Guide To Fleet Week In San Francisco
The 37th Fleet Week in San Francisco arrives by air and sea for five days of living legends. Performers, both military and civilian, will demonstrate breathtaking, life-saving skills and patriotism with aerobatic shows. In addition, there will be a set of sailing ships marching with the Italian Heritage parade for Columbus Day.
Related: Canadian Snowbirds, Blue Angels Buzz San Francisco Skies
Just look up and you might see the Navy's Blue Angels, a civilian team called the Patriots Jet Team or one of the bi-plane aerobatic stars. Gaze across the Bay and it's the US Coast Guard performing a rescue by helicopter. Watch a parade of ships and enjoy a free ship tour. Stand by for the Italian Heritage parade for Columbus Day along Fisherman's Wharf then walk up Columbus Avenue to North Beach and end at Washington Square for a Ferrari car show.
Fleet Week Air Show
Marina Green Park
3950 Scott St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(650) 599-5057
www.fleetweek.org
Dates: October 1 - 9, 2017
Price: Free to the public; Premium Box Seats and Flight Deck Club (with a full buffet and drinks).
Click here to purchase tickets
See the heights Americans have reached at the 36th Fleet Week, which demonstrates historic to contemporary and civilian to military sea and air talents. Naval aviation began with bi-plane pilot Ely in 1911 flying from San Bruno to land on the carrier USS Pennsylvania on San Francisco Bay before an audience. The 2012 show pays tribute and features bi-plane agility and beyond with the Heritage Flight, Marine Corp MV-22 Demo, Lucas Oil Air Show with the Pitts bi-plane flown by pilot Michael Wiskus, Wargaming T-33, the Royal Canadian Air Force F-18 Demo, The Patriots Jet Team, a United Airlines 747, the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo and Team Oracle bi-plane aerobatics.
The Blue Angels have proven athletic ability through track and field, downhill skiing, football, basketball, ice hockey and soccer and earned degrees in aerospace engineering or other sciences. The military careers include medals and TOPGUN schooling in Nevada where flight leader Greg McWherter taught. Captain Brandon Cordill comes from Hemet, California and this year many will travel from all across the nation. Read more about the Blue Angels here.
The Patriots Jet Team comes from Byron, near San Francisco. Leader Randy "Howler" Howell created a civilian aerobatic team of six pilots who have flown with the US Navy, US Air Force and Royal Canadian Snowbirds. Flying in formation, you will see Dean "Wilbur" Wright, Rob "Stache" Hutchison, John "Bordz" Posson, Paul "Sticky" Strickland and others. Read more about the Patriots Jet Team here.
Mike Wiskus performs civilian aerobatics in a bi-plane. He's from Iowa and started flying as a teenager. Since then, he has been teaching aerobatics. He's married to Tammy and they have four children and two golden retrievers.Team Oracle stars civilian bi-plane pilot Sean D. Tucker, a living legend of aviation who teaches safety and aerobatics at his school, the Tutima Academy. He flies a special bi-plane created by Northern California's Oracle.
Related: SF On High Alert As Crowds Flock To City For Fleet Week, Oracle World
Events List For Fleet Week:
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San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show: You may have noticed the Blue Angels practicing over our skies Thursday. This favorite event takes place over three consecutive days high above San Francisco's waterfront. The air show attracts over a million people all around the Bay Area and features the United States Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Snowbirds.
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Ship Tours: Another favorite thing to do during Fleet Week is to visit the many ships docked on the Bay.
Climb aboard the amphibious carriers, destroyers and cruisers to see how our sailors serve in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Navy. - The Humanitarian Assistance Village: Check out this interactive demonstration of U.S. Military and Civil capabilities in responding to a disaster. The educational demonstration encourages visitors to explore different theme camps and receive prizes for participation.
Find more events at www.fleetweek.org.
Cindy Warner is a freelance writer and a San Francisco Bay Area native. Cindy has covered SF theater and opera for Examiner.com via her bicycle since January 2009.
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