SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Major General J. Michael Myatt USMC (Ret.) Chairman, San Francisco Fleet Week Association out performed himself from the previous year by offering the community much more than an air show.   In conjunction with the Naval Aviation Centennial, he organized a breathtaking air show, events to salute to the sailors and Marines for their services, and a wide range of displays on the Marina Green.  

The W Foundation

Fleet Week kicked off celebration gathered the finest at the Marines’ Memorial. Back by popular demand, celebrating San Francisco Fleet Week Angels and Astronauts Art Exhibition by Mimi Stuart and Michelle Rouch presented a wide range of artwork welcomed at the Major General’s Reception, followed by Meet-the-Astronauts at the W Foundation’s Navy-in-Space Exhibit at the Marina Green near Fort Mason with Apollo Astronaut Dick Gordon, First Native American astronaut John Herrington, Rick Searfoss, & Dan Bursch. 

Capt Greg McWherter, the commanding officer for the US Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron offered a 100th year Centennial commemorative gift to MajGen Mike Myatt.

Michelle Rouch next to Angels in Flight oil painting

CDR Kevin “Stainless” Steel, CoNA Support (SELRES), Outreach and Representative for the Naval Centennial, attended the Marines' Memorial VIP Reception Friday evening, along with the collection of Naval Aviation Centennial Art that has been on tour since last year's SF Fleet Week, marking a presence of the historical event.  The Naval Aviation Centennial artwork has been on tour since the last SF Fleet Week 2010 at the Official Centennial Kick-Off celebration in San Diego, CA, Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, AZ, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Young Eagles Gala, Oshkosh, WI,  the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL, National Aerospace Day, Chandler, AZ, San Diego Air & Space Museum Hall of Fame Gala, and plans for exhibition at Closing Ceremony in Washington DC.

  
                                       Apollo XVII by Rouch
                                 & The Moon by Mimi Stuart
                    at the Marines' Memorial MajGen Reception

On the waterfront at the Marina Green the W Foundation’s Navy in Space Exhibit allowed the general public to meet and greet four legendary astronauts: John Herrington, Dan Bursch, Rick Searfoss, and Dick Gordon.  USS Hornet Museum, an authenticly restored aircraft carrier, offered a static display to the public and the experience to sitting in one of the first Navy aircraft carrier borne fighter jets, the F-11 Tiger, and another Hornet float in the Italian Heritage Parade.  The USS Hornet was the recovery ship for Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions.

The W Foundation Exhibition

 The Blue Angels and guests, the Canadian Snowbirds delighted the crowd with their aerobatics. Fleet Week welcomed back our neighbors the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.  Also taking flight during the air show were the Coast Guard HH-65 rescue demonstration, the Navy EA-6B Prowlers that roared the skies, the USAF B-2 Stealth Bomber fully showing its W shaped wings, the USMC MV-22 Osprey multi-prop performing maneuvers, US Navy F-18 Super Hornet soared over the Bay, even a United Airlines 747 performed a fly by, USAF F-15 Eagle, and Sean D. Tucker with his flaming red Challenger II biplane held the crowd captive with his endless loops.

Michelle Rouch & Mimi Stuart

Most impressive, US Navy Blue Angels continued to steal the crowd's breath with their death defying maneuvers.  Major General J. Michael Myatt’s Fleet Week certainly outdid himselff from last year’s event.  Until next year!