SEAFAIR 2023: Blue Angels arrive after West Seattle flyby

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo above – he sent it just before 2 pm, noting, “Just watched the Blue Angels circle out over Puget Sound and fly past Alki Beach on their way back toward town.” About an hour before the U.S. Navy demonstration team’s fighter jets arrived, their support plane Fat Albert touched down – Jamie Kinney sent this from Boeing Field:

This is the first time that Blue Angels’ history-making #3 pilot Lt. Amanda Lee, will be flying over Seattle. The Blue Angels go up for practice tomorrow, then airshows Friday-Sunday – the schedule is on the Seafair website.

ADDED: One more view from Jamie Kinney at Boeing Field, as #1-#6 arrived:

Rhonda August 2, 2023 (3:23 pm)

It’s always wonderful when the Blue Angels are in town for Seafair. Go Amanda! 🇺🇸⚓

J.G. August 2, 2023 (3:25 pm)

So neat! What a showing by USA. And congrats to Amanda! She’s a cool gal.

WSeattleResident August 2, 2023 (3:54 pm)

Any idea what time they will practice tomorrow? Thanks

JL August 2, 2023 (5:59 pm)

Please consider the environmental impact of the Blue Angels by reading the following articles.

It’s Time for Seattle to Cancel the Blue Angels https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/08/02/op-ed-its-time-for-seattle-to-cancel-the-blue-angels/

In a Climate Emergency, Is Seafair Obsolete? https://southseattleemerald.com/2022/08/04/opinion-in-a-climate-emergency-is-seafair-obsolete/

If you are concerned about their impact, see a petition you can sign.

https://www.change.org/p/we-all-want-to-feel-safe-no-more-blue-angels-over-seattle

Jim August 2, 2023 (6:44 pm)

Bring on the Noise Blues
Thursday11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Blue Angels #1-#4 Practice Flight
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Blue Angels #5-#6 Practice Flight
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM – Blue Angels #1-#4 Practice Flight
- Denise August 3, 2023 (7:51 am)
  
  Are they practicing over the lake?
StupidInSeattle August 2, 2023 (7:31 pm)

JL – Considered… and ignored. Go Blue Angels!!! Woo hoo Amanda Lee and your fellow Naval Aviators :-)
937 August 2, 2023 (8:27 pm)

Nah.

Go Blue Angels!!!!
Rhonda August 2, 2023 (10:50 pm)

JL, please consider the environmental impact if the U.S. had a weak military and we were invaded, defeated, and occupied by China, Russia, or a coalition of both. There would be ZERO environmental protections and regulations under a PRC or Russian regime. The Blue Angels are as green as Greta Thunberg riding a bamboo-framed bicycle in comparison.
- Scarlett August 3, 2023 (6:56 am)
  
  The U.S. is in ZERO danger from either Russia or China military. This is a myth, just as was the alleged threat the from the former Soviet Union in the 1980’s. There is nothing patriotic, conservative, or even American, about an obscenely obese military.
  - Rhonda August 3, 2023 (1:10 pm)
    
    Scarlett, top U.S. intelligence officials say otherwise:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-worldwide-threats-hearing/
    - Ivan Weiss August 3, 2023 (2:36 pm)
      
      That CBS report makes no reference whatever to China invading or occupying the US, or even the potential of such events, which is what you all but said could happen without Blue Angels flights over Seattle during Seafair. You’re spreading nonsense — utter nonsense. Please stop.
    - Rhonda August 3, 2023 (8:07 pm)
      
      Ivan Weiss, you just illustrated better than anyone else could have of why you don’t understand national security
- Ivan Weiss August 3, 2023 (7:13 am)
  
  Oh, please, Rhonda:
  
  The notion that China or Russia would invade and occupy us is absurd, even for you. The notion that scrapping the Blue Angels flights over Seattle would somehow affect our military readiness to repel any such imagined invasion is even more absurd. 50-60 years ago, when the John Birch Society spread such fantasies, they were rightly condemned as wackos.
  
  Personally, I don’t give a rip one way or the other about the Blue Angels flights. Why be a sanctimonious grinch? If people enjoy them, then for 2-3 days a year, let them have their fun.
  - Rhonda August 3, 2023 (11:48 am)
    
    Ivan Weiss, I said “if the U.S. had a weak military”. No one thought Russia was going to invade a neighboring nation, yet they declared war on Ukraine and are killing innocent Ukrainians at this very moment. China is in the most rapid military build-up in their history, has the world’s largest navy now, and they’re building aircraft carriers. Without the U.S. maintaining a strong military, China and Russia would ABSOLUTELY go after every global asset there is, including the U.S.. Both China and Russia gave up Communism decades ago so it has nothing to do with “fear mongering”. Japan is in it’s biggest military build-up since WWII due to China’s threats to their sovereignty and trade waters. The Blue Angels are one of the Navy’s most effective recruiting tools in a time of declining enlistment, so they’re a vital part of our nation’s readiness chain.
- Jeff August 3, 2023 (8:43 am)
  
  Rhonda, you’re using fearmongering of an unlikely invasion to justify a glorified fireworks show?
- Jack August 5, 2023 (6:27 pm)
  
  100 percent agree with you Rhonda
James August 3, 2023 (12:08 am)

JL I agree with you and signed it. Tired of the noise and polluting in the name of nationalism.
- MLK Edward August 5, 2023 (6:16 pm)
  
  Oh no a few flyovers a day 😱. Really hurting the environment
Daniel August 5, 2023 (6:16 pm)

JL, if you want the blue angles cancelled, talk to our government then about them flying planes. Very confident that they produce more admissions than the Blue Angles. There are events like sea fair all around the globe and they don’t complain.

Mike996 August 2, 2023 (6:14 pm)

The first female pilot was Captain Higgins https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/september/pilot/capt-katie-higgins who was one of the C-130 pilots (Fat Albert).Lieutenant Lee is the first female F/A-18 pilot.

WSB August 2, 2023 (6:26 pm)

And that’s why I very deliberately did NOT describe Lt. Lee as the “first female pilot.”

TJ August 2, 2023 (6:53 pm)

I get a kick out of the party-poopers who hate the Blue Angels. Their impact on any climate concerns is like saying spitting in Lake Washington is going to raise the water level. Is it really just identity politics like everything now days? We have to show we are doing our part? Plus you throw in the complaints about the noise, cost, American military bully, PTSD, and still it’s luckily a small minority who want to be killjoys

K August 3, 2023 (8:56 am)

I love coming on here and reading the comments. The people that hate the Blue Angels are not from Seattle. Love this time of the year!

Dylan August 4, 2023 (4:07 pm)

Honestly, I hate the blue angels. If folks wanna go watch a bunch of planes fly around – feel free. But they should hold Seafair out further away in the middle of nowhere, so the other 95% of us aren’t subjected to disruptive and awful noise for 3 full days. Honestly this is the worst weekend in Seattle and kind of ruins the ability to enjoy this summer weekend.

Sorry, comment time is over.