ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show was canceled on Wednesday, May 21 of Commissioning Week because of weather — primarily early morning rain and then the remaining low ceilings throughout the afternoon.
However, the day before (Tuesday, May 20) had much better weather when the squadron traveled up to the area in order to practice for the air show.
This is not the first air show for this photographer, having watched the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds three years earlier at the Joint Base Andrews Air Expo and smaller, slower planes at previous events. But it was exciting to watch these exceptional pilots take flight over Maryland’s capital city.
About the Photos
There were a variety of settings for this set of photos in order to have different shots. Most used a quick shutter speed, but some were slower and trying to capture motion blur — and also trying not to get blown away during “The Sneak” with one of the two jets in the pattern roaring to life and flying directly overhead.
The practice routine consisted of about an hour in the late morning with Blue Angels 1-4 primarily practicing their maneuvers. At noon, the focus shifted primarily to Blue Angels 5-6 over the skies of the harbor town.
Then at 2 p.m. was the full show practice with the Blues and closing out the demonstration was “Fat Albert,” the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
Harbor Life
Here are a selection of additional photos to round out the day depicting life in a busy Annapolis.
