Where will the Blue Angels perform this week? Ocean City, Maryland, which is the latest stop on the multi-city Air Dot Tour.
The Blue Angels arrived for the Air Dot Tour Ocean City air show in Delta formation on Wednesday afternoon with its beloved support aircraft, Fat Albert, in tow.
There are eight other performers scheduled to dazzle crowds above Ocean City for the 18th annual OC Air Show, including a mix of military and civilian aircraft.
Here’s how to see the Blue Angels in action at the OC Air Show and everything to know about the team.
When and where is the Ocean City air show?
The 2025 Ocean City air show will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15, above the city’s beach and boardwalk, with the show’s center located across from Hyatt Place Ocean City.
If you don’t have tickets and want to grab a good spot along the beach’s public access points, you’ll want to wake up early to stake your claim.
The Drop Zone Beach will open at 9 a.m. on both days, with the Flight Line Club beach area opening at 10 a.m. The show’s opening ceremonies will start at 11:30 a.m., and aerial performances will run from noon to 3 p.m.
Do you need tickets to watch the Blue Angels?
Nope! Blue Angel performances typically stretch for a few miles. So, while the show’s center point will give spectators the best vantage point, it can also be seen from plenty of publicly accessible places.
How can I watch the Blue Angels’ Friday practice?
The Blue Angels will undoubtedly make more than a few appearances over the city before Saturday’s performance. The team always runs through a series of maneuvers called Circle and Arrivals, which allows the pilots to get a feel of the air space and become familiar with land references.
When given the opportunity, the Blue Angels will also hold an unofficial dress rehearsal. This is essentially a practice air show performed the day before the official shows start.
While the show’s organizers haven’t posted a practice schedule, anyone who happens to be at the beach Friday afternoon is bound to see six blue streaks across the sky.
Who are the Blue Angels and what are they known for?
The Blue Angels are the Navy’s flight demonstration team, acting as ambassadors showcasing U.S. naval aviation’s skill and teamwork through their performances and community outreach.
The team formed in the 1940s and was stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville before eventually relocating to NAS Pensacola in the 1950s, which the team has called home ever since.
More than 11 million people come out to catch a Blue Angels air show every year, and the team typically visits more than 50,000 people every show season during school and hospital visits.
What is the schedule for the 2025 Ocean City air show?
Depending on whether you have premium seating tickets or you’re planning to stake out a spot somewhere along the public beach access, you’ll probably want to arrive at the show early.
The Drop Zone Beach will open at 9 a.m. on both days, with the Flight Line Club beach area opening at 10 a.m. The show’s opening ceremonies will start at 11:30 a.m., and aerial performances will run from noon to 3 p.m.
A minute-by-minute schedule isn’t available, but here is the sequence of events for the Ocean City air show:
11:30 a.m.: Opening ceremony
Noon – 3 p.m.: Aerial performances (in order)
What time will the Blue Angels fly at the Ocean City air show?
If everything goes according to schedule, the Blue Angels will likely perform at 2 p.m. as the show’s headliners. Fans can expect them to perform between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on whether Fat Albert makes an appearance.
Where can I purchase tickets for the Ocean City air show?
Various ticket packages are available online now. Admission to the OC Air Show on the Boardwalk is free, but purchased tickets offer admittance to selected special viewing areas.
VIP and Premium Viewing includes “Sand Boxes,” “VIP Penthouse,” “Flight Line Club” and “Drop Zone Beach.” The prices for these special viewing areas range between $60-$600.
Who is flying with the Blue Angels at the Ocean City air show?
Here is who will be performing along with the Blue Angels at the 2025 Ocean City air show.
Who are the Blue Angel pilots in 2025?
Here is a look at the 2025 Blue Angel pilots and their roles:
What planes do the Blue Angels fly?
In 2021, the Blue Angels transitioned from the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which the team has flown since 1986, to the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. The new Super Hornets are 25% larger, can fly 40% further and remain on station 80% longer.
How fast do the Blue Angels fly?
The fastest the Blue Angels fly during an air show is 700 mph during its Sneak Pass maneuver. The slowest speed is around 120 mph during the Section High Alpha maneuver.
Do the Blue Angels break the sound barrier?
The Blue Angels’ F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are capable of going well over the speed of sound, which is 767 mph.
Can a civilian fly with the Blue Angels?
Yes! Sort of. The Blue Angels partner with local news organizations and other civilians as they travel from show to show. In some cases, these people are selected to take media flights with the Blue Angels. The goal of these media flights is to give civilians a sense of what it’s like to fly through the skies like a Blue Angel through the perspective of a member of the media or someone similar.
Are the Blue Angels top gun pilots?
The Navy’s TOPGUN program is called the Navy Fighter Weapons School. Pilots who go through the program teaches air combat maneuvering tactics and techniques to select naval aviators and naval flight officers. Some current and former Blue Angels pilots have participated in the TOPGUN program, but it’s not a requirement.
How close do the Blue Angels fly?
The diamond formation the Blue Angels fly in during the Diamond 360 maneuver has the jets flying about 18 inches from each other.
How low do the Blue Angels fly during an air show?
Not every air show is the same, and because safety is paramount, the range of maneuvers the team performs depends entirely upon the conditions at the time of the show. That said, in general, the infamous Sneak Pass is the closest they’ll get to the ground. During this maneuver, the Lead Solo will “sneak” up on the crowd from behind and pass only 50 feet above it. Earbuds are recommended to protect your ears, but nothing will save you from the rumbling you’ll feel in your chest as it passes overhead.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels return to Maryland for Ocean City air show. How to watch
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
