The Blue Angels
This page will be updated periodically to reflect current Blue Angels happenings....
BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE SCHEDULE
(These practices are at NAS Pensacola but can be viewed from Fort Pickens on the west end of the island; see below for more details on how to watch practices from Fort Pickens)
2024 Practice Schedule
March 26, 27*
April 2, 3*, 9, 10, 16, 17*, 23, 24*, 30
May 1*, 14, 15*, 28, 29*
June 4, 5*, 11, 12, 18, 25, 26
July 16, 17*, 23
August 21*, 27
September 4*, 10, 11*, 17, 24
October 16*, 22, 23*
*Indicates an autograph day in the Museum following the Blue Angels Practice.
The National Naval Aviation Museum is pleased to open the flight line behind the museum to view Blue Angels practice flight demonstrations. Gates open at 9:30 AM and the Blues are scheduled to take to the skies at 10:30 AM
Blue Angels Autograph Sessions
Following certain Wednesday practices, members of the Blue Angels visit the Museum to meet fans to answer questions and sign autographs. Blue Angels practices and autograph sessions are free and open to the pubilc. There is no charge for admission to the Museum.
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The outside viewing area for the Blue Angels practice is located on the Museum Flight Line north of the Museum. Signs are posted to direct visitors to viewing and parking locations, including limited parking for handicapped visitors. Practice times vary so check the schedule prior to planning your visit. Practices last about 55 minutes.
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Open bleacher seating is available for 500 people. Chair service is provided at each practice session, a limited quantity of chairs are available for a fee of $6 per chair rental. Concessions and merchandise are also available. We are a cashless venue. Chair service, concessions, and merchandise are provided by the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and proceeds support the Museum and Foundation programs.
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We recommend visitors use sun protection. Hearing protection is recommended for those people with sensitive hearing. Please note that backpacks, daypacks, luggage, or similar items are NOT allowed on the flight line during Blue Angel practice air shows. Small purses, bags containing medications, and diaper bags are allowed but are subject to search by Naval Air Station Pensacola Security personnel.
What forms of identification are acceptable to get on base?
Base Access & Identification Requirements:
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require visitors 18 and older to show a single government-issued identification card. State-issued driving licenses and passports are acceptable. Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Additionally, vehicle operators must have a valid driver’s license, and foreign nationals will need to be escorted by a U.S. citizen.
Parking:
Access will be available dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on the base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
Non-U.S. Citizens:
Non-U.S. Citizens are authorized to access but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen. The U.S. citizen will have a background check conducted upon arrival. Non-U.S. Citizen visitors who have not been processed through the Foreign Visits System Confirmation Module (FVSCM) must be in possession and present a permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form 1-551), or a foreign passport that contains a temporary 1-551 stamp or a temporary 1-551 printed notification on a Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV).
Base Restrictions:
· No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include Concealed Weapon Permit holders)
· No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
· No alcoholic beverages allowed
· No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
· Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
· No visitors with boats and boat trailers
· All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background check
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Which gate do I go through to get to the Museum?
Public access to NAS Pensacola is available only from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway.
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How much does it cost to view the practices?
Admission is free.
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Check here for updated information.
Watching Blue Angels practice from the beach
If you don’t want to leave the island, you can also view the practices from Fort Pickens. The best view is from the VERY end of the island, which means you have to go EARLY before they close it off because those parking spaces are full. I recommend leaving the house around 8 for the best spots (it’ll take you half an hour to get there), and if you park near the battery wall, there’s a great little snorkeling spot if the sound is calm, at the Fort Pickens jetty (the best time to snorkel here is at slack tide, about an hour before high tide. Check online for tide schedules; they change daily.
To get onto Fort Pickens (a National Park), it’s quickest to purchase a park pass before you go and show them the QR code at the gate. A $25 pass will get your vehicle into the park for a week, or you can get an annual pass for $40. Note: if you plan to visit other National Parks, an Annual America the Beautiful Pass (to all Nat’l Parks and Federal Lands) is only $80, $20 for seniors, and FREE for military, disabled, and 4th graders. See nps.gov for more info.
Follow the Blue Angels Practice Info Facebook page for up-to-date details on practices. Above: location of Fort Pickens Jetty, great place for snorkeling as well as watching Bue Angels practice.
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If you’re interested in purchasing any of the Blue Angels photos you see on the walls at the house, my son Conor took them and has them for sale on his web page (the host page for this one). Go to www.c-griff.com and click on 'Gallery.' He has a few beach pictures there as well and will likely post more of both later this summer.
Sunday Beach Buzz
(and no, I’m not talking about sitting on the beach after a few bushwackers)
Often on Sunday evenings when the Blues are returning from a weekend air show, they fly down the beach and you can see them (and get a great photo opp with them as the backdrop) right out on our very own beach just a two minute walk from the house. Just follow the sidewalk to the beach, and follow the Blue Angels Practice Info Facebook page for details and ETA (this is an unofficial page but generally has very accurate info). https://www.facebook.com/BlueAngelsPracticeInfo
Visiting the National Naval Aviation Museum
The National Naval Aviation Museum is awesome and it’s FREE! You should definitely check it out if you have any interest in aviation or history, or if it’s a rainy day and you’re looking for something to do! See the Blue Angels info section for more info on how to access the base.
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Where is the museum located?
The National Naval Aviation Museum is located at 1750 Radford Boulevard on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Please note that the museum is located on an active U.S. military installation with access through a security gate. Admission is FREE.
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How do I get to the museum?
Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Please review the ADMISSION/SECURITY section within this list for complete details regarding base access and security requirements.
What are the museum’s hours of operation?
The museum is open every day of the year from 9:00 AM -4:00 PM except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The Hangar Bay One annex closes at 3:30 PM.
Which gate do I go through to get to the Museum?
Public access to NAS Pensacola is available only from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway.