Blue Angels Return To Puget Sound For Seafair: When To Watch

SEATTLE — The first of the Blue Angels landed at Seattle's Boeing Field Tuesday afternoon, marking their return to Seafair for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Museum of Flight shared a video of "Number 7" doing a flyover above Boeing Field ahead of the rest of the team, due to arrive Wednesday afternoon.

As The West Seattle Blog reports, the seventh plane serves as an ambassador for the event, including providing "influencer rides" in advance of the air show. The Blue Angels are scheduled to practice Thursday before the Boeing Seafair Air Show officially kicks off Friday morning with an aerial performance by the U.S. Army's "Golden Knights." The Blue Angels will take to the sky at 3 p.m.

Here is the practice schedule (times subject to change):

Thursday, Aug. 4

• 11:00 AM - #1-4 Practice Flight
• 12:00 PM - #5-6 Practice Flight
• 2:20 PM - #1-6 Practice Flight
• 3:20 PM - Fat Albert Practice Flight

Also scheduled to appear over the skies this year are the F/A 18 Super Hornet, the Navy's "Fat Albert" C-130, and the Air Force's F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team.

Revelers can watch the Blue Angels take-off and land from the Museum of Flight's parking lot Thursday and Friday, and the museum will host the "Jet Blast Bash" Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to changes implemented in 2019, this year's celebrations will not require Interstate 90 to close.

Here is the three-day schedule for the air show over Seattle:

Friday 8/5/22

• 11:10 a.m. – Golden Knights Performance
• 1:05 p.m. – F35 Lightning II Performance
• 2:00 p.m. – Aerobatic Performance
• 3:00 p.m. – Blue Angels Performance

Saturday 8/6/22

• 11:05 a.m. – Aerobatic Performance
• 11:50 a.m. – Golden Knights Performance
• 12:25 p.m. – Aerobatic Performance
• 1:05 p.m. – F35 Lightning II Performance
• 3:00 p.m. – Blue Angels Performance

Sunday 8/7/22

• 10:55 a.m. – Aerobatic Performance
• 11:50 a.m. – Golden Knights Performance
• 1:05 p.m. – F35 Lightning II Performance
• 1:35 p.m. – Aerobatic Performance
• 2:50 p.m. – Boeing Seafair Flyover (feat. Boeing KC-46A Pegasus and P-8A Poseidon)
• 3:00 p.m. – Blue Angels Performance

Also returning to Seafair this year are the iconic hydroplane races in Lake Washington, with the first events planned at Seattle's Genesee Park Friday morning and concluding with an awards ceremony Sunday afternoon. Those who can't make it down to the races in person can catch live coverage of the races and air show on KONG-TV.

Fleet Week is already underway, kicking off Monday with the Parade of Ships through Elliott Bay, and tours are scheduled aboard ships from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Royal Canadian Navy into the weekend. Visitors can also catch live music and displays at Pier 62 through Wednesday afternoon.

Here's the Fleet Week schedule:

Wednesday, August 3

10:00 am - 5:00 pm - Live Music and Displays (Pier 62)
9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Tour of the US Coast Guard ship (Pier 66)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm - Tours of the Royal Canadian Navy ships (Pier 69)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm - Tours of the US Navy ships (Pier 90)

Thursday, August 4

9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Tour of the US Coast Guard ship (Pier 66)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm - Tours of the Royal Canadian Navy ships (Pier 69)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm - Tours of the US Navy ships (Pier 90)

Friday, August 5

9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Tours of the Royal Canadian Navy ships (Pier 69)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Tours of the US Navy ships (Pier 90)

Saturday, August 6

9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Tours of the Royal Canadian Navy ships (Pier 69)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Tours of the US Navy ships (Pier 90)

Readers can find a full schedule of events on Seafair's website.