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Blue Angels to Perform at USNA

  POSTED ON: Monday, May 12, 2014 8:00 AM by NAVAL ACADEMY PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Will the Blue Angels fly today? Any weather related cancellation will be made as close to show time as possible.  Any cancellation announcement will be made on our website www.usna.edu, on our Facebook page, or you may call 410-293-1000 and press 3 for cancellation information. If the air show is canceled it will not be rescheduled. The Blue Angels will perform a fly-over of the academy's graduation and commissioning ceremony Friday, May 23 at approximately 10 a.m.

The Blue Angels are back in Annapolis and will perform above the Severn River, Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21 as part of the Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week. These events are free and open to the public.

 The Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron and fly a team of six Navy F/A-18 Hornets and a C-130 Hercules, affectionately known as “Fat Albert.” The team will perform a variety of high-speed, aerobatic, precision-maneuvers during their approximately two-hour long, narrated air show at the Naval Academy.

Viewing areas for the show will include Ingram Field, portions of Farragut Field and Hospital Point on the Naval Academy grounds. 

Visitors may experience delays due to an increased number of visitors on the Yard. We encourage all pedestrians to leave bags at home to the extent possible in order to reduce wait times at the gates.  Please see additional information provided below [in page 3 of this release] if you plan to visit the Academy for the Blue Angels show.

Tuesday, May 20 the Blue Angels will perform circle and arrival maneuvers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. followed by a rehearsal of their flight demonstration between

2 p.m. and 4 p.m.  Wednesday, May 21, the Blue Angels performance and flight demonstration will begin at 2 p.m. with narration which can be heard from the Ingram Field viewing area. Spectators from other viewing areas can tune-in to WNAV 1430 AM to hear the broadcast of the narration.                                                                                   

This year, four Naval Academy graduates are part of the Blue Angels team.  Cmdr. Thomas Frosch, Class of 1992, in the No. 1 jet, is the team’s Commanding Officer; Lt. Cmdr. David Tickle, Class of 2002, in the No. 5 jet, is the lead solo pilot; Lt. Mark Tedrow, Class of 2004, in the No. 6 jet, is the opposing solo pilot; and LCDR Mark DeBuse, Class of 1996, is the team’s flight surgeon.

The Blue Angels flight demonstration exhibits the choreographed refinements of Navy-trained flying skills.  The show opens with the Blue Angels C-130 aircraft displaying the tactical flight characteristics of the aircraft.  Then the audience will see the graceful maneuvers of the four-jet Diamond formation, in concert with the fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers of the two Solo pilots.  The team concludes the demonstration with a performance of maneuvers together in the well-known Delta formation.

Only vehicles with Department of Defense credentials or handicapped stickers are permitted on academy grounds on May 20 and 21.  Pedestrians are invited to walk through USNA Gates 1, 3 or 8 and must show a valid, government-issued ID.  All bags are subject to search. Due to the increased number of visitors to the Academy during Commissioning Week, we encourage all visitors to leave bags at home to the extent possible.

Handicapped visitors may bring vehicles onto USNA with handicapped plates or placards, during operational hours (7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) and will need to get a one-day pass at the Visitors Access Center at Gate 1. After 3:30 p.m. passes will be issued at the Gate.

Parking is available at the blue side of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a $5 fee. There is a free daily shuttle between the stadium and the academy; shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible. 

During the Blue Angels Flight Rehearsal May 20 and 21, the shuttle route on the grounds of the academy will be limited to stopping at Alumni Hall from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. 

Naval Academy Gate Closures for Vehicular Access:

Naval Academy Gates 1 and 3 will be closed to vehicular traffic (except for emergency vehicles) Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21 from 11 a.m. until the completion of the flight demonstration rehearsal (approximately 4 p.m.).  Gate 8 will be open during these same times only to USNA residents, staff and faculty, and shuttle buses.  Gates 1, 3 and 8 will remain open for pedestrian access. Please note that all times are approximate and dependent upon weather. Due to the increased number of visitors to the Academy, we encourage all visitors to leave bags at home to the extent possible. Visitors without bags will be screened separately, and very likely, much more expeditiously. 

 

Visitor Restrictions to the Naval Academy Grounds During Commissioning Week due to security screening at the gates:

  • Guests are permitted to bring daypacks, diaper bags and purses. Bags larger than a typical purse, diaper bag, or camera case and large coolers are prohibited May 20 and 21. All bags are subject to search.
  • Folding outdoor-style chairs are permitted. 
  • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all times.
  • Animals, with the exception of certified assistance animals, are not permitted on Naval Academy grounds during Commissioning Week.  (Recreational dog walking on the perimeter of the Yard is not permitted during Commissioning Week).
  • Note for invited guests to Graduation and Commissioning, May 23:  The stadium has an additional list of restrictions.  Please call 410-293-1000 or visit www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek for more information.  If the Graduation Ceremony goes indoors, Alumni Hall restrictions will be the same as the stadium restrictions.

The Blue Angels flight demonstration Wednesday, May 21, will be preceded and followed by several other free events for the public’s enjoyment.  At 12:45 p.m., the USNA Band will perform on Ingram Field.  At 1 p.m., the Electric Brigade will perform at Hospital Point.  Tickets are not required for these events. There will also be an Organ Concert performed by Monty Maxwell will be held in the Main Chapel; tickets for this event are required and cost $15.                                                                                                 

Please note the following important vehicular and marine restrictions.  All events listed are dependent upon weather.

Bridge and Water Restrictions:

The Naval Academy Police, Maryland State Police, U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources Police will enforce the following vehicular and marine safety zones, and boating traffic restrictions during practices and performances by the Blue Angels:

 

Naval Academy Bridge (Md. Rt. 450) Closures:

The Naval Academy Bridge (Md. Rt. 450) will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the times listed below.  Vehicles entering and leaving Annapolis should use Rowe Boulevard or other alternate routes.

TUESDAY, May 20: closed 10:45- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight rehearsal.

WEDNESDAY, May 21: closed 1:45 p.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight demonstration. 

*** In the event of inclement weather Tuesday, May 20, the Naval Academy Bridge (Md. Rt. 450) will also close from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 21.

 

Severn River:  Marine Restrictions: 
At the times listed below, boat traffic and anchoring will be restricted from the

following areas on the Severn River and its tributaries. The southern boundary will be established by Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft, which will mark a line drawn from the quick flashing light at the south end of the Naval Academy seawall to Greenbury Point.  The northern boundary is marked by the U.S. Rt. 50 Severn River Bridge.  Both boundaries will be patrolled by the Coast Guard, Department of Natural Resources Police, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Annapolis Police and Fire Rescue boats. 

 

Anchoring Restrictions:

TUESDAY, May 20: No anchoring 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight rehearsal.

WEDNESDAY, May 21: No anchoring 1:30 p.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight demonstration. 

In the event of foul weather, May 20, the anchoring restrictions, May 21 also will be in place from 9:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.

Boating Restrictions:

TUESDAY, May 20: No boating 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight rehearsal.

WEDNESDAY, May 21: No boating 1:30 p.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight demonstration. 

In the event of foul weather on Tuesday, May 20, the Boating Restrictions, May 21, also will be in place from 9:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.

Mariners are urged to transit the area with caution while the Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft are anchored in position.  The portion of the Severn River defined by the boundaries below will be closed to all boating traffic during the times listed below.

Severn River:  Marine Restrictions:

During periods of restricted boating on the Severn, shoreline residents' boats moored to a permanent dock in the affected area may remain secured to their docks. However, by order of the commander, 5th Coast Guard District, a special local regulation has been issued which closes the river to all other boats -- either underway, anchored or on mooring buoys -- during practices and performances by the Blue Angels.  (Please call Coast Guard Activities Baltimore at (410) 576-2693 for additional details.)

Temporary Flight Restrictions:

An FAA waiver has been granted for the following times.  This information is for all local pilots: 

  “Due to high performance aerial demonstrations by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the area surrounding the U.S. Naval Academy (38’ 59/12 N, 076’ 28/48 W) BAL 153/13.8 NM is closed from surface to 15,000 ft. MSL out to a five nautical mile radius as follows:”

      TUESDAY, May 20, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

      WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2 p.m.- 4 p.m.

In the event of foul weather Tuesday, May 20, the TFR will be in effect on Wednesday, May 21, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

 A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) will be issued on or about May 18 stating the information above.  Questions regarding the NOTAM should be directed to the Naval Academy Operations Department at (410) 293-7136.

For more information about May events at the Naval Academy, visit http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/.  For more information about the Blue Angels, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil.


Category: General Interest