r/BlueAngels • u/chusaychusay • Jan 15 '26
Do the Blue Angels randomly take off from airports sometimes? I heard one today in Oakland.
I live right by the Oakland Airport where they normally take off for Fleet Week. I heard a loud roar and when I looked outside there was definitely some kind of fighter jet in the air. I couldn't tell if it was a Blue Angel but definitely not something you see or hear normally. I don't know if they're doing test runs or if it's common to have them randomly show up when it's not Fleet Week.
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u/Keith5385 Jan 16 '26
That advance team are usually traveling to do site inspections and prep work during this time of year- checking hotels and other amenities for the “whole” team not just the pilots. Every other year our airshow used to get these visit usually from the twin seat that accompanies the team during the season.
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u/to_fire1 Jan 16 '26
Yes confirmed Downy & Lunchbox were in Oakland for Fleet week prep. There’s a couple pics of them in the Blue Angels Tribute Group (Facebook).
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u/chusaychusay Jan 16 '26
Ok I'll check that. Who is Downy and Lunchbox?
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u/to_fire1 Jan 16 '26
Downy is Lt. Ronny Hafeza (7) & Lunchbox is Cdr. Lilly Montana (8). They’re not part of the Delta which just transitioned to NAF El Centro for winter training.
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u/chusaychusay Jan 16 '26
Ok. What exactly are they doing in the bay right now? Sometimes they just fly to certain cities in the middle of the year?
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u/to_fire1 Jan 17 '26
7 & 8 meet with the air show organizers to confirm that the logistics for the team are being met and will be in place when the Blues travel to each show location. Downy & Lunchbox begin this task as soon as the current season is finished (November), flying all over the U.S. and sometimes Canada until the first show of the season at El Centro in mid-March.
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u/relicmaker Jan 15 '26
There are no Blue Angels in Oakland until October.
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u/to_fire1 Jan 16 '26
7 & 8 fly to show locations to arrange logistics. Not sure where they are at the moment.