One of my personal highlight of Seattle's annual Seafair in July/August is the arrival of the
United States Navy's flight demonstration squadron 'The Blue Angels".
LT C.J. Simonsen in Blue Angel Solo Ship No. 5 banks hard left to show off the F/A-18 Hornetminimim turn radius
The Blue Angels is the United States Navy's flight demonstration squadron. It was formed in 1946,making it the second oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931. The Blue Angels' six demonstration pilots fly the F/A-18 Hornet
in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each
year, where they still employ many of the same practices and techniques
used in their aerial displays in 1946. An estimated 11 million
spectators view the squadron during air shows each year. The Blue Angels
also visit more than 50,000 people a show season (March through
November) in schools and hospitals. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 260 million spectators.
Blue Angel Squadron arrives at show box center point Sunday
Blue Angel No.1 through No. 5 match speed for the Abreast Loop
Blue Angels over downtown Bellevue, WA
From various areas around Seattle you can see and hear the Blue Angels practice. Thursday and Friday are practice days with a morning and afternoon session. For the two training days and two air show days both bridges north of the show box will be closed to car and pedestrian traffic. If you are looking to avoid the weekend crowd getting out during the week to see the full practice session is a good option.
Blue Angel Diamond in "Dirty Loop" Flight Configuration
Blue Angel Opposing Solo Pilot LT Dabid Tickle heads west to setup up for a Sneak Run
Opposing Solo Ship Blue Angel No. 6 pulls 7g's turn with strake vapor
Blue Angel C-130 Transporter "Fat Albert" on a slow photo pass along the shoreline
Video Recap of Blue Angel Departures and Arrival at Boeing Field Airport, Seattle Washington
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