Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is just weeks away. Here’s what to know to plan ahead

The air is turning cool and crisp, which can only mean one thing in Pensacola: The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is creeping up.

The Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 show is set to happen just after Halloween on Nov. 3-4, offering fans back-to-back dates to check out their favorite flight demonstration team before the season wraps up.

The two-day air show will be held onboard the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Gates will open around 8 a.m. and the show starts promptly at 9:30 a.m. both days.

Here’s everything we know about the Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 show.

What is the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show?

The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is the bittersweet culmination of the Blue Angels’ return to their home base: NAS Pensacola. It’s a wrap-up celebration of their performance season in which the Blues put on one last hurrah before the season ends and the last time residents will hear the familiar roars of their blue and gold F/A-18 Super Hornets until practice resumes next spring.

The air show is a two-day showcase that happens in the beginning of November onboard NAS Pensacola. Between 150,000-180,000 fans show up to watch the Blue Angels perform their physics-defying aerobatic maneuvers and enjoy nearly a dozen other performers.

What time do the Blue Angels fly during the homecoming Air Show?

The NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show begins at 9 a.m. on Nov. 3-4 but the Blue Angels won’t take to the sky until 2 p.m. each day.

Where can you watch the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show?

The National Naval Aviation Museum flight line is the best place to watch the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show.

How long is the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show?

The NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show happens between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 3-4. Civilian and other aerobatic demonstration teams begin performing at 9 a.m. and perform throughout the day with breaks in between. The Blue Angels perform between 2-3 p.m.

Blue Angels 2023 practice schedule: Blue Angels 2023 practice schedule in Pensacola announced

Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 parking

NAS Pensacola is expecting large crowds for the homecoming air show this year. The Main and West Gates will open to the public at 8 a.m. on Nov. 3 and 4.

Handicap seating and parking will be available for those in need. Parking will be laid out similar to the previous year, with traffic being directed to parking lots by security personnel and signs. Buses will be available to shuttle spectators to the airfield from designated parking lots.

RV and travel trailers are allowed onto NAS Pensacola, but parking is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking and admission for the event is free.

Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 tickets

The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is a free, bring-your-own seat event, but box seating and Flightline Club access can be purchased, providing fans with more ways to enjoy the show.

Box seating starts at $50 per seat and offers individual, reserved theater-style chairs located left of the center of the show on the show-line.

The Flightline Club Chalet offers outdoor bistro-style reserved seating at the show-line and features reserved tables of two or four, catered lunches, unlimited soda and water, a cash bar and private Porta-Potties.

Flightline Club reservations must be made online and start at $300 for a table of two and $600 for a table of four. Individual Flightline Club seats at an area with non-reserved cocktail tables are also available for purchase at the gate and start at $150 per seat.

Tickets can be purchased here, and are only valid for the day for which they have been purchased.

Directions to NAS Pensacola

Instructions: Click more options to enter your starting point address. Google Maps will then map out the best route. Both the Main and West Gates will be open.

Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 schedule

The full official NAS Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show schedule hasn’t been released yet, but here is what we know so far.

Gates open at 8 a.m. and the show will begin at 9:30 a.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own seating. The Blue Angels will fly at approximately 2 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4.

Blue Angels Homecoming attractions

In addition to the show, static displays, food, a kids' zone and memorabilia will be available at numerous concessions stands.

Static displays

Kids’ zone

The kids' zone is packed with activities for kids of all ages. There will be an inflatable obstacle course, bounce houses, a Euro Bungee, and much more.

The kids' zone will remain open throughout the full show. Parents are encouraged to grab a lost parent/child bracelet at the gate, which will provide the parent's phone number in the event that they are separated from their child.

Is there a handicap area?

Yes but it is first come, first served. A companion may sit with the wheelchair member, but large family groups are asked not to take up space that others with handicap needs would like to use.

What can you bring to the Blue Angels Homecoming show?

• Hearing protection is encouraged for all show spectators, especially children. Ear plugs will be available for purchase at the show.

• Wagons and strollers — strollers, carriages and wagons cannot take up aisle space in the seating areas and must be stowed under the bleachers.

• Chairs and blankets are allowed and recommended for general spectator seating. Items are subject to search.

• Small purses and diaper bags — most other bags, including backpacks and camera bags, will not be allowed

• Cameras and equipment are allowed but must be hand carried.

• FRS/GMRS radios are permitted.

What isn’t allowed at the Blue Angels Homecoming show?

• Pets

• Smoking — there are limited smoking areas at the event

• Coolers

• Outside food and drinks

• Roller skates

• Skateboards

• Bikes

• Personal golf carts

• Weapons — including pocket knives, multi-tools, replicas, toy weapons and pepper spray.

• Radio transmitters/receivers

About the performers

Here is the list of performers to date.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Blue Angels flight demonstration team is more than just a group of individuals; brought together to represent the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This team combines the best and brightest, at the top of their craft. Their camaraderie and chemistry assure the team mission is more than just a job – it’s a passion.

Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 260 million spectators. The Blue Angels are an American air show favorite and delight audiences across the country with their precision, speed, and aerobatics. During their aerobatic demonstration, the Blues fly six F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, split into the Diamond Formation (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the Lead and Opposing Solos (Blue Angels 5 and 6). Most of the show alternates between maneuvers performed by the Diamond Formation and those performed by the Solos.

A-10 Demonstration Team

The A-10 is the Air Force's premier close air support aircraft, providing invaluable protection to troops on the ground. The Air Combat Command A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, stationed out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, brings the aircraft to air shows around the country to showcase the unique combat capabilities of the A-10 "Warthog." They perform precision aerial maneuvers while highlighting the mission and professionalism of the men and women of the United States Air Force. Additionally, the team brings attention to the Air Force's proud history by flying formations with historical aircraft in the Air Force Heritage Flight.

Yak 110

The Yak 110 aircraft was originally conceived by renowned Airshow pilot Jeff Boerboon and Master Mechanic Dell Coller in 2013. The Yak 110 is the result of many great people coming together with an incredible passion for aviation innovation and is a re-purposing of two aerobatic aircraft that will certainly inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.

Brian Correll Air Shows

Inspired by Kansas aviation pioneers such as Harold Krier and Tex Johnston, Brian began flying airshows in 2008 and upgraded to his current aircraft in 2010. Correll and his wife Rachel live near Wichita Kansas in a community airpark with their two sons. He is a Production Test Pilot for Textron Aviation and an Instructor Pilot in the Air Force Reserves.

Stearman Flight Team

Stearman Flight is dedicated to enhancing safety and proficiency in Stearman formation flying. They provide FAA authorized Formation Flight Training and F.A.S.T. certification for Stearman pilots, receiving "best in class" acknowledgment by the F.A.S.T. Board of Directors.

Flash Fire Jet Truck

The Flash Fire Jet Truck has a fire-breathing 12,000 horsepower jet engine and reaches speeds exceeding 350 mph. You will be amazed by the amount of fire, smoke, heat, noise, and speed of the Jet Truck driven by Neal Darnell.

Ladies for Liberty

Ladies for Liberty have been known for their renditions of the 1940s, WWII, 1950s Korean War Era, and 1960s Vietnam War Era music. We are still presenting this program of the Andrew Sisters' style of music through their own rendition of vocals, costumes, hairstyles and the spirit of patriotism reminiscent of the 1940s and 1950s.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Homecoming 2023 tickets, schedule and more