers across platforms.
Derisavi, a Top 10 semifinalist at the 2026 Miss America competition, has used her platform to empower young people through her “Seize Your Opportunities” initiative. Her work includes classroom visits and a curriculum focused on goal-setting, resilience and learning from setbacks.
Officials described both riders as positive influences in their communities and said the flights highlighted the connection between Southern Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay and Naval Aviation.
Naval Air Systems Command noted that the same flight-testing foundation behind the air show is part of everyday work at Pax River, where test pilots and engineers evaluate aircraft and systems before they reach the fleet.
“From our watermen below in the Bay to our test pilots proving the future of flight above, this is what Southern Maryland excellence looks like,” the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division said in a social media post.
The NAS Patuxent River Air Show will bring aviation demonstrations and Blue Angels performances to Southern Maryland from Friday, June 19, through Sunday, June 21.
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After seeing Luke’s awesome 20 minute review of his flight, I rather be crabbing on the Bay. He did represent the working men of Maryland very well.
Ms. Maryland’s looks exactly like Katy Perry