The year 2023 will go down in the aviation history books as The Year Aviation Events Returned, and one of the chapters will likely be about this weekend’s performance by the Blue Angels, the Navy’s demonstration team . Fair of the seathe August celebration held annually in Seattle since 1950.
The Blue Angels joined the festivities in 1972 flying F-4J Phantom IIs. This year, for the first time the team will fly F/A-18 Super Hornet E/F.
The team has not played in Seattle since 2019. They will be playing at King County International Airport/Boeing Field (KBFI).
“Our tradition is back,” said Ted Huetter, senior director of public relations and promotions for the Museum of Flight (MOF). The Blue Angels arrived in Seattle earlier this week. They practice every day, and Heutter noted that the museum parking lot was full of spectators and the road next to the airport was full of cars.
“The first flight was delayed because of the weather, but it was a good time. There were young children and old people and generally it was a festival feeling as people waited for the planes to take off, and when they happened, it was wonderfully, wonderfully loud! There was applause and of course car alarms went off.”
The Seafair Airshow is sponsored by the Boeing Company.
Over the weekend, MOF hosts the Jet Blast Bash, which includes the museum’s West Campus hosting an outdoor festival with food trucks, bounce houses, a beer garden, community booth and a remote live from a local radio station. Jet Blast Bash activities are included with museum admission.
“It’s also a flight line event, we’ll have Blue Angel #8 on display along with other specialty aircraft, including a Growler from NAS Whidbey up north. We’ll also have a car club with vintage Corvettes,” he said. Huetter.
“Our tradition is back,” said Ted Huetter, senior director of public relations and promotions for the Museum of Flight (MOF). [Courtesy: U.S. Navy]
The Blue Angels have multiple shows that depend on the weather. They have a “low show” and a “high show”, both of which are predicated by the cloud ceiling.
special guest
Seafair is such a popular event that people come from out of town to take part. The prize for flying the farthest distance goes to 17-year-old Mac Rutherford, a Belgian-British pilot who is trying to set a record for being the youngest person to fly around the world solo. Last year, her sister Zara, 19, became the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.
The Blue Angels have been practicing in Seattle this week to prepare for their performance. [File photo courtesy: U.S. Navy]
Mac Rutherford is flying an ultralight Shark.Aero Shark. It began its journey on March 23, 2022 from Sofia, Bulgaria, and as of 9 a.m. on August 5, was en route to Seattle from Alaska. According to Heutter, Rutherford will stop in Seattle this weekend.
About Seafair
The first Seattle Seafair began as a 10-day festival focused on water activities and music. There were concerts, clowns, parades and a symbolic pirate landing. People dressed up and spent days in the water.
When the team is in action, bridges and roads are often closed and a temporary flight restriction closes local airspace. Many flight schools and FBOs host barbecues and parties for their customers during the event.
