Blue Angels Thrill San Francisco During Fleet Week:
Although Fleet Week is a celebration of military muscle, even liberal, pacifist San Francisco looks forward to the week’s signature event, the Blue Angels air shows. Fleet Week is scheduled around Columbus Day every year; this year, it is October 6-11, 2011. Navy ships arrive and invite the public to come aboard, sailors and soldiers get R&R (with some community service assignments), and San Francisco flocks to the Marina to watch the daredevil Blue Angels.
Fleet Week 2011 Celebrates Big Anniversaries:
This year marks both the 30th anniversary of Fleet Week in San Francisco and the centennial of the U.S. Navy’s flight program (or more precisely, the first time a plane landed aboard a Navy ship, which was in San Francisco Bay). Naval aviation, essential during World War II, is responsible for dispatching airpower to points all over the globe, and employs not only the U.S. Navy but also the Marine Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. That’s why you might notice different kinds of uniforms around Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina during Fleet Week.
The Fleet of the Week:
The men and women in uniform are usually stationed on a dozen vessels from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Canada’s navy, plus the historic World War II ship S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien. The ships will parade under the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday morning, Oct. 8, and berth in San Francisco. Several of the aircraft carriers, frigates and other boats will be open for free public tours on Sunday and Monday, and visiting hours this year are two hours longer than last year’s.
Activities on Land:
On land, the armed services folks will demonstrate what sorts of humanitarian help they’ve provided after the summer hurricane on the East Coast, Japan’s earthquake and tsunami and other disasters--such as training people, doing search and rescue and treating injuries in the field. Fleet Week also includes several free concerts by military bands, a softball game of San Francisco police and firefighters against Marines and Navy personnel, a high school band competition, and a brief meet-and-greet session with the Blue Angels.
Action in the Air - The Blue Angels:
The Blue Angels are the undisputed stars of Fleet Week, with their precision formations and jaw-dropping aerial stunts in air shows on Saturday and Sunday. At times their jets whiz so close to each other that it looks as if they’re going to collide. Leave the pets at home, take an occasional 360-degree look to catch the Angels’ stealthy approaches, and bring ear plugs.
Other Air Show Action:
Though the Blue Angels’ hour-long performance concludes and generally steals the show, preceding it is 2-1/2 hours of aerial aerobics that features a B-2 bomber, Coast Guard choppers, a Boeing 747, the Canadian version of the Blue Angels and solo pilot Sean Tucker, who flies backwards, straight-down and tail-first.
To avoid the weekend crowds, catch the air show rehearsals on Thursday and Friday afternoons. All flight times are subject to change (typically due to fog and other weather conditions).
FLEET WEEK ESSENTIALS:
WHERE TO WATCH THE BLUE ANGELS
ON LAND
- The Marina (preferably on a roof) is ideal. Or a Cow Hollow or Pacific Heights roof. Reserved waterfront seats at Marina Green are available for $30 and 35. Table seating with a buffet lunch and wine and beer costs $75-175.
- Telegraph Hill: Top of the Filbert or Greenwich street stairs
- Treasure Island: Avenue of the Palms
- Fort Baker
- Hyde Street Pier (but expect tourist crowds)
ON THE WATER
- S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien: A great view, breakfast and lunch, live music and a tour of the engine room are all aboard this historic, 441-foot-long ship. Saturday tickets are sold out. Sunday tickets are $75-325.
- Hornblower Cruises: Various cruises on Friday and the weekend, with options for meals, dancing and watching fireworks. Prices vary.
- Red & White Fleet: Cruises timed for the air shows, aerial rehearsals and Saturday’s ship parade. Prices vary.
- Kayak: Paddle from Sausalito to Angel Island to watch the air show. Sea Trek leads trips on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30-4:30 pm. Discounted tickets through Zozi are $70.
FLEET WEEK HIGHLIGHTS (Check the Fleet Week schedule for details and updates)
THURSDAY, OCT. 6
1-5 pm: Air show rehearsal, with Blue Angels' circling maneuvers
FRIDAY, OCT. 7
- 12:30-4 pm: Air show rehearsal.
- 7:15-7:45 pm: Meet the Blue Angels (the pilots) at Pier 39 near Aquarium of the Bay.
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
- 11 am: Parade of Ships. Best viewing location is on Golden Gate Bridge.
- 12:30-4 pm: Air show (with the Blue Angels at 3-4 pm).
SUNDAY, OCT. 9
- 8 am-4 pm: Free ship tours. US and Canadian naval and US Coast Guard ships, and World War II vet S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, are open to the public. No children under age 8, high heels, open-toed shoes, skirts or dresses, backpacks or similar size bags, or wheelchairs. Visitors must be able to walk. Cameras are permitted. Check the tour rules before you go.
- 12:30 pm: Military band and marching units participate in the San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade, which starts at Fisherman's Wharf, heads to North Beach and ends in Washington Square.
- 12:30-4 pm: Air show (with the Blue Angels at 3-4 pm).
MONDAY, OCT. 10
8 am-4 pm: Free ship tours. See Sunday listing for details.
TUESDAY, OCT. 11
Ships depart.
