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When will the Blue Angels soar over San Francisco’s skyline for Fleet Week 2023?

Blue Angels fly overhead during the Fleet Week Air Show in San Francisco on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Despite the air show commencing on time, many of the Blue Angels' stunts were unseen by viewers as they were partially blocked by fog.
Blue Angels fly overhead during the Fleet Week Air Show in San Francisco on Oct. 7, 2022. | Source: | Benjamin Fanjoy/The Standard

The three-day air show that serves as the crown jewel of San Francisco’s Fleet Week will bring the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels team back to Bay Area skies this week.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) will host the Blue Angels team starting Thursday. Practice flights are scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. that day.

The air show will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. above San Francisco.

The elite flight demonstration squadron should close out each day’s aerial performances during the free public event along San Francisco’s waterfront—as long as foggy weather doesn’t cancel the final act like it did last year

On Friday, the Blues’ “Fat Albert” C-130 cargo plane will take off at 3 p.m. The six-jet demonstration team will follow at 3:15 p.m. for a 45-minute show.  

Saturday’s schedule also has Fat Albert launching at 3 p.m., with the fighter jet demonstration team immediately after. The Blue Angels will follow the same schedule Sunday for their final Fleet Week performances this year.

The Blue Angels team will leave the Bay Area Tuesday between 10 a.m. and noon.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform at Fleet Week, held in San Francisco this week. | Source: Courtesy San Francisco Fleet Week

READ MORE: San Francisco’s Very Own Blue Angel Comes Home For Fleet Week

Earlier shows each day will feature aircraft ranging from Marine Corps helicopters to U.S. Air Force and civilian performances.  

The Patriots Jet Team demonstration opens the aerial lineup each of the three days, taking off at 12:57 p.m. 

Other military aircraft will include an F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter, the Air Force’s U-2 spy plane and vintage T-33 trainer jets.  

Fleet Week’s flying schedule is tentative and subject to change without notice due to weather and other factors. 

The rest of the weeklong celebration includes public ship tours, musical performances and other activities. For more details and updates, visit the official Fleet Week website.

George Kelly can be reached at gkelly@sfstandard.com