A massive crowd packed Pensacola Beach and the surrounding waters Saturday to watch the elite U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly.

Tommy Neal and his family members from Milton found their spot on Casino Beach at 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

"It was well worth it," Neel said nearly 10 hours later as the iconic blue and gold jets streaked over the beach.

The crowd was so thick on Casino Beach by the time the Blue Angels flew that it was impossible to walk to the water without stepping on people.

Among those cheering the jets was Linda Ploplys of Mobile. Ploplys and her family left before dawn to secure a spot on the beach. She said they likely would be stuck in traffic for hours on the way home.

"But it is so worth it," she said as she clutched her hand to her chest and opened her mouth in awe when the jets flew over the beach.

The Blues thrilled the hometown crowd for more than 40 minutes, performing all of their signature maneuvers. The crowd favorite appeared to be the "sneak attack," when one of the jets came in low and loud behind the crowd.

Spectators filled the main beach parking lot at Casino Beach at 5:35 a.m. Parking along the beach roads and other beach parking lots filled before 8 a.m.

 

An official crowd estimate was not immediately available, but Frank Forte, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office lieutenant in charge of beach law enforcement, said it appeared to be a record crowd for a Saturday air show.

Forte, who had worked 15 previous beach air shows, said he had never seen such a large crowd. Officials had never closed the main beach parking as early, he said. The lot closed around 6:30 a.m. in 2015.

The traffic backed up at the beach toll booths before 6 a.m. Law enforcement officers sent out public safety text just after 7 a.m., saying that traffic was backed up through Gulf Breeze.

A flotilla of boats filled Little Sabine and the water off Quietwater Beach before noon.

Many of the thousands of die-hard Blue Angels fans gathered for the show said it was well worth fighting the crowds and the heat.

David Smith and a group of friends from Gulf Breeze found their spot at Casino Beach before 6 a.m. They dug a makeshift bar into the sand. The bar included a blue and gold table top with "2016." The 6 was adorned with a halo in tribute to Blue Angels solo pilot, Jeff Kuss.

Kuss, who flew the team's No. 6 F/A Hornet, died in a Smyrna, Tennessee, air show crash in June.

"This year is special because of the crash," Smith said.

Show organizers played popular tunes over loudspeakers at Casino Beach and dozens of vendors touted everything from piña coladas to pull-ups.

Recruiters at an Air Force tent challenged the crowd to a pull-up contest with prizes for people who could do at least 15. The Army and Navy also had tents.

Sam and Ingrid Longmire drove from Mobile early Saturday to see the show. The couple camped out in an ideal spot under the shade of the Pensacola Beach pier near the water.

Sam Longmire said this year's show was special.

"As soon as I found out they were flying, I knew we would come," he said.

The team was grounded after the crash, and the beach air show was in doubt for several weeks.

"It is special to me that they sacrificed one of their team members and are still out her performing," Sam Longmire said.

Tributes to Kuss could be seen all over the beach, from flags on condo balconies to the Casino Beach flag pole.

Many spectators were wore red, white and blue and gold to show their support for the team.

Ryan Aarons wore an American flag swimsuit. Aarons, from Maryland, came to the show with relatives from the Pensacola area.

Others in the group also wore red, white and blue.

"It is a great, fun event. We enjoy the atmosphere. And we really wanted to come out and show our support this year," said Rosalind George, who was among the group of relatives.

They family brought plenty of food, drinks and other supplies, arrived at the beach early and claimed a good spot on the beach before 8 a.m.

Forrest and Brooke Walters and their 2-year-old daughter, Marley, lucked into their good spot on the beach. The Petal, Mississippi, family didn't get to the beach until after 10 a.m., but managed to find a good spot on the water.

The family had a simple umbrella, two beach chairs and an ice chest.

"I think we did good because we didn't have such an elaborate set up," Forrest Walters said. He said other people with large tents and canopies allowed them to slip into the front by the water.

Grant Mittry lives on the beach, but headed out early Friday to secure a front-row seat in the shade at The Dock bar on Casino Beach.

"This is absolutely the best place to watch the show. Everyone is happy, they are having a great time, you get to hear the announcer and watch the show from the perfect spot," he said.

Emergency responders urged people in the crowd to stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water, to drink alcohol responsibly and to use sun protection.

Steve White, director of emergency medical services for Escambia County, said seven ambulances were stationed around the beach and dozens of paramedics were on hand to help beach goers.

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