San Francisco Fleet Week ( SFFW ), took place from 3rd – 10th October
2016 on the Marina Green , Pier 39 and within the San Francisco Bay area over the Italian Heritage Weekend . SFFW ’ s air show , parade of ships and many community events have become a significant and integral part of the city ’ s local culture and economy since its inception in 1981 .
With glorious blue skies and temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit a warm welcome is greeted to any visitors to San Francisco and the main event at Fleet Week . Three days of aviation action can be seen over the skies with Friday 7th October being a full dress rehearsal for the main two show days on 8th & 9th from 12:00pm – 16:00pm , even on the Thursday running up to the show many of the acts can be seen flying round the Bay surveying the area and obstacles .
2016 was to see the largest and most diverse show in the events 36 history . With no less than three display teams and the first time visit of the Breitling Jet Team flying 7 x L‐39 Albatross aircraft from France and in the final stages of their two‐year American Tour . The Breitlings American counter parts the Patriots Jet Team in 6 x L‐39 Albatross displayed a very different and unique display with a blend of formation , solo and three pairs routine .
The show was opened each day with the Navy ’ s Leap Frogs Parachute team from San Diego with six parachutists completing two separate drops from a USAF Hercules . Solo Aerobatics came from the Lucas Oil sponsored Pitts S‐1‐11B & the Legendary Sean D . Tucker and Team Oracle ’ s Challenger III , both providing a unique blend of high octane and breath‐taking routines .
The Canadian Air Force displayed its CF‐18 Hornet in its immaculate British Commonwealth Air Training Program ( BCATP ) demonstration ship , whilst the USAF F‐22 Raptor flown by Maj . Dan Dickinson from Langley Air Force Base showed off its 5th generation capabilities . The later joined up with Steve Hinton flying a P51 Mustang for the famous Heritage flights presenting the evolution of USAF air power .
One of the highlights was United ’ s Boeing 747 flying an extremely spirited series of high speed flypasts , a dirty flypast , with a final on crowd flyover . The finale each day was of course the US Navy ’ s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron in their 6 F / A ‐18 Hornets . The team performed for almost an hour with high energy , sneak passes and tight formation passes that enthralled the gathered crowd and those in ear shot of the commentary where entertained by the team ’ s commentator adding to the team ’ s dramatic display .
© 2016 Jason Phelan