October once again brings Fleet Week to the SF Bay Area. A controversial event since the late 60's... the military-hating, anti-war Letfties finally managed to drive the Navy's Blue Angels away. While the Blue Angels have long been a big crowd pleaser, it's mainly outlanders who attend in large numbers, the locals seethe as the blue jets roar over the city.
The heart-stopping, window-rattling flyovers of the Blue Angels won't be part of Fleet Week next month, but organizers of the military festivities promise an exciting event nonetheless.
The main attraction this year is a precision flying team from the north, the Canadian Snowbirds, whose motto is, "Warriors of the Air.''
The Blue Angels use six F-18 Hornets in their show; the Snowbirds fly nine CT-144 Tutors.
This is the first year since 1981 that the Blue Angels won't be part of Fleet Week. The only year they didn't show up was 2001, when Fleet Week itself was canceled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Navy officials have remained mum on why the Blue Angels aren't coming to town, other than to say they'll be putting on a show elsewhere: The daredevil Angels will be doing their sky-high flips and turns and ear-splitting maneuvers in Oahu, Hawaii, during Fleet Week in San Francisco.
They will be sorely missed. The Snowbirds are a great stunt team, but they are not flying operational combat aircraft...it just isn't as exciting as six F-18's rolling off the deck. There is no point to Canada's arial demonstration team flying during Fleet Week, a tribute to the US Navy, especially when Canadians declined to join the coalition, other than to sell tickets.
Support the Navy, if you're a Northern Californian, tour the visiting ships, but do not spend your hard-earned money in SF, they hate everything for which the military stands and holds dear.
It is also sad that the Snowbirds are in decline as Canada no longer values their contribution nor needs a strong defense, as they live under our protective umbrella, and have no need to recruit pilots. Ironic isn't it?
The Canadian Forces stopped using the Tutor jets for training purposes in 2000. The Canadian Forces, with its aging fighter aircraft and helicopters, is faced with a 20 per cent cut to its budget. It says it's focusing on "core combat capabilities," and the Snowbirds are one of the squadrons facing elimination.Even if the Snowbirds survive the budget cuts, they'll still be flying obsolete aircraft for the next several years. In December 2002, Col. Dave Burt, the officer in charge of buying new aircraft for the Canadian Forces, said he's in no hurry to replace the Tutors and said they'll be able to fly safely until 2020.
Aviation author and former Snowbird pilot Dan Dempsey said there's no point in having an air demonstration squad that performs in aircraft that only they use.
San Francisco and Ottawa are a perfect fit.
Posted by feste at October 9, 2004 12:25 PM | TrackBackWhat a shame that the Blue Angels won't be there! Oh, sure, you can watch the ships sail through the Golden Gate and everything... I taught for three years at the academy located in the Russian Orthodox cathedral on Geary Blvd. for three years; and quickly learned that there was no point in trying to plan any serious calsses for the Thursday and Friday of Fleet Week, as no one (including most of the instructors) would stay focused when the jets were overhead. I think the gold dome of the church was one of their reference points; and recall vividly being up on the roof watching practice runs, and being able to actually see the pilots in their cockpits as they flew over the church. Too cool!
SF: Baghdad on the Bay...
Posted by: Fr. John McCuen at October 9, 2004 09:11 PMWhile it shows a gross disrespect for the US Navy and the people who defend our freedom, I can understand why San Francisco chose an aerobatics team from a foreign country that doesn't have an effective air force. The Snowbirds are perfect for SF's Fleet Week celebration... and perfectly represent the Canadian vision. The planes they fly are NOT warbirds, and so we can think of the Snowbirds as just a government-funded aerobatics team flying fun aircraft. We all know how much San Franciscans like government support of things that allow you to have fun, like say, free condom programs.
But use REAL warplanes flown by pilots who might actually have seen combat? How gauche! Having the Blue Angels come roaring in just off the deck is a too graphic reminder of what the last few seconds of Achmed's life must have been like--just before the smart bomb hit.
Now, if they would just put some pink on those sporty airplanes... and maybe some cute little yellow bow ties....
It would be hard for out of towners to not spend money here...
After all, they have to park their cars!
And the cost of that would = dinner for four!
Posted by: abraxis at October 10, 2004 09:48 PMBetter to take Bart in and cable car down to the wharf area.
Posted by: feste at October 11, 2004 03:47 PMYah, but that presumes that the outtatowners live near BART.
I figure people from the North Bay and deep in the South Bay (San Mateo and points south) drive. In addition to the people in the East Bay who choose to drive over taking BART.
Reminds me of the argument over the new DeYoung and the parking garage that's being built over it.
Leftist: You don't need a garage, that's against my (politically CORRECT) beliefs
Realist: Sooo you want to attract people from out of town to the museum. You want them to ride MUNI on a Sunday?
Leftist: yes.
Realist: So a family coming in from, saay Petaluma to see the exhibit should suffer the journey from hell on public transit just because you dun like a parking garage?
Leftist: yes (as it gets into a Lexus SUV and roars off).
Posted by: abraxis at October 12, 2004 09:42 AM