[Fight2FlyPhoto]

This coming week will be my TENTH year of enjoying this great Seattle event and enjoying the always amazing United States Navy Blue Angels! In the years I've found many great spots to see the Blue Angels and rest of the airshow.

This years military lineup includes the Blue Angels, USAF A-10 Warthog, T-6A Texan II, C-17 from McChord, F-15E Strike Eagle, and T-33!

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I'll be down at Boeing Field to photograph their arrival, then Friday-Sunday will be over at Lake Washington as I was able to obtain a media pass this year (Wohoo!!)

Anyway, it'll be an extremely busy week for me, but I hope some of you are able to make it down to see the Blue Angels fly in their favorite airshow of the season!








Lemme know if any of you plan on catching the Blue Angels... I can tell you where to go to get the BEST seats in the house!

[Fryslanboy]

I like the Blue Angels a lot, saw them 2, or 3 years ago at the airshow in Leeuwarden, Holland

[gomslork]

Stunning pictures. Really nice work!

[78thFG_Doodle]

Ahh.......So glad I live in Washington............ 8)

Blue Skies,

[Fight2FlyPhoto]

Thank you! Showtime begins this Thursday at 8:00 AM sharp as their maintenance crews runup each jet and preflight them for the pilots. The Blue Angels are unique in the fact that the pilots do NOT preflight their own aircraft as a sign of trust and teamwork with their crew chiefs. Pretty cool!

During these inspections all aircraft flight surfaces are cycled, including the IFR probe, tailhook, catipult nose linkage, airbrake (board), and all control surfaces. Even the spare jet is put through its paces at this time. When they're all done they'll refuel the aircraft and make any replacements they may need for the upcoming flight in two hours.

For Thursday the six demonstration pilots perform what is called "circle and arrival maneuvers" which involves the four diamond pilots overflying the airshow site for about an hour and noting their 1,2,3,4, and 5 mile checkmarks in each direction they will be flying. These are to ensure absolute precise timing for the airshow. Once they're done with the timing the Squadron Commander and Flight Leader, "Boss," will run through a couple diamond maneuvers to ensure the checkpoints will work. Once they're all done and recovered back at the airport, the two solo pilots then will do the same thing, noting the landmarks for their manevuers. They then will do a series of opposing passes, where they come head-to-head. This also takes about an hour for the solo pilots. Once they're recovered and the Flight Sergeon, "Doc," is back at the field, the six demonstration pilots and "Doc" will run through a de-briefing and compare notes. THEN they will do a full flight briefing and head back out to the airport and put on a full practice routine. As always, once on the ground they will pick appart EVERY maneuver and transition in their debriefing.

"Doc," actually is the one who guides the debriefing sessions as he/she will be directly at show center evaluating the show and communicating with the pilots. At the beginning of the season "Doc" is instructed on precisely what the show SHOULD look like. Then after EVERY flight "Doc" is able to tell the pilots what they need to work on and what they really did well.

Thursday is ALWAYS the best day to spot out near a show location where the Thunderbirds and/or Blue Angels will be flying as you get to see them fly TWICE. (Remember that if they're coming to a site near you!)

[Fight2FlyPhoto]

Dude! I just got word back... I'm supposed to be down at Boeing Field before 7:45AM at which time the Blue Angels public affairs team will tell me which pilot and ground crew member I will get to INTERVIEW for media day!!!! WWWOOOOHHHOOOOO!!!!!! I'm so excited! It took TEN YEARS! I'm so excited, now I just have to select which questions I will ask!

[78thFG_Doodle]

hehehehehehe.......Have fun with that. 8)

[Fight2FlyPhoto]

Dude, it was freakin' awesome! I was able to get some time with USMC Maj. Nathan Miller, Lead Solo (#5) and ask him some questions about being a Blue Angel. I'll go through the video and write it all out next week sometime when I have more time and less of a headache, but it was a really great time. And just for proof, here's a picture my sister took of he and I shaking hands this morning! What an awesome day! Thanks to Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger of the Public Affairs Office for allowing this to happen!




Now for the remainder of the weekend I think I'll be down at the pitts to photograph the actual airshow. I got a lot of pictures today that I'm really happy with, but for now I need to take care of a horrible headache.

Gotta love Seafair!

[78thFG_Doodle]

Cool, Jason! 8)