The Navy’s precision flight team is part of Seafair, the largest summer celebration in the region that combines parades, hydroplane races on Lake Washington, and an airshow. The event is held the first weekend in August and this year marked its 75th anniversary.

The Blue Angels team stages from King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KBFI).

Despite temperatures hovering in the 90s and poor air quality due to forest fires in eastern Washington, fans turned out in droves to watch the famous blue jets. The balcony at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field was packed with those straining to see the launch and recovery of the Blues.

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This year little girls and not-so-little girls were delighted to see the aircraft flown by Lieutenant Commander Amanda Lee, the first woman to perform as a Blue Angel flight demonstration pilot.

According to the Blue Angels information page, Lee joined the team in September 2022. She flies as a slot pilot in the No. 4 four jet using the call sign “Stalin.” Lee’s experience includes more than 1,360 flight hours and over 225 carrier-arrested landings.

According to the Navy Times, Lee is just the second woman on the Blue Angels team since U.S. Marine Corps Captain Kate Higgins Cook joined in 2015, flying the C-130 transport known as “Fat Albert” in 2015.

• READ MORE: Blue Angels Name First Female Fighter Jet Demonstration Pilot

Other aerial acts taking part in the Seafair celebration (June 29-August 4) included the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, a Marine F35b, an Air Force F35A, and a PBY-5A Catalina. The demonstration flights take place over Lake Washington located south of Seattle.

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The Blue Angels joined the festivities in 1972 flying F-4J Phantom IIs.This year, for the first time the team will be flying F/A-18 Super Hornet E/Fs. 

The team has not performed in Seattle since 2019. They’ll be staging out of King County International Airport/Boeing Field (KBFI).

“Our tradition is back,” said Ted Huetter, senior manager, public relations and promotions for the Museum of Flight (MOF). The Blue Angels arrived in Seattle earlier this week. They practice each day, and Heutter noted that the museum parking lot was filled with spectators and the road next to the airport was lined with cars.

“The first flight was delayed because of weather, but it was a great time. There were little kids and old-timers and overall it was a festival feeling as people waited for the airplanes to take off, and when it happened, it was wonderfully, wonderfully loud! There was applause—and, of course, car alarms going off.”

The Seafair Airshow is sponsored by the Boeing Company.

During the weekend, the MOF hosts the Jet Blast Bash, which entails the west campus of the museum hosting an outdoor festival complete with food trucks, bounce houses, a beer garden, community booth, and a live remote from a local radio station. Jet Blast Bash activities are included with the price of museum admission.

“It is also a flight line event, we will have Blue Angel No. 8 on display along with some other specialty aircraft, including a Growler of NAS Whidbey to the north. We’ll also have a car club with some vintage Corvettes.” said Huetter.

The Blue Angels have multiple shows which are weather dependent. They have a “low show” and a “high show,” which are both predicated by the cloud ceiling.

Special Guest

Seafair is such a popular event that people come from out of town to partake in it. Getting the award for traveling the farthest distance is 17-year-old Mac Rutherford, a Belgian-British pilot who is attempting to set a record for being the youngest person to fly around the world solo. Last year, his sister Zara, 19, became the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.

Mac Rutherford is flying a Shark.Aero Shark microlight. He began his journey on March 23, 2022, from Sofia, Bulgaria, and as of 9 a.m. August 5, he was on his way to Seattle from Alaska. According to Heutter, Rutherford will be stopping in Seattle this weekend.

About Seafair

The first Seattle Seafair started as a 10-day festival focusing on water activities and music. There were concerts, clowns, parades, and a symbolic coming ashore of pirates. People dressed up and spent days on the water.

When the team is performing, often bridges and roads are closed and a temporary flight restriction shuts down local airspace. Many flight schools and FBOs host barbecues and parties for their clients during the event. 

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