Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show live coverage: Traffic heavy as mass exodus begins
Tens of thousands of die-hard Blue Angels fans will storm Pensacola Beach today to watch the U.S. Navy flight demonstration team perform over the most stunning vista on the Gulf Coast.
The Pensacola Beach Air Show isn't for the faint of heart, however. When you're in the thick of it, the beach feels as if it's at maximum capacity. It's hot, humid and you can barely move without stumbling over someone else's flip-flops. But for most Pensacolians, there's no place they'd rather be.
Follow along below for up-to-the-minute updates from the show.
Follow Saturday's live blog here: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show live coverage: Traffic heavy as mass exodus begins
Pensacola Beach traffic heavy as air show ends | 3 p.m.
Swimmers are in the water and the mass exodus has begun after the conclusion of the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Airshow.
Traffic is already heavy around the intersection of Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach Boulevard and Via De Luna Drive.
On Via De Luna Drive, traffic is backed up to Ariola Drive, and on Fort Pickens Road, heavy traffic extends as far as the Holiday Inn Express, according to online traffic data.
Traffic leaving Santa Rosa Island over the Bob Sikes Toll Bridge is heavy but flowing smoothly.
Fat Albert pumps up the crowd before the Blue Angels take to the skies | 2 p.m.
The moment everyone has been waiting for, Fat Albert will perform for 15 minutes before the Blue Angels round out the Pensacola Beach Air Show with an impressive 45-minute performance.
The Red Bull Air Force Team, with Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitzgerald, round out the civilian acts | 1:21 p.m.
The Red Bull Air Force Team with Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitzgerald are back with a full act, creating a visual spectacle like no other. The trio will perform a joint aerial demonstration that will last 25 minutes, leading into the Blue Angels performance.
The Red Bull Air Force Team has one mission: To push the limits of flight. The team consists of Jon Devore, Miles Daisher, Luke Aikins, Amy Chmelecki, Andy Farrington, Jeff Provenzano, Sean MacCormac and Mike Swanson — all experts who have collectively completed tens of thousands of successful jumps. They are the most accomplished and experienced aviation squad around.
Patty Wagstaff, the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion, impresses the crowd | 1:05 p.m.
For air show veterans, Patty Wagstaff needs no introduction. She's the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion and a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team. Wagstaff grew up around planes, first taking the controls of her father's DC-6 when she was 10 years old.
She's earned her Commercial, Instrument, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Ratings. She is a flight and instrument instructor and is rated and qualified to fly many airplanes, from World War II fighters to jets. Wagstaff's sister, Toni, is also a pilot for United Airlines.
Skip Stewart performs in his famous red, white and black-checkered biplane, Prometheus | 12:55 p.m.
The electrifying Skip Stewart, known as one of the most entertaining air show pilots in the world, is up next. Stewart has logged more than 10,000 flying hours over the course of his career. His accomplishments include winning the 2013 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship and the 2015 Art School Award, and he's considered one of the most entertaining air show pilots in the world.
Stewart performs in a machine that started as a Pitts S-2S and has evolved into a unique creation concocted in the mind of Stewart. The biplane is named Prometheus, and it looks like an old American hot rod that sprouted wings and flies.
The Redline Aerobatic Team, featuring father-son duo Ken and Austin Reider, are up | 12:45 p.m.
The Redline Aerobatic Team is following Carol Pilon in the Pensacola Beach Air Show. The team features father-son duo Ken and Austin Reider, plus Adam Baker.
Ken, a former corporate and airline pilot, has been flying for more than 35 years and has more than 13,000 flying hours logged. It's always fitting to see Ken performing with the Blue Angels since they were his inspiration for becoming a pilot.
Austin performed his first solo in a glider when he was 14 years old and in a powered aircraft when he was 16. He's spent more than half of his flying time with his dad.
Together, they fly in the Van's RV-8, which is a two-seat, tandem plane. They are capable of flying up to 230 mph and have a stall speed of 55 mph.
The fishing pier is the place to be | 12:40 p.m.
While Maria Rivas chases the Blue Angels place to place, Pensacola Beach has been a viewing favorite since she started visiting in 2016.
“This is the best; the beautiful Pensacola beach. It’s more intimate,” Rivas said. “It feels like they’re closer to you.”
On a Pensacola Beach Air Show day, you can usually find Rivas on the fishing pier watching from above the crowd. She’s easy to spot, with a blue dress, matching Blue Angels baseball cap and blue and yellow bracelets.
“We’ve seen them a few times on the shore, it’s better up here,” she said.
While she’s seen the show countless times, the show never fails to amaze her.
“The Blue Angels - they’re the real Top Gun,” she said.
Carol Pilon and Third Strike Wingwalking make their debut appearance the Pensacola Beach Air Show | 12:30 p.m.
Carol Pilon and Third Strike Wingwalking are making their debut appearance at the Pensacola Beach Air Show, but they're definitely no strangers to the spotlight.
Pilon has been a professional wingwalker since 2000 and has a number of impressive accomplishments, such as being the first and only woman to walk on a jet-propelled aircraft, the first and only Canadian wing walker and more. The rest of her team includes wing walkers Joseph Bender and Kelly Garvin and pilots Stefan Trischuk and Melissa Burns.
The Veterans Flight Team takes to the skies next | 12:15 p.m.
The Veterans Flight Team follows the presentation of colors at the Pensacola Beach Air Show. This team is organized by Pensacola attorney and pilot Roy Kinsey and features around a dozen Stearman pilots from all over the Southeast are flying in the show to pay tribute to all WWII and Korean War vets.
Since 2014, Veterans Flight pilots have volunteered their vintage planes and their skills for the annual event, taking veterans up one at a time for an almost hour-long trip over the shoreline.
Gulf cleared as civilian acts take flight | 12:12 p.m.
While the temperature has risen to 88 degrees, swimmers have been cleared from the Gulf as civilian acts in the Pensacola Beach Air Show take to the skies.
As thousands of spectators look on from the sand, parachutists are making their way down from helicopters overhead.
Those looking to take a dip will have a few hours to wait until they are welcomed back into the water after the Blue Angels finish their 2 p.m. performance.
Lifeguards are patrolling the shoreline, quick to blow a whistle at those going a little too deep past a toe dip.
The Pensacola Beach Air Show officially starts with the presentation of colors | 12 p.m.
The Blue Angels annual Pensacola Beach Air Show is officially underway.
The Pensacola Beach Air Show kicked off with the presentation of colors by the Red Bull Team parachutists jumping from Aaron Fitzgerald's helicopter over show center. The Red Bull Air Force team and Kevin Coleman will follow with a brief teaser of what's to come later in the show.
Having fun and being a proud American | 11:40 a.m.
What's better than securing a slice of sand overlooking the Gulf before the Blue Angels fly? Having a friend that's willing to wake up in the middle of the night to claim it for you.
By the time Cesar Bonilla arrived for the Pensacola Beach Air Show at around 6 a.m. with the rest of the crew, the debate began on how early is too for a beer.
“When we got here at first we were like it’s too early to start drinking at 6 a.m.," he said. "Sure enough, by the time my buddies got here it was time to crack open that first beer."
While the time has flown by hanging out with his group of friends, the weekend takes on a deeper meaning for Bonilla.
"Really what this week is about is a lot of passion, a lot of love, a lot of just heart for the community and just appreciation for each other."
"That's all it is, you know, having fun, being a proud American and just enjoying the weekend," he continued.
Quietwater parking lot is now full | 10:20 a.m.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office reports that the Quietwater parking lot is now full.
The Casino Beach Parking lot closed just before 7 a.m. as thousands of people crowded the beach to see the Blue Angels.
Anyone coming to the beach for the Pensacola Beach Air Show will have to park at other locations and walk or take the Pensacola Beach Trolley. The free trolley service is making stops at the parking lots at Pensacola Beach's Park East and Park West parking lots beginning at 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Medical tent offers cool air and care for beachgoers | 10:10 a.m.
If you're headed out the Pensacola Beach Air Show Friday or Saturday, one place you need to put on your radar is the on-site beach medical tent.
The tan tent looks unassuming from the outside, but contains 12 treatment beds, air conditioning and all the same technology that would be found on a traditional ambulance.
In the past two days, EMS has treated under a dozen people for reasons ranging from minor abrasions to jellyfish stings.
If you need immediate assistance during Blue Angels weekend, EMS will come out to you wherever you are out on the beach by calling 911.
There are resources scattered all around the beach for prevention, including a hydration station with free water from ECUA parked near The Dock, and bottles of sunscreen available at Baptist Health Care's tent outside the public restrooms.
EMS advises hydrating before you get thirsty to help beat Saturday's high temps.
Pensacola Beach Air Show bazaar is open | 9:20 a.m.
The Blues Beachside Bazaar is open at the Pensacola Beach Air Show with a variety of refreshments and gear for purchase. The market is located at Show Center near the Gulfside Pavilion.
For your sweet tooth, Blue Flamino offers a variety of freeze-dried candy and Cookie Crumbl will have several of their signature cookies and a “special find that fits the Blue Angels Air Show perfectly.”
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Kona Ice and Travelin’ Toms Coffee Truck will all offer cold treats.
For more hearty food, Tin Tins Oriental Food & Seafood, as well as Cesar’s Concessions, will be on site.
Other vendors include the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (gear and beer), Pensacola Beach Chamber (signature Pensacola Beach Beach Ball Tumblers) The Crafted Makerie (Blue Angels jewelry), AHERO, Goonie Bedz, Sunchill, T-Mobile, GeoWhiz and On The Water Photography.
Cooling station, free water at Pensacola Beach Air Show | 9 a.m.
Blue Angels fans are already feeling the heat as Friday's dress rehearsal gears up.
The "feels like" temperature on Pensacola Beach hit 95 degrees before 9 a.m. and Escambia County officials are reminding visitors to the Pensacola Beach Air Show that a cooling tent and building is available.
The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce have opened the Pensacola Beach Visitors Center in the Casino Beach parking lot as a cooling station. There is also a cooling tent outside with misting fans where volunteers are giving away free water.
"Having this helps to alleviate stress from our EMS medical tent so they can focus on more severe medical emergencies," Escambia County Emergency Coordinator Scottlin Williams said prior to the show.
Heat-related issues are the biggest issue emergency workers deal with during Red, White and Blues Week on the beach.
"If you even think you are beginning to feel the onset of a heat related illness, please make your way to the cooling station," Williams said.
When do the Blue Angels fly? | 8:45 a.m.
Settle in for a long day because the Blue Angels will not perform until 2 p.m. In the meantime, the crowd will be entertained by a variety of civilian performances starting at noon.
You'll know the Blue Angels are about to perform when the beloved Fat Albert buzzes the beach.
Trolley service begins | 7:40 a.m.
The SRIA's free, open-air trolleys have begun transporting people this morning to Casino Beach, the base of today's Pensacola Beach Air Show. The SRIA this weekend extended trolley range out to Park East, located a mile east of Portofino Resort. The extended route will run until 6 p.m. Afterward, it will resume its regular route until midnight.
Post air show, trolleys servicing Portofino Resort/Park East will be staged on Via de Luna in front of Sideline’s Sports Bar and the Hampton Inn (facing east). Trolleys servicing Park West will be staged on Fort Pickens Road in front of the Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker (facing west).
Parking lot fills before 7 a.m. | 7:10 a.m.
The Casino Beach parking lot at Pensacola Beach is officially full, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook at 6:59 a.m.
The Blue Angels will take to the skies for the full dress rehearsal of the Pensacola Beach Air Show at 2 p.m.
Anyone coming to the beach will have to park at other locations and walk or take the Pensacola Beach Trolley. The free trolley service is making stops at the parking lots at Pensacola Beach's Park East and Park West parking lots beginning at 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Traffic is flowing smoothly onto Santa Rosa Island with no delays at the Bob Sikes Toll Bridge.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast still calls for hot weather, with the temperature reaching 90 by 1 p.m. and the heat index at 102 degrees. Rain chances are lower than forecast earlier this week, with a 22% chance of rain throughout the day for Pensacola Beach, according to the National Weather Service.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Beach Air Show 2024 live: Parking, weather, schedule
