Seafair Air Show and West Seattle side effects: Saturday’s schedule

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

Those are four of the Blue Angels, photographed today from Duwamish Head by David Hutchinson, Wherever you were in West Seattle, you likely heard and/or saw a pass or two during the Seafair airshow (which is mainly aimed at people watching from Lake Washington). In north West Seattle, you might also have seen/heard a military helicopter circling (thanks to JayDee for the tip), apparently waiting for its airshow turn, while over south West Seattle, you likely noticed a lot of civilian air traffic overhead, especially between about 1 and 2:30 pm. As online flight trackers verified, that was commercial jet traffic being diverted because of the air show, which is on a similar schedule tomorrow, so be ready for another round of sound. The lineup can be found on the Seafair website and the Museum of Flight website – the MoF is again having its Jet Blast Bash all weekend, which includes (with admission fee or membership) the chance to watch the Blue Angels take off from Boeing Field before their performances, scheduled to start just after 3:30 pm both days this weekend.

(Thursday photo by Jamie Kinney)

Rebecca Hodge Strand August 2, 2025 (5:58 pm)

I love the Blue Angels and the service members who are so gifted that they can train to become pilots! Let us celebrate the Best rather than the WORST of this world! We celebrate and reward athletes – now remember service members.

Dee Brown August 2, 2025 (6:34 pm)

I appreciate the tradition and respect the pilot’s skills and training… however, I think the state that the world is in today -this is excessive. The waist of money is a slap in the face to programs being axed because of budget shortfalls … behind a much smaller amount of money than it takes for this display. I am NOT a person who bit*@’s about fireworks on the 4th, or think people don’t have the right to have fun and enjoy small things- I AM ALL FOR PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY DO. However, the fact that money is allocated for ish like this while parks and rec are stopping free meals for kids at summer… leaves me conflicted.

Mary Ann August 2, 2025 (7:31 pm)

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Its appreciation for the skill. Its is not excess. Your words are excess. Please realize. Your words hurt the joy the Angels bring to others. Is that what you want?
- Tom August 2, 2025 (8:17 pm)
  
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  Mary Ann,I agree with you….. Harsh words are excessive… The Blue Angels are beautifulTKM
- Elle August 2, 2025 (8:33 pm)
  
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  They’re making a serious economic argument and you’re making an appeal to emotion. You look ridiculous to anyone with a political and economic education 🤡
Seattlite August 2, 2025 (8:33 pm)

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The Blue Angels have been part of Seattle’s Seafair celebration for 53 years. Why should Seattlites give up the Blue Angels’ awesome airshow for the few people who are naysayers? Speaking of money…Do you know what has happened to the billions of dollars that were supposed end Seattle’s homeless problems including homeless addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill?
Jay August 2, 2025 (11:37 pm)

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Hell yeah!
SKB August 3, 2025 (8:28 pm)

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thank you for writing what you did. I agree that some traditions are past their time. there are plenty of alternatives to noise and air pollution and anything that may induce panic to humans and animals.

Big Beautiful Bart August 2, 2025 (8:21 pm)

Dee, my brother is a Navy F18 pilot and flew with the Blue Angels for a full tour. They are all REGULAR F18 pilots, not specialized stunt pilots. When they are done with their Blue Angels time they go back to their regular squadrons. They get regular officer salaries. Every Blue Angels performance is a practice flight, not excessive.

A August 3, 2025 (11:02 am)

These are machines of war that trigger PTSD for many.If we called the show “Machines of Death and War Talent Display” instead of “Blue Angles” people in Seattle might rethink how they want their tax dollars spent.Estimates are that jets release about 670 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Roughly equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of over 140 single family homes. Is this militarized display of excess really how Seattle has fun? Seems awful to me and I’m a veteran. Pilots should train over sparsely populated areas to be mission ready and nothing else.

SKB August 3, 2025 (8:34 pm)

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thank you for your service, and I agree that some traditions are past their time. there are plenty of alternatives to noise and air pollution and anything that may induce panic to humans and animals.

Gary August 3, 2025 (8:04 pm)

The Blue Angels as well as the Thunderbirds operate under the military’s recruiting budget. They let the public get a view of capabilities of both the aircraft and the precision of the pilots who fly them. The pilots DO TRAIN over unpopulated areas and usually at much higher altitudes. The flight demonstrations can give younger people an idea of what they might want to do someday.

Dalia August 4, 2025 (11:19 am)

I have always watched the Blue Angels on TV or other formats, but never experienced live. I happen to be in the Seattle and at the park they were preforming. I was so impressed and amazed on how skilled the pilots are. I am a bigger fan now!