BLUE ANGELS: Wondering what you can see from West Seattle?

The Blue Angels have one more Seafair show, scheduled to start just after 3:30 pm Sunday. While the show is intended for spectators along Lake Washington, you can get glimpses from West Seattle – photos like Monica Zaborac‘s above, from Harbor Avenue, and the one by David Hutchinson featured in our daily highlight list today are proof. One reader has gone even farther and documented what they saw today – reader J. Newquist shares this:

On Saturday 8/3/24 I took note of “significantly loud” passes over West Seattle by the Blue Angels. As we know, by the time you hear them, it’s too late. The following is a short list of the best times to look up, if you are staying around home for the show. For reference, my viewpoint is roughly the “jog” at the north end of the West Seattle Golf Course; the corner of SW Avalon Way and SW Genesee St. Naturally our geography means it doesn’t take much to get better, or worse views, but the roar we hear are about the same. All times are based on the satellite times of cell phones, but are still approximate. Sunday’s show is expected to follow the same times as these recorded Saturday times.

3:30 pm “Fat Albert,” the C-130, turned from the north over West Seattle on its way back south. While not as loud as the jets, it is a closer view.
3:55 pm: After an over-the lake formation, one plane headed towards downtown while the other headed east towards West Seattle before turning north to regroup.
4:01 pm: Following a similar flight path to the previous entry, another solo plane headed east before turning, creating another loud roar.
4:11 pm: A diamond formation of 4 headed north towards downtown, then looped back to the west, then south, giving us the view in the included photo.

Thanks to J. for sharing those observations! (Reminder that while they’re up, SEA airport takeoffs are redirected, so there’s bonus jet noise over southern West Seattle.) The full Seafair airshow schedule is here (you may hear/see some of the other aircraft earlier).

19 Replies to "BLUE ANGELS: Wondering what you can see from West Seattle?"

  • Blue Angels Fan August 3, 2024 (11:22 pm)

    If you REALLY want to get a blast of the Blue Angels up close and personal, go to the north end of the Boeing Field runway in Georgetown. My ears are still ringing from when all 6 flew (more like skimmed) over one at a time to land. Go 40 minutes after their 3:35 take off.

  • Oakley34 August 4, 2024 (5:18 am)

    Great one more day of being unable to take my elderly dog out to a park to escape the apartment heat because the jets turn her into a shaking quivering mess. Not much quieter in the apartment either…she’s ruined either way. Thanks ‘patriots’! That’s four days in a row…

    • J August 4, 2024 (10:13 am)
      1. Oakley34, No one is stopping you from moving somewhere else so that you can hide from any type of noise. 4 days in a row comes out to 4 hours a year. Get a life. My 17 year old elderly dog does fine with the sound. 
    • Amy August 4, 2024 (10:37 am)

      I’m sure it’s much more enjoyable to take your elderly dog to the park early in the morning-before the show. This heat is brutal on old dogs that are out in the sun in the middle of the day. 

    • Ex-Westwood Resident August 4, 2024 (10:45 am)

      You can’t take the dog out before 3:15 or after 4:30, because that is the ONLY time the Blue Angels are flying today, and yesterday?

      I think a look at the schedule and PLANNING would have eliminated all the drama over the jets the past four days.

      I live by the “7 P‘s” principal. Prior
      Proper
      Planning
      Prevents
      P*ss
      Poor
      Performance.

      And You’re VERY welcome!!!

      Signed a PATRIOT!!!!

      • JKH August 4, 2024 (11:04 am)

        Well said, Patriot.

      • NotOnHolden August 4, 2024 (1:15 pm)

        So I’m guessing you didn’t hear the EXTREMELY loud pass that happened a few minutes ago?  My clock must be broken because it says it is 1:14 pm.It shook the building and I don’t think it is good for anyone’s hearing.

        • Ex-Westwood Resident August 4, 2024 (4:07 pm)

          Oh, I heard it. But did you take the suggestion and LOOK at the schedule of the air show that has been going on for two days now?

          This isn’t anything new for Seafair. They have had an airshow on Saturday and Sunday for the last 30 YEARS at least.

          I’m going to copy and paste what I posted from another Blue Angels/Noise Complaint responses thread.

          Those that complain, as a 22-year Navy Veteran, all I got to say is:

          “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said “thank you” and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a *damn* what you think you are entitled to!”  

          • Hammer in Hand August 4, 2024 (8:33 pm)

            Thank you for your service! 

        • Just wondering August 4, 2024 (4:35 pm)

          I thought it was going to crash!

      • AJ August 4, 2024 (3:20 pm)

        Patriot?   You still like to be called that tainted name?   That’s the same name used by all who attacked the United States Capital on January 6.   Maybe you missed that event?

      • Lagartija Nick August 4, 2024 (4:49 pm)

        @Ex-WR, my cat has been hiding under the bed since Wednesday morning. Exactly what prior planning should I have done for 5 days of house shaking loud  noise that randomly occurs between 11am and 5pm. Please enlighten me so I can be as perfectly prepared as you.

    • Spooled August 4, 2024 (3:55 pm)

      And the plethora of other unwelcome noises a society of people living on top of eachother makes is somehow ok the other 360ish days of the year?  People five feet off your fence or maybe only a thin wall away in your building shouting, carrying on while you want to sleep, kids screaming, dogs, loud vehicles, everything else that density brings?  It’s the fireworks and/or jets at predictable times every year that are intolerable.  Ok.  I thought I needed to move to the sticks.

    • JP August 4, 2024 (4:44 pm)

      It must be frustrating not having the world revolve around you and your elderly dog.

  • Asja August 4, 2024 (10:37 am)

    You get to live peacefully and safe because of these Patriots!

  • John August 4, 2024 (3:16 pm)

    No not really.   That’s my answer to your question.

  • Scarlett August 4, 2024 (3:18 pm)

    The U.S. has hundreds of bases overseas and spends more on the military than Russia, China, UK, Germany, India, S. Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia combined.   The U.S. is the British Empire 2.0. This nonsense about China or Russia being a threat is the same propaganda we heard in the 80’s about the former Soviet Union.  No one in the defense industry actually believed it then just as they don’t now. 

  • irene August 4, 2024 (3:23 pm)

    this isn’t about patriotism…it’s just some fun noise and flying skill, so take your dog out early and just relax!

  • Scarlett August 4, 2024 (6:03 pm)

    I’d happily leave those who enjoy Blue Angels alone in peace, for a single person who acknowledges that an outsized military industrial complex isn’t always synonymous with patriotism.  

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