The beginning of the Blue Angels aerial show is always signalled by the arrival of the impressive C130 transport plane known as Fat Albert. The C130 accompanies them to each destination, laden with all of their crew and equipment. It's always a remarkable sight to see Fat Albert lumbering slowly over San Francisco Bay at a very low altitude. It looked like he was going to land on one of the piers here !

It was the best Fleet Week air show we've ever been to. We arrived early, found our favorite secret parking lot before it filled up, had a nice lunch at The Pub at Ghirardelli Square, and found a great vantage point at Aquatic Park on a sparkling beautiful fall day to admire the nearly 3 hour air show. The Blue Angels are the grand finale, but many other aircraft performed preceding them. I took 600+ images - taking full advantage of the 8 fps continuous shooting mode of the Canon EOS 7D !

Tags:   6557 San Francisco Bay Fleet Week 2011 Fat Albert Blue Angels U.S. Marines C130 transport npw 100+views clear day sky

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I think the Blue Angels drop their wheels for this formation so that you can more readily see how many planes are up there, and how incredibly close together they are ! From the ground, it looks like one is giving a piggy-back ride to the other.

Below is another formation where 2 fly upside down and pass 2 going the other way really fast - it's a thrill a minute when the Blue Angels perform their aerial acrobatics at Fleet Week in San Francisco

Tags:   6633 San Francisco Bay 2011 U.S. Navy Fleet Week Blue Angels jets air show 100+views

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The Canadian RCAF Snowbirds Jet Team performed during the San Francisco Fleet Week air show. Their patriotic red and white planes scribed colorful arcs through the sky and wowed the crowds. Impressive precision and teamwork, and their commanding officer is a woman (of course) :)

www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/v2/index-eng.asp

Tags:   6433 San Francisco Bay U.S. Navy fleet week 2011 Canadian RCAF Snowbirds Jet Team 100+views

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At the conclusion of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration for Fleet Week, there was a chaotic scene on the Bay with sailboats, motorboats, dinghies, and yachts all maneuvering around each other.

Tags:   6827 San Francisco Bay U.S. Navy Blue Angels Fleet Week sail motor boats yachts congestion busy gridlock clear day sky

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