Marines making first appearance at Seafair Air Show

SEATTLE — A Seafair first will happen this weekend.

The Marine Air-Ground Task Force will perform during the Boeing Seafair Air Show right before the Blue Angels.

On Friday, they impressed crowds on Lake Washington during a practice show.

A CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopter hovered just above the water.

An inflatable boat popped out, followed by swimmers.

Soon, the Marines were in the Zodiac, speeding across the lake.

It was just the start of a spectacular show.

"It's nice to know they can keep us secure, what they're capable of if something happens, it's awesome," said Maju Kuruvilla, who was watching the show.

That's the point for the U.S. Marine Corps,  to show off the team's capability in a part of the country where there's not much presence for their branch of the military.

"We want this chunk of America to know who we are and what we can do," said Marine. Dave Lapan.

Unlike the Blue Angels, this team does more than perform at air shows.

For example, another Air-Ground Task Force team was involved in rescuing people from the American Embassy in Libya.

The Marines say they consider their Seafair show a training exercise, with a lot of extra people watching.

They make a few appearances around the country each year, but this is their first time at Seafair.

They will perform Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

KIRO