Gravity-defying. Mind-bending. Breathtaking. Just some of the ways to describe the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy’s flying precision team. Catch them during practice most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, March through November, at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Penascola, Fla. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. and admission is free. The first practice of the year is slated for March 26.
Seating for 1,000 people on bleachers is available or you can bring your own lawn chair. The outdoor viewing area for the Blue Angels practice is on the Museum Flight Line, just north of the museum. Signs are posted to direct visitors to viewing and parking locations, including limited parking for handicapped visitors.
Following most Wednesday practices, members of the Blues will sign autographs inside the Blue Angels Atrium. Seeing the pilots perform their aerial flights of fancy, followed by meeting them is a fun experience for the entire family.
Take a tour of the museum after the practice show and relive the United States’ past through the aircraft that helped fight wars in our nation’s history. An IMAX movie theatre, free trolley tours of the aircraft displayed outside on the Museum Flight Line and flight simulators are all part of the museum experience.
Tips to making your day even better? Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes – there’s a lot to see. Come experience a whole new state of “did you see that” at the next Blue Angels practice show.