Hey everyone, it's that time again! Fleet Week begins today, bringing countless sailors and throngs of tourists to our city by the bay. As (almost) always, that means the Blue Angels will be buzzing San Francisco quite a bit this week — freaking out unsuspecting Dreamforce attendees and pets alike. However, with the weather expected to be sunny and warm this weekend, the disposition of the average San Franciscan will likely be more relaxed than harried as they lounge near Crissy Field and watch the show.
First, let's take a look at the full week's schedule. While tons of various events are listed in the official program (think veterans' art exhibits, navy bands, and Mustache Harbor), the largest and loudest draw is the air show. According to KRON4, weather permitting we'll hear jets screaming above at the following times:
- October 3, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Media flights
- October 6, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Airshow practice
- October 7, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Airshow
- October 8, 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Airshow
- October 9, 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Airshow
- October 10, 10:00 a.m. Blue Angels departure from the Bay Area
If you're inclined to watch weapons of war dive-bomb San Francisco, but don't feel like paying $55 to $75 for a Marina Green box seat, you still have plenty of options. We recommend checking out the San Francisco Art Institute rooftop deck. Admission is free, and there are great views of both the Bay and North Beach.
But Fleet Week isn't just about what's in the skies. CBS 5 informs us that athe Parade of Ships is scheduled for this Friday at 10:00 a.m., and amphibious carriers, destroyers, and other boats will be docked at the Embarcadero all week and you can tour them free of charge.
The Blue Angels air show is not without controversy in San Francisco. In 2007, Chris Daly led an effort to pass a non-binding resolution banning what is, in essence, a huge ad for the Navy. More recently, Supervisor John Avalos spoke about banning the pilots from flying over San Francisco proper following a crash in Tennessee.
As for the Blue Angels themselves? Well, they seem to have a bit of a sense of humor about the thing. "When I was on the other side I always made fun of the Blue Angels because of these tight blue flight suits," then Blue Angel pilot Lt. Mark Swinger told SFist back in 2009. "We’re just air show guys."
