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San Francisco Fleet Week is one of the best airshows in the country. Lots of viewing options throughout the city and gorgeous backdrop with the city of San Francisco. I have been to the airshow multiple times, and it is always a blast. The biggest concern for Fleet Week is usually Karl the Fog. Sometimes it is so bad that most of the performers have to cancel their show because of visibility. I have been to Fleet Week, and you were only able to hear the planes but not see them through the fog as they circled right above it. This years weather was amazing, no fog and very little clouds. However, this year came with another issue, the government shutdown.
Government Shutdown and Impacts on Fleet Week
I don’t want to get political here, but the on-going government shutdown also affected the San Francisco Fleet Week as all not essential military activities came to a halt. The Navy was not able to participate in the Parade of Ships and many of the concerts going on throughout the week. Also, all planes from the U.S. Military were not able to participate at Fleet Week.
The cut included…
- U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Fat Albert
- U.S. Air Force F-35A
- U.S. Marines F-35B
- U.S. Navy F-35C
- U.S. Navy Growler Demo Team
Everyone was hoping that the government shutdown would end in time for Fleet Week and that the aircraft would be able to make it to the show. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. I was excited to see all three F-35 models at one air show.
Instead of having a large line-up of performers at Fleet Week, the line up was shorter but still well worth it. Also, most performers got to go twice per day, which gave you extra photo opportunities.
Air Show Line-Up
The final line up for the 2025 San Francisco Fleet Week was as follows
- United Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER)
- Jack Aces P-51 Demo Team
- Patriots Jet Team
- Acemaker T-33
- Sukhoi West Demo Team
- Canadian Forces Snowbirds
With the Blue Angels not being able to participate, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds became the headliner of this year’s airshow.
Photography
Of course I brought my camera to capture the air show. Overall I took 19920 photos with my favorite workhorse the Canon R5 Mk II. Last year was the first time that I used my R5 at Fleet Week. Back then, I rented the RF 100-500mm. In the mean time I purchased the RF 100-300mm and a 2x teleconverter. Opinions about using a tele converter are split. For me it is just easy to pack and travel with one super telephoto lens then two. A second one, like an RF 600mm just wouldn’t fit in my backpack.
On Saturday I set up at the Wave Organ right in front of show center. About 45 minutes before the air show started, a park ranger came by and cleared everyone out. The reason was, that emergency services would have a hard time to get out to the wave organ as they can’t drive there. But they would let us set up in front of the Yacht Club just before the wave organ.
I got amazing shots from here as it is still right in front of show center which is located behind the yacht club at Marina Green. On Sunday, I started out a view point on the trail from the waterfront at Torpedo Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge. I was hoping to get better pictures of the United 777 while flying near the Golden Gate Bridge. Later on I moved further towards Marina Green and set up at the beach. Quite a bit away from show center but a different viewpoint.
Gallery
Peter is an award-winning photographer who travels all over the world to capture the beauty of our planet as well as the achievements of humanity. Follow Peter on his travel blog Gate to Adventures for more amazing places to go and explore.
