SeaFair 2014 – One of the most exciting events in the greater Seattle area is about to come to its exciting conclusion in Genesee Park on Lake Washington! Seafair in the Pacific Northwest runs for eight weeks, and this upcoming weekend marks not just the beginning of the Boeing Seafair Air Show- it’s also the return of our beloved US Navy Blue Angels to the main stage!
Cut from last year’s show due to government budget cuts, they’ve returned to entertain and leave you in awe once again. The Blue Angels consist of a team of F/A-18 Hornets racing overhead at speeds approaching 700 mph, and typically perform more than 70 shows at 34 different locations throughout the United States every single year. The team amazes spectators with mentally and physically demanding aerobatic maneuvers such as vertical rolls and the sneak pass- and we’re very glad to have our boys back! Trust us- if you’ve never seen them live before or only seen the team in pictures, you really haven’t seen them at all. There’s a reason their show at Seafair has become a time-honored tradition that many of us here in the Northwest hold dear, and watching their acrobatics in action will make you a true believer too.
The Blue Angels will be performing at 1:45PM sharp every day this weekend including Friday, and be sure to arrive at your viewing destination early- it WILL be packed, guaranteed, and arriving early will also ensure your seating for all of the other aerial events & shows you can expect to see.
Last year’s headliners, The Patriots Jet Team, will be an opener for the Blue Angels. This particular civilian team was founded in 2003 as a two-ship formation group and eventually expanded to a six-ship aerobatic powerhouse. Choosing to fly in Aero L-39’s, they electrify spectators with fast-paced formation flying, choreographed four-ship diamond formation aerobatic maneuvers and their signature “Tail Slide”, where the aircraft actually slides backwards toward the ground. Bringing it all together is their computerized red, white and blue smoke system, which makes for a truly dazzling display of patriotism.
For those of you there from the beginning on Friday or Sunday, Lucas Oil Air Shows will be returning to kick things off. These shows feature pilot Michael Wiskus demonstrating amazing his aerial aerobatic ability, including twists & turns & jaw dropping, low-flying, over-the-water passes- all averaging an air speed of 195 mph over Lake Washington! Pilot Mike Wiskus has a lifelong passion for aviation, and has been awarded numerous awards in his career- expect his shows at Seafair to live up to his sterling reputation.
New to this year’s show is Jack Link’s Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco, and the airplane features a Barnstormers-era 1929 Taperwing Waco body, modified in a way that would have shocked its original pilots. In addition to the Taperwing’s large radial engine, the Screamin’ Sasquatch carries a jet engine, which triples the amount of available power. With total thrust exceeding the weight of the airplane, it is uniquely capable of intensely powerful aerobatic flight like no other plane, such as extreme vertical climbs, flat-spins, snap rolls, torque rolls and even a “hover,” which the Screamin’ Sasquatch can then power itself out of to regain forward flight.
If you’re there for the Saturday night show, you’ll be there for a bonus treat: the Bill Leff Air Show, night version. Seen above, it brings crowds to their feet as his graceful silver bird dances on streams of sparkling light in sync with rousing and patriotic music. The show is 15 minutes of spectacular night aerobatics with special computer-controlled lighting and firework effects on the plane. He’ll be performing amazing day shows as well, but his night show is especially a sight to see. The fireworks don’t end there, though, as it’ll immediately be followed by the Alaska Airlines Seafair 65th Anniversary Fireworks Show.
Don’t worry about a lack of things to see, do, and eat this weekend either- the Boeing Seafair Air Show will be just one of the many fun activities and jaw-dropping sights you’ll see at Genesee Park this weekend. There will be musical performances on both the Oberto & LivingSocial Stages, such as the Navy Band, the Navy Dixieland Band, the Marine Band, and by musical acts like The Young Evils and Nolan Garrett. In addition, there’ll be hydroplane races and qualifiers throughout the weekend, Seafair Pirates invading, all the delicious food you could ever hope to eat in one day, friends & family, and everything else that makes Northwest boating great. We’ll see you there!
Show Schedule:
Boeing Seafair Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels (Aug 1-3)
Friday, August 1
8:30 a.m Gates Open
10:40 a.m. Lucas Oil Air Show
10:55 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection
11:15 a.m. Jack Link’s Jet Waco
11:30 a.m. Bill Leff Airshow
11:55 a.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team
12:30 p.m. Patriots Jet Team
1:00 p.m. Marine Air-Ground Task Force Demonstration
1:45 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels
6:00 p.m. Gates Close
Saturday, August 2
8:30 a.m. Gates Open
10:35 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection
11:03 a.m. Bill Leff Airshow
11:19 a.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team
12:30 p.m. Patriots Jet Team
1:00 p.m. Marine Air-Ground Task Force Demonstration
1:45 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels
3:10 p.m. Lucas Oil Airshow
3:23 p.m Flying Heritage Collection
3:41 p.m. Jack Link’s Jet Waco
9:30 p.m. Patriots Jet Team
9:50 p.m. Bill Leff Airshow
11:00 p.m. Gates Close
Sunday, August 3
7:30 a.m. Gates Open
10:50 a.m. Lucas Oil Air Show
11:14 a.m. Flying Heritage Collection
11:32 a.m. Air National Guard Aerobatic Team
12:30 p.m. Patriots Jet Team
1:00 p.m. Marine Air-Ground Task Force Demonstration
1:45 p.m. U.S. Navy Blue Angels
3:20 p.m. Bill Leff Airshow
3:44 p.m. Flying Heritage Collection
4:02 p.m. Jack Link’s Jet Waco
6:00 p.m. Gates Close
We look forward to seeing you at the
Boeing Seafair Air Show!
