It's Fleet Week!

The Fleet Week Air Show, one of the largest air shows in the nation, will host the Blue Angels when they take to the skies above San Francisco as Fleet Week makes its 26th appearance, October 4-10, 2006. This year's event is expected to attract more than 1,000,000 spectators along the San Francisco waterfront.

On Thursday, the US Navy Blue Angels began survey flights in preparation for this weekend's show. For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Blue Angels will be taking to the skies over San Francisco from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

The Red Bull Air Race World Series will also return to Fleet Week this year. The Red Bull Air Race World Series pilots will be racing through a course of air-filled pylons set up on the bay in front of Marina Green and Aquatic Park. Qualifying Rounds #1 and #2 will run from 11:30 am through 2:15 pm Friday, with Finals held Saturday from 12:30 pm through 2:15 pm, and an Exhibition show Sunday from 1:00 pm through 2:15 pm.

Inaugurated in 1981, this popular event brings together US Navy, Marines Corps and Coast Guard forces for a weeklong celebration on the water and in the skies -- highlighted by a two-day air show over the weekend.

"Fleet Week is an enduring San Francisco tradition," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "It's an opportunity to honor the servicemen and women of the Armed Forces for their tremendous contributions. The City and County of San Francisco is proud to have the Blue Angels, US and Canadian Naval ships, and other participants -- returning for all of the week's festivities."

This year features an action-packed line-up, including The Red Bull Air Race World Series. This global motorsports series pits a selection of eleven world-class pilots against the clock, and ultimately one another, as they navigate a timed slalom course of air-filled pylons where the emphasis is on speed and precision. Each pilot flies a lightweight high-speed race plane heavy on horsepower that cuts the air at over 300 mph while pulling up to 11-positive and 8-negative G-forces. The San Francisco race is the only US stop on the 2006 series calendar.

Also flying for the 2006 Fleet Week celebration is Sean D. Tucker (right), and his Team Oracle Pitts Special; the United States Air Force A-10 'Warthog,'; F-22 Raptor; and Coast Guard Rescue demonstrations will round out the flying program.

Fleet Week 2006 will also feature a flotilla of naval vessels in the annual Parade of Ships. The ships include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and the guided missile destroyers USS Chafee, USS Higgins and USS John Paul Jones.

US Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast and the Canadian Navy Kingston Class coastal defense vessels HMCS Brandon, Saskatoon and Edmonton are also scheduled to join the 26th annual celebration.

A variety of family oriented special events will be staged along the waterfront at Marina Green, Aquatic Park, Fisherman's Wharf and PIER 39.

The event will be broadcast live Saturday on KSFO 560 and Sunday on Radio Disney 1310.

FMI: www.fleetweek.us, www.redbullairrace.com