Want to watch the Blue Angels practice on Thursday? Here's everything to know
Pensacola's favorite hometown team, the Blue Angels, returned to the city's emerald-green waters with a two-hour showing on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, the team will hold its first practice for the 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show.
Don't let the word "practice" fool you, though. Thursday's demonstration promises fans all of the same high-speed excitement and famous maneuvers fans will see during Friday and Saturday's shows.
The only thing missing will be the accompanying military and civilian performers—and the crowds.
Here's everything you need to know if you're planning to watch the Blue Angels perform on Thursday.
The Blue Angels practice show on Thursday will be the same performance fans see during Friday's dress rehearsal and the official Pensacola Beach Air Show on Saturday.
The biggest departure from Thursday's demonstration is the lack of everything else. Don't expect the same crowds, vendors or other performers.
The Blue Angels will fly at 2 p.m. on Thursday, which is the same time they'll fly on Friday and Saturday.
Thursday's practice is held at 2 p.m., giving fans some extra time to sleep in. The Casino Beach parking lot reportedly closed just after 10 a.m. last year.
The best place to watch the Blue Angels' practice will be near the show center, which is around Casino Beach. You'll be able to get clear views of the show from other spots along Pensacola Beach, too, like Quietwater Beach.
Every day at the Pensacola Beach Air Show is a full-day event, so you'll want to pack accordingly. Here are some things you shouldn't leave without:
Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen
Beach towels, chairs or anything else to sit on
Water to keep you hydrated (just remember that glass containers are prohibited on the beach)
Food or snacks (it'll be a long day)
Umbrella, tent or anything else that will provide shade
A small bag or container to keep important belongings safe and sand-free
Ear plugs
A cooler
There aren't many show-specific rules to follow at the Pensacola Beach Air Show, but there are plenty of general safety tips to follow:
Reapply sunscreen often. The general rule of thumb is to reapply it every two hours of sun exposure.
Thursday's highs will reach around 91 degrees, so drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. In general, you should aim to have around 2-4 cups of water per hour, per person.
Pick a spot along the beach with lifeguards if you plan on swimming.
Be aware of beach flags, which are generally modeled after traffic lights. Green is good, yellow flags mean surf conditions are moderate and red flags indicate dangerous conditions. Thursday's current rip current risk is low, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is a look at the 2025 Blue Angel pilots and their roles:
#1 | Cmdr. Adam Bryan | USN — Flight leader and commanding officer
#2 | Cmdr. Jack Keilty | USN — Right wing
#3 | Maj. Brandon Wilkins | USMC — Left wing
#4 | Lt. Cmdr. Wes Perkins | USN — Slot
#5 | Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman | USN — Lead solo
#6 | Lt. Connor O'Donnell | USN — Opposing solo
There are three officers who serve as pilots for the Blue Angels' beloved support aircraft known as "Fat Albert."
Capt. Sam Petko | USMC — Lead C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot
Capt. Isaac Becker | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot
Maj. Josh Horman | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show Thursday practice: What to know
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson Make Red Carpet Debut: 'He's the Nicest Person I've Ever Met' (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson made their red carpet debut at the Inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City Megan wore a striking long black gown The rapper says the couple had a "meet-cute" and calls him "the nicest person"Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are stepping out in style. The couple made their red carpet debut at the rapper's Inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City on Wednesday, July 16. Megan, 30, wore a striking halter-neck black gown complete with an intricate silver asymmetrical belt detail at the hips. Thompson, 35, opted for a classic black-and-white tux. "Oh, we met and it was such a meet cute it was like a f------- movie," Megan tells PEOPLE when describing how they met. "I won't tell you how and I won't tell you when, but it was a movie that he's the nicest person I've ever met in my life." The gala was held to "provide resources to effect meaningful and positive change in the lives of women and children, senior citizens, and underserved communities" in Houston and around the world, per its website. The foundation's programs are "focused in the areas of education, housing, health & wellness, and community goodwill," and the organization takes its name after Megan's late parents, Joseph Pete III and Holly Thomas. "I feel like they can see what I'm doing right now," Megan tells PEOPLE of honoring her family's legacy. "I feel like they're looking down on me from heaven, and I feel like they're like, 'Yes, daughter!' I feel like my momma's so happy." "I feel like she is clapping," she adds. "I feel like my great-grandma is so happy. I feel like my daddy is like, 'this is exactly what I knew my child was gonna do.' I feel like they're super proud," The couple's red carpet debut comes a week after the rapper featured the Dallas Mavericks star on her Instagram. In a post shared on July 9, fans in the comments section quickly noticed Thompson in the background. In the photo, the "Captain Hook" rapper is sitting on the ledge of a hot tub and on the far left corner, the NBA star is seen soaking up the sun on a chair. Megan simply captioned the post with a palm tree emoji and a plane emoji. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Do we not realize klay Thompson in the back," one Instagram user wrote, while another added, "Look out klay." Another commenter wrote, "My guy Klay Thompson still shooting and not missing." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Gypsy' Starring Audra McDonald Latest To Set Broadway Closing Date Post-Tony Awards
Gypsy, the high-profile Broadway musical revival starring Audra McDonald, will play its final performance August 17, producers said Wednesday. The news comes after the show scored five Tony Awards nominations including for McDonald for playing Rose and for Best Musical revival but missed out on Tony night. At closing, the show, which had an open-ended run, will have played 28 previews and 269 regular performances at Broadway's Majestic Theatre. More from Deadline 'Gypsy' Broadway Review: Audra McDonald Takes Her Turn At Momma Rose 'John Proctor Is The Villain' Surges In Sadie Sink's Final Week, While 'Call Me Izzy' Plummets Without Jean Smart – Broadway Box Office 'Merrily We Roll Along' Broadway Live Capture Gets December Theatrical Release Date Danny Burstein and Joy Woods were also Tony-nominated for the George C. Wolfe-directed revival of the classic musical that features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Style, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and choreography by Camille A. Brown, who earned the show's fifth Tony nom. It did win Drama Desk Awards this year for McDonald and Best Revival. Last week, Gypsy, with McDonald back from a vacation, saw a $522,183 jump in box office over the previous week to $816,086; attendance marked 61% of the Majestic's capacity. But now it joins other Broadway productions taking their final bows after the Tonys, after announcements by Boop! The Musical, Smash, Real Women Have Curves, Dead Outlaw among others, to announce an early close after coming up empty at the Tonys. Gypsy featured scenic design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound design by Scott Lehrer, hair and wig design Mia Neal and makeup design by Michael Clifton. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ciara Turns Heads in Glittering Sheer Body-Con Gown for 2025 ESPYS Red Carpet Date Night with Russell Wilson
NEED TO KNOW Ciara and Russell Wilson oozed red carpet glamour at the 2025 ESPY Awards The singer wore a neutral off-the-shoulder gown while the football player opted for color The couple last attended the award show in 2024Ciara and Russell Wilson had a high-fashion date night at the 2025 ESPY Awards. The couple looked glamorous as they posed for photos while walking the red carpet for the event, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., on July 16. For the awards ceremony, the "Body Party" singer, 39, wore an off-the-shoulder, semi-sheer maxi dress in a champagne hue. The dress hugged her figure and sparkled as it caught the light, thanks to glittering silver sequin and rhinestone elements all over. Ciara styled her blonde hair with a soft wave and parted it down the middle. She kept the rest of her glam simple for the evening, opting for neutral tones on her eyes, cheeks and lips, though she added a nude gloss for additional shine. The New York Giants quarterback, 36, opted for a suited look for the evening. He wore a simple black button down top with matching pants and black leather shoes on the red carpet, and completed the look with a blue blazer with matching lapels in a shimmering satin fabric. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Both accessorized their looks — Ciara with a diamond tennis necklace and diamond band worn on her left hand, and Wilson with rings and a timepiece worn on his left wrist. Though Wilson was not nominated for an award this year, he attended in order to present the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance during the telecast; the trophy went to Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the women's volleyball coach at Penn State University. For the couple's last ESPYS appearance, in 2024, Wilson walked the red carpet solo. Then, he went for more casual vibes in an outfit that consisted of an ivory polo shirt and matching pants. He completed the look with white sneakers and brown aviator shades. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Meanwhile, Ciara was busy prepping for her performance ahead of the 2024 broadcast. She opened up the show with a medley of her hits, including her hit tracks "1, 2 Step," "Goodies" and "Level Up." Post performance, the couple reunited in the audience. Later, they coordinated in ivory ensembles at host Serena Williams's 2024 ESPY Awards After-Party. The ESPY Awards are airing live on ESPN beginning 8 p.m. ET. Read the original article on People
