Goldsboro, N.C. — When it comes to aviation's elite, the Blue Angels rank with the best of them. At the Wings Over Wayne Air Show in Goldsboro Saturday, it seemed many of the estimated 100,000 spectators wanted to capture the moment on airplanes, pictures, T-shirts, and even a baseball.

“I think all of it is pretty cool,” said observer Lynn Evans. “It's just amazing they can fly like that.”

Thousands of aviation enthusiasts converged on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Their imaginations took off as they took in the annual display of military might and history.

For Matt Losacker, who has flown with the Red Barons for four years, it's his dream job.

“It's like a kid playing baseball and wanting to be in the major leagues when you grow up,” Losacker said. “Well, this is the same thing only for flying.”

But this day belonged to the Navy's Blue Angels. With style, grace and precision, they performed for an appreciative crowd in the team's first performance since losing a fellow pilot during another performance last month.

The team stopped flying for nine days after the crash. The last time the Blue Angels lost a pilot was back in 1999.

The Blue Angels dedicated their Wings Over Wayne performance to their fallen brother in aviation.

“I think they do an incredible job promoting naval aviation,” said observer Phillip Culpepper. “I'm sorry for their loss, but I know they'll continue to do great work in the future.”