Blue Angels Practice Info

23/02/2024

23/02/2024

This is a real photo, content unedited BUT it is an optical illusion created by using a 600mm telephoto lens from a boat tour. The Blues do routinely buzz the lighthouse during their practice sessions though!

23/02/2024

Here is a reference post to remind everyone what your options are for the up-coming practice season. These graphics can all be found in my photo album titled "practice information" as well.

23/02/2024

Here we go folks! Weeks of clicking "refresh" looking for the updated schedule are over, here it is!

Please share this post (verses copying and pasting the graphic) so that if future changes and edits are needed, it'll automatically update everywhere at the same time.

*Previously, Friday October 18th was listed as a scheduled practice date. That is incorrect, the team will be in Jacksonville, Florida that day. The correct date is Wednesday October 16, 2024.

22/02/2024

It's always neat to see the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds training together! They are both putting the final touches on their prep and gearing-up for the 2024 Air Show season.

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/464513/blue-angels-thunderbirds-conduct-5th-annual-joint-training-el-centro?fbclid=IwAR3tdKmssqYVOzlHXRnAMstUvXCwLXOhfb14kMaztPnKSCDRar-IfcAvOg4

EL CENTRO, Calif. - The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will conduct a joint training exchange onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Feb. 22 - March 1, to trade best practices and develop team intero...

05/01/2024

The Blues have arrived out in El Centro, California for winter training. We'll see them again around the 3rd week of March here in Pensacola. Stay-tuned for the 2024 practice schedule announcement in March.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year from my family to yours!

We're in a lull time in the Pensacola area as the Blues prepare to leave for winter training for a few months, but I am looking forward to keeping the coast informed throughout the upcoming practice season! Look for the schedule in mid-late March.

~Brian Margavich

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

23/11/2023

Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Blue Angels fans out there! Today while enjoying dinner with family and friends, remember to say a prayer for the troops deployed around the world that can't be at home with their relatives.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or the Blue Angels. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors alike to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.**

11/11/2023

Wishing a happy veterans day to all of my fellow retirees and those that served in the military! Thank you for your service and sacrifices while protecting the freedoms that citizens of our country love and enjoy!

05/11/2023

Photos from today's air show held at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

(Blue Angels Demonstration).

04/11/2023

Photos from today's air show at the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

(Non-Blue Angels)

03/11/2023

2:16pm Blues are boarding their jets!
2:20pm Engines Running.
2:25pm Taxi'ing.
2:27pm Cleared for take off, havvvvvvve a good one.
2:29pm Diamond Formation UP.
2:31pm Solo's UP.
3:09pm Pitch-up Break
3:12pm Landed / Complete.

02/11/2023

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023: UNSCHEDULED PRACTICE.
NOTE TIME CHANGE: 2:00pm-3:30pm.
(nothing at the normal 10:30am)
1:56pm: Fat Albert warming up.
2:03pm: Fat Albert take-off.
2:27pm: Smoke Test complete, ready to taxi.
2:28pm: They own the airfield and the airspace, havvvvvvvvve a good one!
3:15pm: Completed.

Good morning! Here is today's practice info. With this being an unscheduled practice, I'm not going to provide tracking/status updates.
The National Naval Aviation Museum observation area on base is NOT OPEN for unscheduled practices, do not flood the base. The treeline prevents you from seeing most of the show from the parking lot.
You CANNOT see these practice sessions from Pensacola Beach/Casino Beach, Orange Beach, or Navarre Beach as their flight area is only a 5 nautical mile radius from the base's Sherman Field!
If you choose Fort Pickens, a National Park, open to the public, not affiliated with the military, plan to arrive at least an hour early to get through the gate and find parking. The Park Rangers have asked for you to consider buying your park pass online then showing your phone screen at the gate for faster entry. www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/entrancefees.htm.
There is a $25 per car fee to enter the National Park, good for 7 days and good for Opal Beach & Johnson's Beach as well (not Blue Angel related, but additional fun for you to have this week). If you choose to purchase your pass on-site, it's card only. No cash. They also accept several interagency passes, I included a graphic to show them so that you can see if you possibly already have what is needed.
Go all the way to the end and get to a place where you can see the Pensacola Lighthouse, that is just about the center of their show.
1. NO Naval Aviation Museum.
2. Fort Pickens: 1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
3. Target Store parking lot: 2950 S Blue Angel Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32506

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

01/11/2023

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023: UNSCHEDULED PRACTICE.
NOTE TIME CHANGE: 2:00pm-3:30pm.
(nothing at the normal 10:30am)

2:35pm: High Show, clouds not a factor.
3:25pm: Delta Left Pitch-up Break.
3:28pm: Landed / Practice Complete.
Good morning! Here is today's practice info. With this being an unscheduled practice, I'm not going to provide tracking/status updates.
The National Naval Aviation Museum observation area on base is NOT OPEN for unscheduled practices, do not flood the base. The treeline prevents you from seeing most of the show from the parking lot.
You CANNOT see these practice sessions from Pensacola Beach/Casino Beach, Orange Beach, or Navarre Beach as their flight area is only a 5 nautical mile radius from the base's Sherman Field!
If you choose Fort Pickens, a National Park, open to the public, not affiliated with the military, plan to arrive at least an hour early to get through the gate and find parking. The Park Rangers have asked for you to consider buying your park pass online then showing your phone screen at the gate for faster entry. www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/entrancefees.htm.
There is a $25 per car fee to enter the National Park, good for 7 days and good for Opal Beach & Johnson's Beach as well (not Blue Angel related, but additional fun for you to have this week). If you choose to purchase your pass on-site, it's card only. No cash. They also accept several interagency passes, I included a graphic to show them so that you can see if you possibly already have what is needed.
Go all the way to the end and get to a place where you can see the Pensacola Lighthouse, that is just about the center of their show.
1. NO Naval Aviation Museum.
2. Fort Pickens: 1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
3. Target Store parking lot: 2950 S Blue Angel Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32506

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

31/10/2023

The base recently posted this. Here is a map of exactly what they are talking about:

Per the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) Title 33—Navigation and Navigable Waters CHAPTER II— individuals are reminded that transiting, anchoring or drifting within 500 feet of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola shoreline areas is prohibited.

There are white buoys out there that mark this barrier. Make sure to stay behind them!

31/10/2023

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023: UNSCHEDULED PRACTICE.

NOTE TIME CHANGE: 2:00pm-3:30pm.
(nothing at the normal 10:30am)

*UPDATE: Airspace closure issued. 2pm-3:15pm.
Good morning! Here is today's practice info. With this being an unscheduled practice, I'm not going to provide tracking/status updates.
The National Naval Aviation Museum observation area on base is NOT OPEN for unscheduled practices, do not flood the base. The treeline prevents you from seeing most of the show from the parking lot.
You CANNOT see these practice sessions from Pensacola Beach/Casino Beach, Orange Beach, or Navarre Beach as their flight area is only a 5 nautical mile radius from the base's Sherman Field!
If you choose Fort Pickens, a National Park, open to the public, not affiliated with the military, plan to arrive at least an hour early to get through the gate and find parking. The Park Rangers have asked for you to consider buying your park pass online then showing your phone screen at the gate for faster entry. www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/entrancefees.htm.
There is a $25 per car fee to enter the National Park, good for 7 days and good for Opal Beach & Johnson's Beach as well (not Blue Angel related, but additional fun for you to have this week). If you choose to purchase your pass on-site, it's card only. No cash. They also accept several interagency passes, I included a graphic to show them so that you can see if you possibly already have what is needed.
Go all the way to the end and get to a place where you can see the Pensacola Lighthouse, that is just about the center of their show.
1. NO Naval Aviation Museum.
2. Fort Pickens: 1400 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
3. Target Store parking lot: 2950 S Blue Angel Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32506

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

29/10/2023

SUNDAY, Oct 29, 2023, Weekly Planner:

*UPDATE:
4:50pm: radio chatter in pace… 15 min warning.
3:56pm, Fighters took off from Indiana.
3:55pm, Bert took off.

Just a reminder that we should have a beach buzz this evening between 5pm -7pm (Pensacola Beach/Casino Beach/Pier is the best chance to see). Other beaches are a gamble.

Practices are at a different time this week, at 2pm instead of the customary 10:30am.

Practices / Show are not at all visible from Pensacola Beach. If you are looking to miss the crowds at the Naval Air Station, check the map graphic for an alternate location to watch.

26/10/2023

Time to change gears from practice season to talk about the Homecoming Air Show! I'm still seeing a lot of questions and people's answers to those questions that are going to cause a lot of confusion!

Here are some KEY POINTS and Takeaways:
1. The Homecoming Air Show on November 3 and 4, 2023 is being held ON the Pensacola Naval Air Station. (NOT Pensacola Beach!). In fact the show is not visible from Pensacola Beach at all, you won't even hear a distant rumble of F18 super hornet engine from there!

2. The Base is the center of the show. You will be able to enter through either gate, starting at 8am both days. You'll be directed to a parking area and shuttled to the air show location. There will be static displays, kids zone, narration, as well as food for sale.

-If you choose to attend on base, consider bringing cash for food. Venders accept credit cards HOWEVER their systems rely on cellular signals for transactions. With that volume of spectators gathered in one place, there is NO BANDWIDTH for cellular data out there. Your phone will register that it has service but will not function well.

3. If you don't want to fight the crowds on base, you can choose Fort Pickens, or the Target Store parking lot on Blue Angel Parkway.

I'm going to keep updating my photo album for "Homecoming Air Show" as questions and things come up. Please check that photo album first and see if your question was addressed. If not, please let me know and I'll edit/create graphics to address what I've forgotten.

As always, this page is not official. What it is, is relevant, accurate information that I've compiled from official sources, people's questions, and years of personal experience attending the show. Let me know if you have any questions. If I don't know the answer, I will find out for you and update the information I've provided in case others have the same question.

The official website for the show is: https://www.naspensacolaairshow.com/
The official page for the show is: https://www.facebook.com/naspensacolaairshow

26/10/2023

25/10/2023

Another "flat show" today with a marine layer of clouds overhead. LCDR Lee had issues with her landing gear not retracting, so there was no #3 in the formations. More awesome v***r trails today, even Fat Albert got in on that action!

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to switch to Homecoming Airshow Mode.

- Know that we should see a beach buzz on Sunday October 29th around 5pm-7pm tentatively.

-We should see "unscheduled practices" on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 2pm. You'll have to watch from Target or Pickens because the Naval Aviation Museum's observation area will not be open.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or the Blue Angels. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors alike to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.**

25/10/2023

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2023:

10:14am: Fat Albert engines running.
10:18am: Bert cleared to taxi.
10:25am: Bert is up
10:29am: Fighter jets engines running
10:31am: Fighters taxi
10:33am: Bert landed.
10:34am: Blues will be 1,2,3,4,5,6.
10:37am: Cleared for take off, havvvvvvvve a good one!
10:42am: #3 landing gear retraction issues
10:42am: Flat show
11:20am: Landed. Completed.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

24/10/2023

Those v***r trails and cones were something ELSE this morning! If you missed today's practice, you have another chance tomorrow at 10:30am with autographs following at 12pm inside the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Wednesday October 25th is the last "scheduled" practice for this season.
On Thursday, I'm going to change gears to cover the Homecoming Airshow that is happening on November 3 & 4, 2023. For more information on practices and the Homecoming Airshow, visit the photo albums on this page. I have maps and other information so that you can get your plan together.
**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or the Blue Angels. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors alike to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.**

24/10/2023

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023:

10:12am Fat Albert Engines running
10:16am Bert clear to taxi.
10:21am They own the airfield and the airspace, clear for take off, havvvvvvvve a good one, semper fi!
10:25am F18 engines running
10:30am Bert Landed.
10:33am *** #5 is going to go up and check visibility. He will determine if there is enough visibility to practice.
10:37am Diamond is going to taxi while waiting for #5 to finish up. Going to have 1,2,3,4,4,5.
10:43am Cleared for take off.
11:46am “flat show” clouds at 1100ft.
11:18am Delta Left Pitch up break landing.
11:19am Landed.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.

22/10/2023

OCTOBER 22, 2023, Here is this week's weekly planner:
There are scheduled practices this week on Tuesday and Wednesday! There will be an autograph session on Wednesday at approximately 12pm.
Attached is the latest schedule and watch-locations. Watching the practice sessions from on-base behind the National Naval Aviation Museum is the best view. Please make sure to review the attached graphic about accessing the base through the West Gate as well as having a state-issued photo ID for anyone vehicle occupants that are 18 and over. Note: The base recently relaxed their real ID requirement.
Additionally, If you are approaching from areas west of the base, please follow Sorrento road to the Blue Angel Parkway intersection (near Wal Mart), and turn right. There are signs on Gulf Beach Highway directing "Air Show Traffic", ~that's you!
Attached is a map with the 3 best land-based places to watch as recommended by other Blue Angels Fans. This map shows exactly where their FAA Airspace closure is. You cannot see a practice from Pensacola Beach or further east. You also cannot see it from Perdido Key (very distant view), Orange Beach or further places west. Review the map. Also, new this year is a listing of many area charter boat companies that offer various charters and boat rental options to view these practices by water!
Tune-in here the day of each practice. I make a status post at 7:30am central time that I update in real-time when there are delays, cancellations, and when they take-off and land.
As always, Enjoy The Show!

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or the Blue Angels. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors alike to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.**

18/10/2023

Video footage from today's practice.

18/10/2023

A few of my unique still-shots from today's much anticipated practice.

Keep an eye out on Sunday for Beach Buzz information.
Next practices: Tuesday Oct 24 / Wednesday Oct 25.

**This page is not affiliated with the U.S. Navy, the Blue Angels, nor the National Park Service. The admin is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who saw the need to gather accurate information into one easy-to-find location for locals and visitors to make plans and catch these awesome flight demonstration sessions.