The air show may be canceled, but Navy Week to bring Blue Angels flights (updated x2)

Image by Flickr user skibler

Update April 16: Tomorrow and Sunday (April 17-18) at 2 p.m. are the big days as the air show over Charleston Harbor goes into full effect.

The Post and Courier has a nice map of where to park and where to watch (and where not to); Get it here.

And you can get the show narration by running into 98.9 FM.

Update April 12:

Today marks the kickoff of Charleston's Navy Week which features a smattering of events taking place around the area.

Throughout the week, there will be various demonstrations and visits by important military leaders, but the Blue Angels air shows over the Charleston Harbor is sure to take the cake.

Today's edition of The Post and Courier has a nice round-up of events taking place on a daily basis. Click on over and take a look.

Update March 31:

Times have been announced for the Charleston Harbor airshow featuring the Blue Angels on April 17th and 18th.

The shows will both begin at 2 p.m. and last about an hour each.

Details from the City of Charleston thus far are:

Viewing locations for the public:

In Charleston:

- Charleston Maritime Center
- Waterfront Park
- White Point Garden and the Battery
- Liberty Square/Concord Park at Calhoun and Concord

In Mount Pleasant:

- The best viewing spot is Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Aboard the USS Yorktown: fees may be applicable
- From the parking lot at Patriots Point: $3 parking fee. Seating will be limited. Free access for pedestrians

Restricted boat areas:

- Areas in the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor will be restricted in terms of boat traffic and anchorage during the shows.
- More information will be provided closer to the shows.

Tuning in to narration:
- We are currently working on arrangements with local radio stations to play the narration of the Blue Angels show done by one of the team members. Plan on bringing a portable radio to your viewing area to hear the description of the show as the Blue Angels fly.

 


First reporting:

Still bummed about the cancellation of the 2010 Air Expo? Don't be, because The Blue Angels will perform a special air show over the Charleston Harbor coming up on April 17th and 18th.

So what kind of birds are going to be in the sky you ask? Navy Lts. Amy Tomlinson said they plan to bring six F/A-18s and a C-130, and a transport plane nicknamed "Fat Albert," to put on a one-hour show each day.

The event is part of a larger Navy Week celebration touring through the Charleston area from April 12 to 18. Here's a bit about that from the Navy's release:

Charleston has been chosen as a host city for a Navy Week celebration in 2010, giving area residents an opportunity to meet some of the Navy’s Sailors and learn about the Navy’s critical mission and its broad-ranging capabilities.

The U.S. Navy conducts approximately 20 Navy Weeks each year, reaching out to communities across the country to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy. During a Navy Week celebration, the Navy concentrates a variety of outreach assets in a single city for the week, sharing the Navy story with as many people as possible.

The Navy’s precision flight demonstration team, The Blue Angels, will headline the Navy Week in Charleston, performing at the Charleston Air Expo April 17.

 

  • The Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
  • Navy rock bands and ceremonial bands
  • Flag Officer speakers
  • Navy divers
  • Flight simulators and other interactive displays
  • and Sailors from namesake ships and submarines.

 

A wide variety of events are scheduled during each Navy Week, including:

 

  • Engagement with local corporate, civic and government leaders
  • Navy Band musical performances
  • Dive demonstrations in local aquariums
  • Visits to area schools
  • and community service projects and events with local sports franchises, to name only a few.

 

You can learn more about the week on the Navy's site, or check out this piece from The Post and Courier -- while focused on the Blue Angels announcement, it does a good job of illustrating how the events will be orchestrated.