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Oct 6, 2023 · Vista Point is a popular location known for its sweeping views of San Francisco’s skyline and the San Francisco Bay. Just be ready to pay a bridge toll if you’re coming back to San Francisco. Garrett Leahy can be reached at garrett@sfstandard.com. Here are the best locations to watch the air shows capping off San Francisco Fleet Week, even ...
Oct 3, 2022 · Toronado. For beer aficionados, Toronado has always been an excellent place to go at any and all times, but it’s particularly a haven during Fleet Week when you’re looking to just hole up with ...
- Dianne de Guzman
- Information About The Blue Angels
- The Blue Angels' Show
- Best Spots to See The Show
- Overview of The Area
- Getting to The Blue Angels SF Show
- Stay in The City For The Show...
History
The Blue Angels have been performing since 1946, when Admiral Nimitz created the group to maintain interest in naval aviation. The first team named the group after the Blue Angel nightclub in New York City. The Angels are based in Pensacola, Florida, and put on over 60 air shows every year. Their current mission is to present a positive image of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (and encourage recruitment for the services).
The Planes
The Blue Angels fly a current Navy and Marine combat plane, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, with the nose cannon removed and a smoke-oil tank added. It can fly at almost twice the speed of sound (1440 mph) but in the show goes up to 700 mph, just under the sound barrier. This pretty blue jet costs $21 million! Six other nations use this aircraft in their air force.
The Blue Angels Pilots.
The six pilots flying the planes are all fighter pilots with the Navy or Marines. Their average age is 33 and they fly with the Blue Angels for two years. Some of them have gone through the Top Gun training, but it isn't required. The pilots train during the winter, January through March; they practice six days a week, two sessions a day, so that they have flown the routine at least 120 times before they do a public show. The pilots start doing the maneuvers with the planes far apart at first...
Blue Angels' Schedule
The Blue Angels perform in San Francisco the second week in October weekend in conjunction with the Columbus Day holiday. So far, each year there is a rehearsal on Thursday, then the air shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Angels normally fly at 3:00 pm each day, and perform for about 40 minutes. Thursday is for familiarizing themselves with the layout and practice, but in the past, they've done the same routine that they perform on their Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows.
The Air Show
At 11:00 a.m. the "warm-up" showbegins (10 am Friday), which is worth watching as well: great stunt flying with a variety of aircraft, trailing colored smoke. Doing loops above the Bay, hanging in mid-air stalls, flying straight up, falling like a stone, spinning dives and pulling out at the last second just above the water.
Insider Tip:
Want to see the Blue Angel pilots up close? Usually on Saturday night, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., they're usually signing autographs in a tent set up at the entrance to Pier 39 (and not that many people showed up when I went, so the lines may not be bad). Here are two pilots signing autographs, from a previous show. Below is a photo of Major Collins about to taxi out at an air show.
You can see the show from anywhere along the entire waterfront, from Pier 39 all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. However, some spots are a lot better than others, for various reasons. Here are my Criteria for Best Viewing Areas: 1. Can see the Golden Gate Bridge.You want to be able to see the planes flying in over the bridge (really cool). 2. Be...
Here's the whole viewing area for the Air Show. You can see the Marina Green(where they sell seats) is pretty far to the left: great view of the Angels coming in over the bridge, and many of the aerial maneuvers, but not as good to see the stunts in front of Alcatraz (but OK). Zoom into see the exact lay of the land:
For information on how to navigate via car, BART, buses and Muni, as well as the pros and cons of public transportation vs. driving, jump to my Fleet Week San Franciscopage.
If you plan to be in town for Fleet Week activities and the air show, and want to spend a night or two in the city and avoid the traffic, here are my suggestions for the best places to stay. Check out my hotel recommendationsin the best areas of San Francisco for visitors.
Oct 4, 2023 · A lone Blue Angel flying over San Francisco on Oct. 7, 2022. The U.S. Navy’s aerial acrobats return to the Bay Area this week, bringing their death-defying formations to the San Francisco ...
Oct 9, 2024 · Friday Oct. 11: The show starts at 12:45 pm on Friday with the Anthem and the US Navy Parachute Team. A United Airlines plane and heritage flight will also take place before the Blue Angles are scheduled at 3:00 pm. Saturday Oct. 12: The air show is scheduled to start at 12:30 pm on Saturday, and the Blue Angels will take to the sky at 3:00 pm.
It's a free event in the Fisherman's Wharf district that features the Blue Angels, a full air show over the SF Bay, and ship tours all weekend long. This year, Fleet Week is October 7 - 14, 2024. Most activities and the large air show are over the weekend of October 11 - 13. You will find additional ship tours throughout the week.
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Oct 8, 2024 · Fighter jets and other aircraft will be buzzing the Bay Area as part of San Francisco Fleet Week. The annual fall tradition taking place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 14 includes three separate air ...
