Blue Angels Over Seattle

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This past week has been Seattle's Seafair celebration. The entire week is filled with parades, boat races, an air show over Lake Washington, raucous Seafair Pirates running amok passing out goodies and carting off unsuspecting young ladies [all in good fun, nothing abusive or vulgar] and lots of other wholesome family activities, including a triathlon, fun run and milk carton derby. Our weather sometimes cooperates and the events take place under deep blue and cloudless skies.

This year, however, the events were damped down a bit with bursts of heavy rain on Saturday and persistent low clouds on Sunday, the final day of the hydroplane races and air show on Lake Washington.

But our spirits were not dampened in the least. The highlight and by far the most popular event of the entire week is the Sunday air show featuring the US Navy's Blue Angels. While hydroplane racing takes place all day, the breaks between boat racing heats are filled with the famous Blue Angels and other outstanding aerial performers. This is when we really pay attention.

I have included a link to a video of Saturday's Blue Angel performance. I hope you love their precision flying. It just takes my breath away!

When we have been at the lake visiting friends or picnicking a hush would fall over the crowd in anticipation of the Angels. As they thundered overhead the crowd would erupt in cheers, whistles, and screams of a hundred thousand people all letting loose at the top of their voices, showing their appreciation. Something about those magnificent jets prompted us all to add our own noise to the roar of their engines! The low altitude show, performed in heavy overcast, cloudy, or light rainy conditions means the jets are closer to the ground for the entire show -- and it has the effect of making the spectators one with the machines and the pilots. It's always especially exciting to see the reactions of children seeing the jets up close and personal for the first time -- they are transfixed and excited and always begging for more.

What more could you ask for in family entertainment? Generally these performances are safe, as the so-called risky maneuvers are over the water and normal air traffic lanes leading to Boeing Field and Seattle Tacoma International Airport. Both major airports are shut to commercial and general aviation while all rehearsals and performances are taking place. The fields are only open to the Blue Angels and other pilots in the airshow.

We lived on a hill south of the lake and were near one of the turn around points for the Blue Angels and what a sight it was to see them skim the rooftops! At that home [the old Sunflower Ranch] we'd stake out a shady spot under the apple tree and watch the entire show from the comfort of our own back yard.

Out here in rural Pierce County, miles from the air show, we had many squadrons of older, propeller driven aircraft fly in formation the last few days. We think they had either just finished their portion of the airshow and were preparing to land at one of our tiny airstrips, or they had just taken off and were preparing to approach the lake and dazzle the crowds. At any rate, it was fun seeing more than one group of small gaily colored single-engine planes fly by in tight formation buzzing along over the treetops.

For more information: video link of Blue Angels, Blue Angels official website, Seattle Seafair celebration, history of Seattle, Seattle tourism, Washington state tourism.

Thanks for visiting!