Video: Blue Angels have arrived for Seafair 2012!

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

11:09 AM: Just touching down now at Boeing Field, after a flyby. More shortly.

11:28 AM: Our Blue Angels flyby video is up, shot from the parking lot north of the Boeing Field tower starting as soon as one of the handful of others watching from here shouted “OVER THERE!” They subsequently landed and taxied two by two to the Museum of Flight, where a ceremonial Seafair welcome awaited. Their official practicing doesn’t start until Thursday morning; we always recommend coming to the MoF at least once during Seafair weekend to watch the takeoff – optimal for the full practice show Friday afternoon, or the official performances Saturday and Sunday. The MoF itself offers special events Friday-Sunday (read about them here) and it’s not far from West Seattle – take the 1st Avenue South Bridge north to the Michigan exit, turn right on East Marginal, head south past Boeing Field to the museum. Our other favorite Seafair Blue Angels-viewing tip is to go to Lake Washington on Friday, when admission is free, to see both the airshow and the early hydroplane action.

2:15 PM P.S. – Some of the Seafair Navy fleet ships are coming in this afternoon too, prior to tomorrow’s official “Parade of Ships/Flight” starting in the 1 pm hour. We’ll have a separate story with photos a bit later.

rdm July 31, 2012 (11:20 am)

Let the complaints begin!

sam-c July 31, 2012 (11:36 am)

so, I got some good responses when I asked about Torchlight, so I’ll try another. where do you go to watch the blue angels at MoF ? can you see from the king county airport on the east side of the runways too? I usually go down to lake washington to watch the blue angels, but want to see the take off / landing stuff this year. oh, and what time do you need to get there for take off on a Friday practice show?
thanks!

WSB July 31, 2012 (11:47 am)

I don’t want to discourage anyone from offering their personal tips because there are certainly some we haven’t heard. But you can also scroll through our archive (click Blue Angels below the headline of this story, and it’ll take you to everything we categorized Blue Angels) and check out some of the past stories about watching from “the fence” at the M of F. Last year the takeoffs were usually around 1, and if you want a spot on the fence, noon is pushing it. The parking lot fills up even earlier. But you also can watch from the parking lot where I am right now (south of the control tower on the west side of the field) and the other one further north, or from spots along the east side, which also tend to fill up… Good luck! – TR

j July 31, 2012 (11:56 am)

My favorite take off/landing location is the park right on the north end of Boeing field. You feel like they are right on top of you. There is usually quite a bit of parking too.

BlairJ July 31, 2012 (11:57 am)

Westcrest Park, on top of the newly lidded West Seattle Reservoir, has a good view of Boeing Field. I’m going to try watching the take offs from that vantage point this year.

JimClark July 31, 2012 (12:09 pm)

I go to the airport and like to go just north of the Museum on the west side of the runway. I go in the lot that is I thnk now a County Elections building but used to be a FAA building. It is between the tower and the museum. We bring our scanner and hook up speakers to it and have a blast oh and of course my 100-400 lens
going to be there friday
Jim

35this35mph July 31, 2012 (12:22 pm)

Hate ’em. Death machines. Yadda yadda. Carry on!

Cheryl July 31, 2012 (2:26 pm)

Love ’em. Inspiring. Yadda yadda. Carry on!
;-)

Mike July 31, 2012 (3:06 pm)

I will confess – I get a charge when these guys roar over our house during their routine. But I also remind myself how costly it is for the nation to sustain this kind of PR program. If we are serious about reducing taxes, we need to really be serious.

Anne July 31, 2012 (3:36 pm)

Love ’em–Go Navy –yadda yadda. Carry on!

mmusic2012 July 31, 2012 (7:10 pm)

I hope those of you that enjoy the Blue Angels the best of time watching them this year. I personally think they are a waste of money, but I am not one to ruin the fun for anyone else. Enjoy them and have a great time!

Chris July 31, 2012 (8:00 pm)

Amazing! Spectacular! Thrilling! We are fortunate to have them here.

35this35mph July 31, 2012 (9:43 pm)

I heart my WS neighbors!

blueANGELS July 31, 2012 (9:58 pm)

Yay! Yay! Yay! Love them! Go! Do it! Shake it up! We love you Blue Angels! Seattle needs a little bell ringing!! Welcome!

Ms. Sparkles August 1, 2012 (2:06 pm)

Hate em’ – noise polluting waste of taxpayer funds, yadda yadda. Carry On!

kermit August 1, 2012 (2:53 pm)

@Ms. Sparkles-

That sound, my friend, is the sound of your freedom.

35this35mph August 1, 2012 (7:20 pm)

(You forgot the yadda…)

Peggy August 2, 2012 (10:54 am)

I am sure all of you in Seattle are thrilled to have the Blue Angels disrupting your community. However for those of us heading into the city for medical appointments from 200 miles away it might have been nice to have been told of the I-90 bridge closure beforehand, like maybe on snoqualmie summit. We are late so ou tax dollars can be wasted.

WSB August 2, 2012 (11:00 am)

Peggy – you might want to let WSDOT know about that. I am sure they have communication avenues in your community that could be used to share that message there too.

Sam H August 2, 2012 (12:59 pm)

Love It!! Look forward to them every year!! I’ve been watching the Angels since my dad was on the team in the late 70’s. For all the scrooges out there, “GET OVER IT”. We have worst traffic on a Friday night than a bridge closure for a little relief from the real stress of life. I hope the Blues come back for the rest of my life!! :)

Rich August 2, 2012 (2:47 pm)

This year on Saturday and Sunday the MOF is having a festival…hydroplane, airplanes, cars, childrens bouncy toys and a beer garden with music. Parking lot is closed but a ton of free parking in the Boeing lots. All activities are free with Admissions.

WSB August 2, 2012 (2:55 pm)

And we have ALL that info in the WSB celendar! We (heart) the MoF; the very first summer this site was up and running, we were writing about the joys of watching the Blue Angels there: https://westseattleblog.com/2006/07/not-quite-west-seattle-but-close – Thanks!

sam-c August 3, 2012 (10:37 am)

thanks for the tips! hopefully we’ll have fun and I won’t drive my family crazy

Abbie Facets August 4, 2012 (2:02 pm)

Oh really? “The sound of freedom”, you say? Perhaps I was having my blond moment because I thought it was the “Puget Sound”???

It is sonic noise pollution at the very least and on this rare hot sunny Summer weekend, I resent having to shut all my windows to protect my horrified animals and my terrified kids.

I look forward to the “show” being done … the-sooner-the-better!!! Stirring … YES. Rousing … TOO MUCH. Appreciated … NOT. Wanted … NOT.

s August 4, 2012 (2:43 pm)

Anyone who cheers on these killing machine ‘shows’ is either incredibly ignorant or in denial about the world. And touting the ‘skill’ of these bomber pilots is no excuse — that is akin to being impressed with the skill of the Colorado terrorist who gunned down so many people (so fast!) in a theater. But he killed innocents? – US jets have for decades targeted innocents in wedding parties, hospitals, schools … the US roaring killers are extremely skilled. rah usa :-(

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