The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA, will once again host its annual Jet Blast Bash on Aug. 1-2, giving visitors a close-up view of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels as the team departs and returns from performances during the Boeing Seafair Air Show. Held on the museum’s flight line, the two-day event coincides with Seafair weekend and combines aircraft viewing with live entertainment, family activities, museum exhibits, and special aviation programming. Admission to Jet Blast Bash is included with regular museum admission.
One of the featured aircraft on display will be Princess of the Stars, a rare Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina amphibious flying boat operated by the Soaring by the Sea Foundation in Eugene, Oregon. The aircraft, which is also scheduled to participate in the Boeing Seafair Air Show, represents one of the few remaining airworthy examples of the type. Originally developed during the 1930s, the PBY Catalina served in a variety of military roles during WWII, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and long-range reconnaissance missions. Throughout both days, visitors will be able to watch participating Seafair aircraft arrive and depart from nearby Boeing Field, including the Blue Angels’ daily taxi, takeoff, and return following their afternoon demonstrations.
The outdoor festival will feature live music, DJs, food vendors, lawn games, face painting, community art projects, and model rocket-building activities. Several food trucks and a beer garden will also operate throughout the weekend. Inside the museum, visitors can attend a presentation on the history of the Blue Angels, explore the museum’s Runway to Runway exhibition featuring vintage flight attendant uniforms and accessories, and watch screenings of The Thousand Plane Raid, Midway, and Memphis Belle, all of which feature the museum’s Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Boeing Seafair Air Show schedules and performer information can be found HERE. For more information about Jet Blast Bash and to support The Museum of Flight, click here: www.museumofflight.org.
