Want to catch the Blue Angels at the 2023 Pensacola Beach Air Show? Here's what to know

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
Updated ·8 min read

Believe it or not, it’s already Blues Week here in Pensacola. The official Pensacola Beach Air Show is on Saturday, but before then, the flight demonstration team will host a series of practices starting on Thursday.

Blues Week officially began Wednesday with Breakfast with the Blues, when the Blue Angels arrived and circled overhead to mark the show’s coordinates and center points along the way.

Anyone looking to just watch the Blue Angels perform with the pristine Pensacola Beach serving as a background can catch the team’s practice show at 2 p.m. Thursday. This is the best time to catch the show for anyone looking to avoid the weekend’s larger crowds.

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The full Pensacola Beach Air Show dress rehearsal happens Friday and follows the same schedule fans can expect to see on Saturday.

The official 2023 Pensacola Beach Air Show happens on Saturday, with the civilian acts performing around 11 a.m. and the Blue Angels taking to the sky at 2 p.m.

Here’s what fans need to know.

2023 Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show schedule

Here are the civilian acts will take to the sky around 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

  • Pilot Julian MacQueen flying his vintage 1943 Grumman Widgeon seaplane overhead

  • Pilot Gene Valentino flying his ICON A5 Amphibious light sport plane.

  • U.S. Coast Guard pilot Lt. Cmdr. Mark Currier, from the Aviation Training Center in Mobile, flying his HC-144 Ocean Sentry large turboprop aircraft.

  • Training Squadron Ten (VT-10) from NAS Pensacola in a formation fly-by in their T-6 Texans aircraft.

  • VeriJet, a private airline, will fly by in a three-ship formation of Cirrus SF-50 Vision Jets.

  • Navy pilot Tanner Matheny will be flying over in his 1946 North American Navion airplane named Olivia.

  • U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration from the back of an HH-60J Blackhawk helicopter piloted by Lt. Travis Rhea.

After the civilian acts, actor and singer Kara Kimmer will perform acapella the national anthem around noon on Saturday to mark the official start of the Pensacola Beach Air Show.

Following the anthem, military and veteran performances will take to the skies.

Red Bull Air Force team

The Red Bull Air Force team will take off first, performing synchronized flag-carrying skydiving formation, landing at the show center next to the Pensacola Beach Pier. New to the air show this year, the Red Bull Air Force team is assembled from the most accomplished aviation experts on the planet who continually push the limits of human flight.

Veteran’s Flight team

The Veteran’s Flight team in their bright yellow, vintage World War II-era biplanes, will be making several passes over Casino Beach. Organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey, about a dozen Stearman pilots from all over the Southeast are flying in the show to pay tribute to all WWII and Korean War vets.

Bill Culberson with Fighterjets Inc.

Next in line, another new addition to this year’s air show is MiG-17F pilot Bill Culberson with Fighterjets Inc. Born the son of an Air Force fighter jet pilot who also joined the Air Force, Culberson has been in love with military aviation as long as he can remember. His classic 1950s-era MiG-17F can maintain 8g turns with a max speed of 715 mph.

Red Bull Air Force team (round two)

The Red Bull Air Force team will swing back around at 1:30 p.m. to create a visual spectacle with helicopter pilot Aaron Fitzgerald, aerobatic pilot Kevin Coleman in his Extra 300 SHP plane and the Red Bull Air Force jump team – the trio will perform a joint aerial demonstration that will last approximately 25 minutes.

Fat Albert

Look to the Gulf horizon at approximately 2 p.m. as the famous C-130J aircraft, affectionately known as Fat Albert, followed by six signature blue and gold F-18 Super Hornets, make their way over Pensacola Beach.

The Blue Angels perform

The Blue Angels will perform for the next 45 minutes following Fat Albert’s appearance. Pensacolians and guests will have the chance to once again be thrilled by aeronautic maneuvers like the Diamond Dirty Loop, the Double Farvel, the Vertical Pitch, the Fleur-de-Lis, the Opposing Knife-Edge pass and the crowd-favorite Sneak Pass.

Blue Angels FAQ: Ever wonder how fast the Blue Angels fly or best places to watch? Your questions answered:

Traffic tips

Parking is a hot commodity during the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show. The Casino Beach parking lot typically fills up by about 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, meaning that if you want to get a good spot, you’ll want to leave early. For best results, try carpooling with friends or family to eliminate further hassles.

If you don’t manage to snag a parking spot at Casino Beach, don’t sweat it. Pensacola Beach runs a free trolley service from May 26 to Sept. 4, which runs three routes:

  • Casino Beach to Portofino (extended to Park East for the air show)

  • Casino Beach to Park West (near the entrance gate to the Gulf Islands National Seashore)

  • Casino Beach to Grand Marlin (stops along the new access road at Pensacola Beach Boardwalk)

If you’re parking along other roads, be warned not to park in the sand. Every year, cars get stuck in the sand and have to be towed out.

If you’re a Florida resident, getting a SunPass can make even infrequent trips to Pensacola Beach — or any other SunPass toll — a breeze. You can purchase one at CVS, Publix or Walgreens for about $5 and preload it for trips.

The Pensacola Beach toll switched to a toll-by-plate system that mails drivers a bill at a later date with a service fee.

What can't I bring?

  • Drones are prohibited at the beach show. All unmanned aircraft or drones will be banned at the beach through Saturday. Kites will not be allowed during the air show.

  • Glass containers

  • Pets will not be allowed on the beach (except dogs in the two designated dog parks during regular operating hours).

What should I bring?

  • Rainy weather gear

  • Lawn chairs, blankets

  • Cellphones and tablets in a Ziploc bag

  • Cameras and camcorders

  • A cooler with lots and lots of water. Beer is only going to dehydrate you and it's a long day. Don't forget the snacks. There will be thousands of people on the beach, do you really want to walk to the nearest beach bar?

  • Beach wagons

  • Beach umbrella

  • Beach hat — and keep it on, you'll look spectacular

  • Sunscreen, and reapply often

  • Wear shoes, as this time of the year, the sand and pavement can be too hot for bare feet.

What planes do the Blue Angels fly?

The Blue Angels practice over NAS Pensacola on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. This is the first time in three years that the general public has access to the base.
The Blue Angels practice over NAS Pensacola on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. This is the first time in three years that the general public has access to the base.

In 2021, the Blue Angels started flying in a new airplane for the first time in more than 30 years — the Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F. The new jets are 25% larger, fly 40% further, remain on station 80% longer and can carry more weapons than their predecessors. The team previously flew F/A-18 Hornets, which they transitioned to from the A-4F Skyhawk II in 1986.

How fast do the Blue Angels fly?

The new Super Hornets can reach top speeds just under Mach 2 (about 1,400 miles per hour), almost twice the speed of sound. The jets can climb at a maximum rate of 30,000 feet per minute.

Blue Angels pilot salary

Blue Angels pilot salaries are no different from what their pay would typically be, based on rank and time in service.

Blue Angels vs Thunderbirds — What’s the difference?

The Blue Angels is a U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron that showcases the teamwork and professionalism of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The team was formed in 1946 and is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world. It performs around 60 annual shows across 30 locations in the United States and two shows in Canada.

The Thunderbirds is a U.S. Air Force flight demonstration squadron that performs about 75 annual demonstrations. They are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Thunderbirds fly the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The white jets are easy to spot in the air thanks to the dark blue thunderbird painted on the underside of each jet. The Thunderbirds were created in 1953, making them the third oldest formal aerobatic team in the world.

According to the Blue Angels’ official website, current Department of Defense policy states that the use of military aviation demonstration teams is for recruiting purposes, so the teams don’t fly within 150 miles of each other without special permission.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach 2023 air show schedule: Everything to know