Updated: Blue Angels to Headline Flyover at Naval Aviation Event

The Navy announced Tuesday the Blue Angels will kick off the Parade of Flight at the official on Feb. 12. The parade, which will take place in the air above San Diego Bay, is being hailed as the largest formation of military aircraft since World War II.

This history-making flight will include about 200 planes and helicopters from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Trained military pilots will showcase aircraft from the earliest days of flight, including planes from pre-World War I, up through the most modern tactical aircraft in naval aviation, including the present Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet.

"One hundred years ago, naval aviation was on the heels of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk. Here in San Diego, experiments with ‘hydroaeroplanes’ set the stage for the flying machine to become an integral part of our Navy," said Rear Adm. Pat McGrath, who leads the Centennial of Naval Aviation effort.

Over the last century, the speed of flight has increased from the speed of a fast jog to well beyond the speed of sound. The inventory, missions and aircraft types have increased, too. Naval aviation currently covers “everything from transporting people and parts, to mountain rescue, combat operations and air interdiction,” said Angelic Dolan, a spokeswoman for the Navy.

"Even with all the innovation and technology improvements, America's Navy depends on what it has always relied on—brave and intelligent men and women who volunteer to serve their nation,” McGrath added. “With the inaugural centennial event here, we honor, celebrate and commemorate those who have and continue to ‘Fly Navy!’"

The parade is part of the Navy’s Open House event commemorating the Centennial of Naval Aviation on Saturday. The event will take place at Naval Air Station North Island. The gates open at 8 a.m., and the venue opens at 9 a.m.

The open house event will include ships tours, a classic car show, entertainment and static displays of aircraft, where aircrew will be available to discuss the planes and more.

The highly anticipated Parade of Flight is set to soar over San Diego Bay at 1 p.m. and can also be viewed from the , Harbor Island or Shelter Island. The Blue Angels will lead the flyover, and the finale will include a fly-by from Carrier Air Wing 9 of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group—featuring a V-formation of more than 30 planes.

For aviation buffs, there will be more than 30 vintage Navy warbirds, including: the N3N Canary, N2S Stearman, SNJ Texan, SNB Kansan, FM-2 Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, F4U Corsair, TBM Avenger, SBD Dauntless, PV-2 Harpoon, SB2C Helldiver, HU-16 Albatross, four T-28 Trojans, four T-34B Mentors, A-1 Skyraider, FJ-4 Fury, T-2 Buckeye, and T-33B Shooting Star.

The U.S. Navy Leap Frogs will also skydive through the air and are scheduled for three separate jumps.

For more information, visit the Centennial of Naval Aviation website. 

Please Note: Large crowds are expected. The Coronado advises residents to expect traffic delays due to heavy congestion from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The First Street gate will be restricted to media and credentialed VIPs only. Access through the Ocean Boulevard gate will be limited to vehicles with valid Department of Defense decals, operated by a driver with valid military I.D. The Third and Fourth Street gates will open to the public at 8 a.m.

Also, the Coast Guard will be enforcing a boating safety zone on San Diego Bay from noon to 4 p.m. (See attached map.)

Boats will be restricted from entering the safety zone, which covers the western end of Harbor Island, south to the North Island Naval Air Station.

Boaters can watch the show from the following areas: the western perimeter of the safety zone near Harbor Island, the eastern end of Harbor Island to the G Street Pier, or south of the Coronado Ferry Landing, buoy #23 and North Embarcadero Park.