JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Blue Angels and other military pilots will be putting on an air show for free at NAS Jax this weekend. And we’re on your side with tips on how to get to the Naval Air Station, with traffic back ups on both Saturday and Sunday.
When NAS Jax held their airshow on base two years ago, there were so many peoples that they had to turn cars away. Before you even get to the Naval Air Station, you should plan to leave early and anticipate traffic starting on the Buckman Bridge all along Highway 17.
Head of security for the air show, Doug Chilson, says the earlier you show up the better. He recommends people to plan to be on base starting at 9 a.m. before the airshow officially starts at 11 a.m.
Air Show directors are adding new plans to make parking and traffic more functional on base this year. But visitors should keep in mind 75,000 cars will be driving in and out of base over the weekend, with a potential two hour wait to just park.
“We have extra people doing parking this year to make sure that we can alleviate some of that. We have Florida highway patrol helping us out on 17 with traffic control to try and keep everything moving as smooth as possible,” Chilson explained.
Now, when you get to NAS Jax for the Air Show, parking is free but limited. To the point that once cars fill up the air field, then they won’t be admitting anyone else to the show.
With large crowds on the radar, air show security are not only focus on how they will fit everyone on base, but how to keep everyone safe during this family, friendly event.
Since not all of base is open to civilians, visitors can enter through the Yorktown and Allegheny Gates for the air show. For those who live or work at NAS Jax, you can use your access card to get into the Birmingham gate.
“We ask that everyone brings a federal state issue ID. If you're foreign nationals, we're welcoming everyone in. We just ask that you bring a foreign passport as well or ID from your country of origin,” added Chilson.
A federal ID is your ticket into the air show, but security will be checking for other things that aren’t allowed on base.
“Any guns, knives, anything like that. We ask that they stay at home, not in the car, just at home. And if you do have a weapon, you will be turned away, from the base,” said Chilson.
In addition to coolers, pets, umbrellas and pop up tents are not allowed.
History behind NAS Jax Air Show
The NAS Jax Air Show got its start in Jacksonville and other parts of Clay County dating back to World War II.
Many people believe the Blue Angels first took off at NAS Jax, but actually the World War II pilots started their training at Branan Field in Orange Park, an airfield that used to stand less than a mile away from where Oakleaf High School is now located.
Due to the risk of crashing while performing aeronautical acrobatic routines, the Blue Angel pilots couldn’t train at NAS Jax without the chance of hurting buildings or homes on base.
The Navy's Branan Field had eight different runways and the direction of the wind each day dictated where the blue angels took off and landed.
“Learning about how they use Branon Field and to this day the maneuvers that they learned back in 1946 at Branon Field, they're using those same maneuvers to today in their performance,” added Vishi Garig, Clay County Historical Archives Supervisor.
Aside from being the birthplace of the Blue Angels, Clay County also became the home for training some of most accomplished pilots from the World War II era.
“John F. Kennedy's older brother Joseph Kennedy, was a student here at NAS Green Cove Springs and I guess the most famous flight instructor was Ed McMahon who is Johnny Carson's sidekick,” Garig added.
The former Naval air school where they trained in Green Cove Springs is now Reynolds Industrial Park. If you’re curious of learning more history about where the Blue Angels got their start, an exhibit will be up at the Orange Park Public Library all of next week.
Now the Blue Angels home base is the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. This weekend, they will coming back to where they got their start, as the headliners at NAS Jax’s 2024 Air Show, performing as the grand finale on Saturday and Sunday.