Fleet Week opens big with Friday's water and air shows

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ByEric Thomas KGO logo
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Fleet Week opens big with Friday's water and air shows
From the air to the sea, it was a beautiful show in San Francisco on Friday as Fleet Week was in full swing.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- From the air to the sea, it was a beautiful show in San Francisco on Friday as Fleet Week was in full swing.

Fans lined the Embarcadero for the prime weekend of Fleet Week 2016 for the Blue Angels air show.

"It's been a perfect day, and what a way to honor our armed forces," said Karen Woodward, who came out to see the show.

PHOTOS: 2016 San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show featuring Navy's Blue Angels

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The Blue Angels are seen flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, October 9, 2016.
Photo submitted to KGO-TV by @mshaw_photographyCrissy Field/Instagram

It certainly was a perfect day to watch the Blue Angels streak through Bay Area skies in one of the Air Force's newest fighters - the F22 Raptor.

"I think that's absolutely fantastic. That's the job I want to have," said Andrew Hogg, a spectator.

The day began with a show on the water - the Parade of Ships into San Francisco Bay.

VIDEO: Highlights from SF's Fleet Week Air Show

Fleet Week's Air Show in San Francisco took flight on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 as aircraft with the Navy, Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Breitling Jet Team flew over the city's waterfront. Watch the video player above for highlights from the big show.

"I work in the city, so normally I see this from my office building, but I took today off to bring my sister-in-law to San Francisco to see them," shared Margaret McCloskey.

Sailing in one-by-one behind a spray of water from San Francisco's new fireboat were the USS San Diego -- a huge amphibious transport dock that was followed by the high tech guided missile cruiser, the USS Mobile Bay.

TIMELAPSE VIDEO: Watch Fleet Week's Parade of Ships cross the San Francisco Bay

Next, an out of town visitor was Canada's Patrol Frigate HMCS Calgary.

"We're set up to fight. We're set up to take on any adversary on the sea, below it or above it," explained Commander Blair Alter, the skipper of the Calgary.

The ship was only open to special guests like Tiffany Milley, who came down from Canada to see her husband, an officer on the Calgary. She brought their daughter, too. They rarely get to see him.

RELATED: SFPD increasing patrols during Fleet Week

"We just moved to Victoria about a year and a bit ago, and we've counted the nights he's slept at home compared to the ship - and the ship won," said Milley.

Tours of the Calgary and the other military ships in for Fleet Week start at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Click here for full coverage on Fleet Week and click here to take a look at the list of events.