SEAFAIR: Blue Angels changes; HomeStreet Bank’s big boost for hydros

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

Two more notes from today’s Seafair media briefing:

BLUE ANGELS CHANGES: We’ve already noted a few changes for this year – the Friday-Sunday airshows are starting later (3 pm), and happening just a bit further south, so the I-90 bridge will NOT have to close when they’re up. One change we did not know about until the event at the Museum of Flight today: The Blue Angels are no longer parking south of the museum, behind that razor-wire-topped fence where hundreds have gathered over the years to watch the jets be prepped for the shows and to see the pilots’ “walkdown.” Instead, they’re parking in the Museum of Flight’s main lot. Better viewing – but it means you will have to pay MoF admission to see the prep/walkdown. (You can see the jets up close for free during the museum’s free “First Thursday” [August 1st], 5-9 pm, points out MoF spokesperson Ted Huetter.)

HOMESTREET & HYDROS: HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor), which is headquartered in Seattle and has a branch in The Junction (4022 SW Alaska), had a big presence at today’s briefing:

HomeStreet Bank is the presenting sponsor of the weekend hydroplane races on Lake Washington, now the HomeStreet Bank Cup, in which Jimmy Shane (above left) will race the Miss HomeStreet unlimited hydroplane (also on display at the briefing).

If you’re a HomeStreet customer or employee, you get free admission to watch the weekend’s happenings on the water and in the air.

P.S. To see everyone who spoke today, here’s our unedited video of the briefing:

Kc July 29, 2019 (9:20 pm)

Well it was only a matter of time that seafair would figure out away to charge for this viewing. It used to be years ago you could pack up the coolers and head to lake Washington free of charge next will be the pirates landing on Alki nice job Seafair. All about the money

WSB July 29, 2019 (11:08 pm)

Sorry if it’s not clear but this isn’t a Seafair fee, it’s the Museum of Flight admission charge. The MoF is a nonprofit. Until a few years ago, you didn’t have to pay admission unless you actually went inside – once the pilots were inside the planes and they started taxiing, everybody would run over to the fence on the east side of the museum to watch the takeoff. Then one year, the parking lot beame a gated zone, though the fence viewing remained free. The folks who hung out to watch there included retired Boeing workers, military veterans, young families …. somebody’s bound to be surprised when they show up this weekend. (And I’m sure others will be surprised in a good way, watching the walkdown WITHOUT having to squint through that security fence!)
Rhoni Tauakitau August 2, 2019 (11:06 am)

Fri is free at lake. Fridays hv always been free. Go to 43 and Genessee enter through the back entrance

Zach July 29, 2019 (11:26 pm)

It’s really strange how secretive they are keeping the new viewing location…

Wademy July 30, 2019 (9:23 am)

I believe the change is due to all of the 737 max planes utilizing all available space as they are currently grounded.W

WSB July 30, 2019 (10:30 am)

They wouldn’t answer our question about whether that was the reason. But certainly the west side of Boeing Field is overflowing with parked 737s.
- William Kelley August 1, 2019 (2:12 pm)
  
  Do you know where I can find a flight schedule for the various planes leaving for the air show that are taking off from Beoing field this weekend? The North end of the field is our favorite place to be and we don’t want to miss any of the take off and landings. I know the Blue Angles arent starting until 3pm. Many thanks.
  - WSB August 1, 2019 (2:22 pm)
    
    Scroll down this page:
    https://www.seafair.com/p/getinvolved/boeing-seafair-air-show

K to the F July 30, 2019 (10:21 am)

Are there maps showing the approx location/flight path of the Blue
Angels show? Was going to take my 3yo to view on the I-90 bridge or
overlook but now am not sure what our plan is.

WSB July 30, 2019 (10:28 am)

We asked yesterday and it’s only a “slight” move south, Seafair’s spokesperson told us.

John July 30, 2019 (12:00 pm)

Where is Slight move South ? Where can we go to see the show now that the bridge will not be in the flight path. Slightly south is a bit Vague…

Kevin July 30, 2019 (1:46 pm)

Got this from a pilot friend who checked with the FAA, the blue box is this year, red is previous years (roughly, he’s a good pilot, not so much an artist :P )

Bradley July 30, 2019 (1:53 pm)

The MoF has been closing their main parking lot to all but paying customers on Saturdays and Sundays for years now. Last year I was watching the “walkdown” and you had to have paid admission proof (either a receipt or wristband) to even walk into the main parking lot. The 737 MAX jets parked all over the midfield viewing area (which has been closed to the public for months) will make it tough to view free Boeing Field airshow activity on the west side this year.

WSB July 30, 2019 (3:46 pm)

Last year, I watched the preps/walkdown from the fence (the one where they historically parked, on the south side, not the MoF lot itself, where you would subsequently watch the taxi and takeoff from east of the museum) in the usual place, for free, as I’ve done most years for a decade (along with hundreds of others). The jet-parking move is definitely new for this year and puts the entire experience behind a paywall, so to speak. The parking areas to the north along Boeing Field have been shrinking over the years – in recent years I’ve gone to one of those to watch the landing but didn’t this year as they came in Sunday night … so I don’t know if any of those spaces are available/usable this year. I know some readers over the years have watched flybys from the Costco parking lot!

MJ July 30, 2019 (5:55 pm)

Lots of 737 Maxes parked at Boeing. Wow just a little shift south and no SR 90 closures. This is something that should have been done years ago!

Mike July 30, 2019 (7:10 pm)

I fear people will be looking from their cars like they do with car accidents, then cause an accident.Boeing car lots are now 737 Max boneyards. Sadly, Boeing is possibly shutting down the 737 production in Renton as it’s losses continue growing at a rapid clip.

Ex-Westwood Resident July 30, 2019 (7:10 pm)

The area where the “Blues” and Fat Albert, and the other planes for the air show were parked is now taken over by the new Air-to-Air Refueling Tankers. If it wasn’t for the 737 Max issue, the tankers could have been moved and the normal parking might have able to be utilized.I wonder how this will affect getting the pilots autographs? My youngest son and I have been doing that since he was 2 years old, 18 years now, would hate to miss it this year.

WSB July 30, 2019 (7:15 pm)

Thought that looked like a KC-46 over the fence but didn’t get close enough for further inspection.
Nunya July 31, 2019 (2:05 am)

the tankers will not be moved. the reason the blue angels aren’t down on this end this year is because the tankers are here and in full production.

Claudia V Traub July 30, 2019 (7:59 pm)

I am wondering if my Museum of Flight membership allows me to see the blue angels or will I have to pay more?

WSB July 30, 2019 (8:12 pm)

Included with admission.

Pat July 31, 2019 (10:26 am)

Have they change Boeing Retirees, Veterans, etc.?

Erika July 31, 2019 (5:11 pm)

I volunteer at the Museum, and it was NOT their choice to have to close their lot. But there was no where else to put the Angels. They literally had 2 weeks notice that Boeing would not be able to let the Angels into their usual spots. I don’t know what to tell folks other than there is a great view from the East side of the field, on Airport Way S? EX-WESTWOOD RESIDENT please message me, may be I can help continue your viewing streak?

David August 5, 2019 (11:39 am)

This year’s Seafair was a joke,I have never been so dissapointed in all my years of Seafair,not only do I think admission and parking is overpriced but do you really consider an airshow a parachute team for openers,a fly over by an old Navy seaplane,and then 2 stunt pilots doing a routine,to coast guard doing a survival pick.to the Grand finale blue Angels,who spent more time behind the trees and over Seattle than in the front airstage,what a joke,I have never seen so many dissatisfied Seafair patrons and the voices of dissatisfaction than this 70 year celebration event,I’m so pissed at Seafair and event coordinators for not scheduling more aircraft to appear common,no harrier,no raptor,no f18 demo pilot,no nothing no antique aircraft fly overs,best yet no narration for the blue Angels,speakers cutting out, absolute joke I want a refund from Seafair,next year I will go to the dragstrip than waste my money in Seafair airshow

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