Each fall San Francisco hosts Fleet Week. Often the Blue Angels, the Navy's precision flying team, appear, as they did this past weekend. The six jets take off from Oakland International a short distance from our house, so we get a first-hand experience of their power even if we don't trek into the city to see their show. Thursday afternoon I was shopping at the nearby Safeway when I heard a roar. The checker said it was the jets on their way to practice. Friday just before three I heard the same sound and dashed out the front door, looking up. I saw four, I think, but one of the navy-blue planes screamed right over my head, exposing the large yellow letters on the undercarriage, U S NAVY. Pretty exciting!
Saturday I again saw (and heard) them fly over as they headed across the bay for their acrobatics; thousands of people were at Crissy Field and other sites waiting to see the extraordinary event. When I went back in the house I turned on the TV to see if a local news channel was airing their show. Yes! Not the same as being there in person, true, but this way I heard commentary from a Navy officer and saw film from a cockpit. In a certain diamond formation four jets fly with 18 inches from wingtip to canopy, going maybe 500 miles per hour. Talk about concentration, eyes on the lead plane, rolling on cue, closing in to this tight pattern. Imagine the hours and hours of drill and practice. I admit I don't think about the military aspect of this weekend; I just enjoy seeing the unique show.
This morning I heard the roar again and didn't get outside in time to see the jet. But as I began my walk a bit later, I heard then saw two Blue Angels soaring toward the west, perhaps on their way back to their home base, NAS Pensacola.
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