thedrifter
10-05-07, 07:47 AM
Blue Angels in S.F. to perform for Fleet Week
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, October 5, 2007
(10-04) 11:45 PDT San Francisco - -- The Blue Angels arrived Thursday, wowing dozens of spectators who gathered to watch the spectacle in advance of Fleet Week.
Six blue-and-gold F/A-18 Hornet jets touched down about 10:30 a.m. at San Francisco International Airport. And even their arrival in San Francisco, where some activists have protested the military air show, was dramatic.
Cmdr. Kevin Mannix led the team in a maneuver known as a right pitch-up break. The six jets flew in the U.S. Navy team's signature delta formation, shaped like a triangle, before Mannix, whose call sign as the team's leader is "Boss," instructed all the pilots to turn on their smoke.
As they flew over Runway 28, one by one the jets bobbed up and made a hard right turn - simulating a landing on an aircraft carrier - before landing in single file. Later in the day, the team flew a practice show over the bay. The noise was heard around the city.
"It's pretty awesome," said Kedar Karmarkar, 32, of Santa Clara, a freelance photographer who was among many people taking pictures of the Blue Angels' arrival. He said he knew that some people have complained about the show, but brushed off the concerns: "That's ridiculous. People flock to San Francisco just to see them."
In an interview with The Chronicle after the team's practice flights Thursday, Mannix said, "Ninety-nine percent of people want us here." As for the others, he said, "I'll fight to the death for their freedom, so they can speak their mind."
Among those watching the team will be the pilots' families, including Mannix's wife, Tami, and their two sons, 12-year-old Connor and 8-year-old Kyle. Mannix said his sons are his worst critics.
While the crowd might see what they perceive to be a flawless show, the Blue Angels take pride in critiquing every maneuver, down to the highly choreographed march to and from their planes. On Thursday, even with few members of the public watching at the airport, the pilots opened their canopies, got off their planes and marched in step and saluted in unison.
After each show or practice, the pilots meet in a room and critique their performance with the help of videotapes and team observers.
Thursday's practice flight went well, Mannix said, although it was a little bumpy - the Blue Angels like to call it "texture" - flying over Sausalito. By contrast, it's a smoother ride as they fly over water, he said.
For Gene French, 61, of San Bruno, watching planes take off from the airport is an everyday occurrence. But the Blue Angels are a treat, he said.
"I just realize it takes tremendous skill to do it well and not have a problem or accident," French said after watching through binoculars as two of the sleek jets landed.
The April 21 death of Blue Angels pilot Lt. Cmdr Kevin Davis during an air show crash in Beaufort, S.C., devastated the public and fellow team members alike, said team spokesman Lt. Cmdr Garrett Kasper.
But Kasper said Thursday, "Our job is to credibly represent the sailors and Marines who are fighting across the world for our freedom. Part of our job is to demonstrate the resiliency of our fighting forces, and the best way to do that is to get back in the air after such a tragedy. That's the best tribute we can give Lt. Cmdr. Davis."
Davis was replaced by Lt. Cmdr. Craig "Merlin" Olson to serve as one of the two solo pilots whose jets will scream toward each other and do other maneuvers in tandem. Of the six pilots, Olson and three others have flown over San Francisco in previous years.
Critics insist that a fatal crash could happen in San Francisco, offsetting any of the benefits to the Navy's recruiting efforts and the city's tourism industry.
"It is no longer an appropriate thing to have the polluting, expensive air show by the Blue Angels that we have been treated to in the past. We know more now about costs, wastes and air pollution, not to mention risk. Enough already," said Joeann Edwards of Mill Valley.
Kasper said he couldn't provide an estimate for how much it costs to put on a typical show because of the varying price of fuel. "We don't get a Blue Angels discount," he said.
As far as pollution concerns, the team said its planes use biodegradable, paraffin-based smoke.
"We're thrilled to be flying in San Francisco, because of the rich Navy tradition the city holds," Kasper said. "We're grateful for the support of people like Mayor Newsom and we look forward to flying a safe and exhilarating demonstration for hundreds of thousands of fans."
Online resources
For more information on Fleet Week events:
www.fleetweek.us.
For more information on the Blue Angels:
www.blueangels.navy.mil
Events
Friday
-- 1 p.m. - Blue Angels practice
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels practice
Saturday
-- Noon to 1 p.m. - Parade of U.S. and Canadian Navy ships.
-- 1 p.m. - Air show begins
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels
Sunday
-- Noon to 4 p.m. -- Ship tours
-- 1 p.m. - Air show begins
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels
Monday and Tuesday
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Ship tours
Best places to watch
-- Marina Green
-- Pier 39
-- Top of Bernal Heights
-- Treasure Island (some maneuvers)
-- For more pictures and a video from the Blue Angels' survey flight over San
Francisco, go to sfgate.com.
E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.
Ellie
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, October 5, 2007
(10-04) 11:45 PDT San Francisco - -- The Blue Angels arrived Thursday, wowing dozens of spectators who gathered to watch the spectacle in advance of Fleet Week.
Six blue-and-gold F/A-18 Hornet jets touched down about 10:30 a.m. at San Francisco International Airport. And even their arrival in San Francisco, where some activists have protested the military air show, was dramatic.
Cmdr. Kevin Mannix led the team in a maneuver known as a right pitch-up break. The six jets flew in the U.S. Navy team's signature delta formation, shaped like a triangle, before Mannix, whose call sign as the team's leader is "Boss," instructed all the pilots to turn on their smoke.
As they flew over Runway 28, one by one the jets bobbed up and made a hard right turn - simulating a landing on an aircraft carrier - before landing in single file. Later in the day, the team flew a practice show over the bay. The noise was heard around the city.
"It's pretty awesome," said Kedar Karmarkar, 32, of Santa Clara, a freelance photographer who was among many people taking pictures of the Blue Angels' arrival. He said he knew that some people have complained about the show, but brushed off the concerns: "That's ridiculous. People flock to San Francisco just to see them."
In an interview with The Chronicle after the team's practice flights Thursday, Mannix said, "Ninety-nine percent of people want us here." As for the others, he said, "I'll fight to the death for their freedom, so they can speak their mind."
Among those watching the team will be the pilots' families, including Mannix's wife, Tami, and their two sons, 12-year-old Connor and 8-year-old Kyle. Mannix said his sons are his worst critics.
While the crowd might see what they perceive to be a flawless show, the Blue Angels take pride in critiquing every maneuver, down to the highly choreographed march to and from their planes. On Thursday, even with few members of the public watching at the airport, the pilots opened their canopies, got off their planes and marched in step and saluted in unison.
After each show or practice, the pilots meet in a room and critique their performance with the help of videotapes and team observers.
Thursday's practice flight went well, Mannix said, although it was a little bumpy - the Blue Angels like to call it "texture" - flying over Sausalito. By contrast, it's a smoother ride as they fly over water, he said.
For Gene French, 61, of San Bruno, watching planes take off from the airport is an everyday occurrence. But the Blue Angels are a treat, he said.
"I just realize it takes tremendous skill to do it well and not have a problem or accident," French said after watching through binoculars as two of the sleek jets landed.
The April 21 death of Blue Angels pilot Lt. Cmdr Kevin Davis during an air show crash in Beaufort, S.C., devastated the public and fellow team members alike, said team spokesman Lt. Cmdr Garrett Kasper.
But Kasper said Thursday, "Our job is to credibly represent the sailors and Marines who are fighting across the world for our freedom. Part of our job is to demonstrate the resiliency of our fighting forces, and the best way to do that is to get back in the air after such a tragedy. That's the best tribute we can give Lt. Cmdr. Davis."
Davis was replaced by Lt. Cmdr. Craig "Merlin" Olson to serve as one of the two solo pilots whose jets will scream toward each other and do other maneuvers in tandem. Of the six pilots, Olson and three others have flown over San Francisco in previous years.
Critics insist that a fatal crash could happen in San Francisco, offsetting any of the benefits to the Navy's recruiting efforts and the city's tourism industry.
"It is no longer an appropriate thing to have the polluting, expensive air show by the Blue Angels that we have been treated to in the past. We know more now about costs, wastes and air pollution, not to mention risk. Enough already," said Joeann Edwards of Mill Valley.
Kasper said he couldn't provide an estimate for how much it costs to put on a typical show because of the varying price of fuel. "We don't get a Blue Angels discount," he said.
As far as pollution concerns, the team said its planes use biodegradable, paraffin-based smoke.
"We're thrilled to be flying in San Francisco, because of the rich Navy tradition the city holds," Kasper said. "We're grateful for the support of people like Mayor Newsom and we look forward to flying a safe and exhilarating demonstration for hundreds of thousands of fans."
Online resources
For more information on Fleet Week events:
www.fleetweek.us.
For more information on the Blue Angels:
www.blueangels.navy.mil
Events
Friday
-- 1 p.m. - Blue Angels practice
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels practice
Saturday
-- Noon to 1 p.m. - Parade of U.S. and Canadian Navy ships.
-- 1 p.m. - Air show begins
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels
Sunday
-- Noon to 4 p.m. -- Ship tours
-- 1 p.m. - Air show begins
-- 3 p.m. - Blue Angels
Monday and Tuesday
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Ship tours
Best places to watch
-- Marina Green
-- Pier 39
-- Top of Bernal Heights
-- Treasure Island (some maneuvers)
-- For more pictures and a video from the Blue Angels' survey flight over San
Francisco, go to sfgate.com.
E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.
Ellie