COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With less than a year before the 2025 Columbus Air Show, preparations are underway for the next iteration of the event.  On Monday, a crew from next year's headliner paid a visit to Rickenbacker International Airport to plan for the air show.    Sold-out crowds made their way to Rickenbacker in 2023 to watch as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels headline the inaugural return of the Columbus Air Show. On Monday, some of the crew returned.    The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstration and community outreach, which is exactly what they hope to execute here in Columbus come August.  “We're very excited to be here today to get the planning going for the 2025 airshow season, specifically for Columbus,” United States Marine Corps Major Scott Laux said.  Two pilot members of the Blue Angels Demo team visited Rickenbacker on Monday, where they toured the airport and met with air show representatives. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make this happen.   “This is our first winter visit for this next month, where we will travel to all of the show sites for the 2025 season, so we're excited to kick it off,” U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Lilly Montana said.  As the events coordinator, Montana is in charge of getting the Blue Angels to and from each location safely, while Laux will serve as the 2025 show narrator; his future, though is in the air – he'll fly one of the spots in the aerobatic demonstration in 2026.  “During the air show, you'll hear my voice,” Laux said. “I'll be the one telling you what's going on, what the team is doing, what maneuvers they're performing.”  Both pilots reported to the Blue Angels for the first time in September.  “I was so thrilled, so honored, excited for my family, and just really excited to join the organization, which we checked in, in September, and it's been kind of hit the ground running ever since,” Montana said.  “There's not really been a lot of time to think about it because as soon as you get the phone call, there's a million things to do, and it has not slowed down since,” Laux said.   Laux had some in-laws show up to the airport Monday to watch him fly in. While he isn’t originally from here, his wife was born and raised in Columbus. They even tied the knot locally.    “I have a lot of connections to this area and it's really great,” he said. “It's great to be able to share something so special with personal family of mine, which is wonderful.”  This is the first time the family has seen Laux in a Blue Angels uniform and flying their fighter jet. They all said they were extremely proud of him and were honored they got to witness this.    “It was pretty exciting, especially as they flew over the building so close we could almost see his face,” Laux’s mother-in-law Joan Schlagheck said.  “I grew up going to Blue Angels shows and to be able to see one of my own family in one of these jets flying over it, it's so special,” Laux’s brother-in-law Mitchell Wilson said.   The 2025 Columbus Air Show is scheduled for Aug. 22-24. The initial lineup has already been announced.