San Francisco Fleet Week roars back

More than 1 million spectators were estimated to have gathered around San Francisco during Fleet Week weekend in October 2021 to enjoy the festivities and watch the three-day airshow that is the highlight of the event.

Canceled by the pandemic in 2020, regional improvements in COVID-19 statistics allowed the event to happen this year. Believe it or not, this would be the ONLY Fleet Week held in the U.S. in 2021 and local airshow fans were ecstatic.

Anyone along San Francisco’s waterfront had a ringside seat for aircraft flying over show center, marked by ships and buoys in the Bay. Some folks chose to watch the show from Alcatraz Island, site of the infamous prison. The weather was somewhat cooperative with clear blue skies, but chilly temperatures and gusty winds that sidelined the Friday skydiving, along with other acts.

Unlike a traditional land-based airshow, there were no static displays. Performers staged out of nearby airports, with the Blue Angels based out of Oakland International Airport, while other performers flew from Moffett Federal Airfield in Silicon Valley.

In this totally different airshow environment, the pilots used the terrain and the area’s historic sites to their advantage, maneuvering over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz.

Friday’s airshow started off with a flight performance by event sponsor United Airlines using one of its late model Boeing 777 airliners, executing low altitude fly-bys in both landing and cruise configurations. The pilots undoubtedly enjoyed themselves as they executed tight turns over Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Airshow performances by airliners are rare, usually reserved for the large international shows, but have been a staple here in San Francisco for many years.

Kirby Chambliss was up next with the Red Bull Edge 540, flying an energetic display, often flying below mast height as he performed low passes.

The Coast Guard started with a dissimilar formation fly-by of two MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopters trailing a C-27 Spartan medium range surveillance aircraft.

The Dolphins returned to show center for a rescue demonstration, feeling quite at home since the Bay was teeming with Coast Guard vessels of all shapes and sizes enforcing the boat-free zone under the airshow box.

Military fly-bys started with a quartet of T-6 Texan II trainers based out of Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

A Charleston, South Carolina-based C-17 Globemaster III was next on the schedule, demonstrating the handling of this large aircraft (minus the impressive tactical takeoff/landing portion).

Major Garret “Toro” Schmitz, commander of the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, flew a demo routine punctuated with many high-G, vapor-generating moments.

A sinister looking U-2S Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft flew down from Beale AFB to make a few passes overhead before returning home.

The performance by Greg Colyer in his gleaming Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star “Ace Maker” would be the sole warbird appearance event. Surprisingly there would be no Heritage Flight this year. The only other civilian aerobatic performer was Mike Wiskus performing in his Lucas Oil Pitts S-1.

Soon it was time for the headliner act, the Blue Angels, to show their stuff. The USMC-crewed “Fat Albert” got to warm up the crowd, performing a series of fly-bys.

Last July marked the transition to a new Fat Albert aircraft, a C-130J Super Hercules that served formerly with the Royal Air Force, replacing a C-130T that the team had used since 2002.

Not to be left out, the Blues also received new aircraft in 2020, single-seat F/A-18E and F/A-18F two-seater Super Hornets. The new aircraft are 20% larger than the old Hornet and pack 35% more thrust.

With the new aircraft, and the pandemic shutdown of the 2020 airshow season, the team revamped their routine. Redundant maneuvers were removed and the show was shortened to maximize the wow factor.

As always, the Blues put on quite a show, but this one was more picturesque with the Golden Gate Bridge serving as a backdrop.

Fleet Week shows the American taxpayer the strong and capable Navy that they pay for and gives them a chance to observe U.S. naval capabilities first hand. Since 1981, this has been an annual opportunity for Northern Californians to honor the men and women of the armed forces, with a focus on the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Besides the airshow acts, many naval ships were open to the public during the week for tours.

This tradition started over 100 years ago in May 1908, when 16 US Navy battleships, their escort ships, and 14,000 sailors entered San Francisco Bay. This fleet remained in San Francisco for two months before departing for the remainder of its 14-month cruise around the world.