SeeCalifornia.com

The popular Blue Angels Air Show launches the 2015 season in a place near & dear to the hearts of the talented pilots who fly magnificent machines (modified Boeing F/A-18 Hornets and Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules.) The free-to-see El Centro NAF Air Facility celebration invites the public to a pre-show party, fireworks and food at Hangar 6 on March 13, and the air show on Saturday, March 14. Navy Air Facility El Centro is the winter home of the Blue Angels which explains why the first show of the season always takes place there. Drawing a crowd of approximately 35,000, it is the largest single-day event in the Imperial Valley.

In 2013 the Blue Angels were forced to cancel 33 air shows throughout the nation due to military budget cuts. They returned in 2014 much to the delight of planners of San Francisco Fleet Week which features the aerial display as a key element in their week-long celebration each Fall. A total of 16 officers voluntarily serve with the Blue Angels, including three tactical (fighter or fighter/attack) jet pilots, two support officers and one Marine Corps C-130 pilot to relieve departing members. Source: blueangels.navy.mil