With the loud roaring sound piercing through the clear sky, the United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team made a stunning return to Seattle on August 2nd and 3rd, bringing an unprecedented climax to the 2025 Seattle Maritime Festival weekend. Six F/A-18 Super Hornets whizzed past over Lake Washington, displaying precise formations, high-speed rolls, and low-altitude maneuvers under the clear blue summer sky, dazzling tens of thousands of spectators who held their breath in awe and continuously cheered.
Since its establishment in 1946, the Blue Angels flight demonstration team has presented aerial feasts to over 500 million audiences worldwide. In Seattle, they are not only a symbol of celebration but also an indispensable part of many people’s summer memories.
“I have been to see the Blue Angels 45 times,” exclaimed Jason from Seattle. “My parents brought me here when I was a kid, and now I bring my children. Our big family of over twenty people set up four tents, making it lively like Christmas. The kids love watching the jets fly over their heads.”
The Blue Angels not only carry on family traditions but also bring forth a sense of harmony among people. Jason mentioned, “There is no discord here, just blue skies, flying, and happy times spent with family.”
Wendy from Bellevue shared her thoughts, having watched the Blue Angels flight demonstration for the third time. “Seeing people from different backgrounds come together to watch the sky, share food, and clap and cheer creates a stronger sense of belonging and connection to this city.”
Michael, attending the Maritime Festival for the first time, could hardly contain his excitement. “I have only seen this on TV before, but experiencing it live is so exhilarating. The cheers of the crowd blending with the thunderous engine sounds of the jets, I finally understand why everyone comes every year.”
This year’s “Boeing Maritime Festival Air Show” not only featured the Blue Angels but also included performances by F-16 fighter jets, F-35B stealth jets, vintage PBY Catalina seaplanes, aerobatic planes, and parachute teams. The azure sky and shimmering lake water complemented each other, with the white contrails left by the jets standing out brightly in the sunlight.
“I could almost feel the vibrations of the jets descending from above. That moment truly gets the blood pumping!” exclaimed a photography enthusiast. “Every year feels like the first time.”
Shayla Morales, who had worked at Boeing for many years, flew back from Houston to Seattle for this special occasion. “It’s like a family feast,” she said. “When you see the planes you helped build soaring in the sky, the pride you feel is unparalleled.”
For Seattle residents, the Maritime Festival and the Blue Angels represent more than just an air show. From cheers along the shores of Lake Washington to the trails of smoke left by the jets in the sky, these events bring together the warmth of families, the unity of communities, and the pursuit of excellence and dreams.