Blue Angels Might be Buzzing Overhead Next Few Days, Weather Permitting

The Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's precision flight demonstration team, arrived in formation at San Francisco International Airport on Wednesday and kick off of this year's Fleet Week festivities Thursday.

Novato residents can expect to see the distinctive blue — that would be Navy blue — fighter planes occasionally buzzing overhead if the weather cooperates. The National Weather Service said isolated thunderstorms and rain were expected in the Bay Area on Thursday with clearing skies by the evening. It's supposed to clear up on Friday.

The flight team was scheduled to conduct practice flights Thursday and Friday ahead of the air shows scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Fleet Week brings together the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard to offer air shows, ship tours, a parade and festivals, according to event organizers.

This year, the military pilots will share the sky with their Canadian Forces counterparts, the Snowbirds, according to event organizers. The air shows are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

Approximately 10,000 military service members and nearly a million air-show spectators are expected to flock to San Francisco for this year's events, which mark the 30th anniversary of Fleet Week's current form. The expanded festivities to honor the men and women in the naval services began in 1981, under then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein.

This year's events mark another milestone in naval history -- the 100th anniversary of naval aviation. On Jan. 18, 1911, Eugene Ely took off in a biplane from San Bruno and landed the aircraft aboard the USS Pennsylvania, which had been anchored in San Francisco Bay, marking the earliest demonstration that planes could land on ships at sea.

Ships are expected to arrive through the Golden Gate on Saturday morning and will berth along the city's northern waterfront for the remainder of their visit, which concludes Tuesday.

According to the San Francisco Fleet Week Association, the nonprofit organization coordinating the festivities, this year's Fleet Week will also focus on disaster response preparations.

Details about other events — including performances by military bands and ship tours — can be found at www.fleetweek.us.

— Bay City News Service