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101-626: Kelowna ( / k ə ˈ l oʊ n ə / kə- LOH -nə ) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia , Canada. It serves as the head office of the Regional District of Central Okanagan . The name Kelowna derives from the Okanagan word kiʔláwnaʔ , referring to a grizzly bear . Kelowna is the province's third-largest metropolitan area (after Vancouver and Victoria ). At

202-590: A North American SNJ Texan , painted and configured to simulate a Japanese Zero , to simulate aerial combat. This aircraft was later painted yellow and dubbed the "Beetle Bomb". This aircraft is said to have been inspired by one of the Spike Jones ' Murdering the Classics series of musical satires, set to the tune (in part) of the William Tell Overture as a thoroughbred horse race scene, with "Beetle Bomb" being

303-458: A 42-storey tower on Leon Avenue which will be the tallest building in the city, and among the tallest in B.C. Nearby communities include the City of West Kelowna (also referred to as Westbank and Westside) to the west, across Okanagan Lake ; Lake Country and Vernon to the north; Peachland to the southwest; and Summerland and Penticton to the south. The exact dates of the first settlement in

404-506: A community hosting hundreds of homes, many of which are considered relatively high-end. Central Kelowna is a tourist district alongside Okanagan Lake. It is officially defined as all land north of Highway 97, south of Clement Avenue, east of Okanagan Lake , and west of Richter Street. There are two main routes through the downtown core, along which attractions and commerce are concentrated. These include several parks and beaches, boardwalks and other walking trails, Kelowna Marina and Yacht Club,

505-466: A historic Chinatown in the area between Harvey Avenue and Leon Avenue, east of Abbott and west of Highway 97 / Harvey Avenue. Historically, most residents of this Chinatown were males. In 1909, 15% of Kelowna's population was ethnic Chinese. In 1911, the percentage was the same. That year, Sun Yat-sen visited Kelowna for fundraising purposes. In 1978, the remaining traditional Chinese business ceased operations. By 2010, less than 1% of Kelowna's population

606-537: A low ceiling, and often bright sunshine can be experienced by driving approximately 20 minutes up into the nearby mountains. Summer days in Kelowna are very warm with periods of hot and sunny conditions. Temperatures typically reach the high 30s °C, or above for at least a few days each summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Kelowna was 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) on June 29, 2021 . During summer, clear, dry air allows night-time temperatures to fall rapidly, however in

707-582: A minimum of 1,250 tactical jet hours and be carrier-qualified. Marine Corps C-130 demonstration pilots are required to have 1,200 flight hours and be an aircraft commander. Applicants "rush" the team at one or more airshows, paid out of their own finances, and sit in on team briefs, post-show activities, and social events. It is critical that new officers fit the existing culture and team dynamics. The application and evaluation process runs from March through early July, culminating with extensive finalist interviews and team deliberations. Team members vote in secret on

808-419: A nearby office building and a seniors home. The city declared a local state of emergency, and the area's residents were evacuated. Five people were killed in the collapse: four construction workers and one person in the office building. In Kelowna, many seasonal wildfires have occurred over the years. Some significant fires warranting evacuations and/or causing damage are listed below: Kelowna's official flower

909-421: A period of suburban expansion into the surrounding mountain slopes, the city council adopted a long-term plan intended to increase density instead — particularly in the downtown core. This has resulted in the construction of taller buildings, including One Water Street — a 36-story building that is the tallest in Kelowna. Other high rise developments have already broken ground or been approved since then, including

1010-499: A population of 600. The town's first mayor was Henry Raymer. Although agriculture had become an important mark of Kelowna in the surrounding region, the town relied entirely on transportation over Okanagan Lake until 1925. In 1893, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) constructed the steamer SS Aberdeen on the lake, which served as the first significant transportation link between Kelowna and Penticton , greatly increasing

1111-402: A result, this part of town is widely regarded as luxurious and is indeed one of the most expensive neighbourhoods of Kelowna. It is not unusual to see homes worth one million dollars or more, the most costly of which can reach 5 million or even slightly above. Rutland is Kelowna's largest neighbourhood by far. Although most of the area sits on the valley bottom and is therefore relatively flat,

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1212-408: A shortage of pilots, and no available planes) and its members were ordered to "combat-ready status" after an exhibition at Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas on 30 July. The Blue Angels were disbanded, and its pilots were reassigned to a carrier . Once aboard the aircraft carrier USS  Princeton on 9 November, the group formed the core of Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-19), "Satan's Kittens", under

1313-600: A year, and then typically flies Opposing and then Lead Solo the following two years, respectively. The No.   3 pilot moves to the No.   4 (slot) position for their second year. Blue Angel No.   4 serves as the demonstration safety officer, due largely to the perspective they are afforded from the slot position within the formation, as well as their status as a second-year demonstration pilot. No.   8 serves as Events Coordinator for two years. Since 2008, six female flight officers have been selected. LCDR. Amanda Lee became

1414-505: Is Balsamorhiza sagittata , commonly referred to as arrowleaf balsamroot. Kelowna is classified as a humid continental climate or an inland oceanic climate per the Köppen climate classification system due to its coldest month having an average temperature slightly above −3.0 °C (26.6 °F) and below 0 °C (32 °F), with dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters, and four seasons. The official climate station for Kelowna

1515-456: Is Kelowna's largest indoor recreation facility with a 50 m pool, water slides, diving boards, and surfing waves. Gyro Beach and Rotary Beach, two of Kelowna's most popular beaches, are also located in the Lower Mission. The Upper Mission begins to extend into the foothills and higher terrain, and many parts of this area boast magnificent views of the city, mountains and Okanagan Lake . As

1616-575: Is at the Kelowna International Airport , which is at a higher elevation than the city core, with slightly higher precipitation and cooler nighttime temperatures. Kelowna has the second mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, after neighbouring Penticton . This is caused by the moderating effects of Okanagan Lake combined with mountains separating most of BC from the prairies; however bitter Arctic air masses can occasionally penetrate

1717-518: Is often criticized for its plainness; its contributions to urban sprawl and the decline of the pedestrian-oriented Downtown; and its lack of green space, as the area was formerly a linear park and golf course. Known locally as "the Mission" (or " Okanagan Mission ") to differentiate it from the Lower Mainland city of Mission , this area was a separate jurisdiction before being amalgamated with Kelowna in

1818-639: Is operated by FirstGroup , providing public bus transportation services in Kelowna and its surrounding areas. Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District , District of Lake Country and BC Transit . Kelowna International Airport ( IATA : YLW), north of the city core, is one of the busiest airports in Canada . There are regular flights to and from Calgary , Edmonton , Toronto , Vancouver , Victoria , Cranbrook , Whitehorse , and Seattle , as well as seasonal service to Las Vegas , Phoenix , Montréal, Cuba and Mexico. Three major passenger airlines serve

1919-413: Is the fourth least affordable housing market in Canada, currently maintaining the classification of "Severely Unaffordable." Because of the Okanagan 's climate and vineyard-filled scenery, it is often compared to Napa Valley, California . Due to its moderate population, Kelowna is often used as a market trial area where national businesses and organizations can test a new product. Examples include: In

2020-407: The 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada , Kelowna had a population of 144,576 living in 62,209 of its 67,115 total private dwellings, a change of 13.5% from its 2016 population of 127,390. With a land area of 211.85 km (81.80 sq mi), it had a population density of 682.4/km (1,767.5/sq mi) in 2021. At the census metropolitan area (CMA) level in the 2021 census,

2121-683: The Douglas R5D Skymaster . In 1957, the Blue Angels transitioned from the F9F-8 Cougar to the supersonic Grumman F11F-1 Tiger . The first demonstration was flying the short-nosed version on 23 March, at Barin Field , Pensacola, and then the long-nosed versions. The demonstration team (with added Angel 6) wore gold flight suits during the first air show that season. In 1958, the first Six-Plane Delta Maneuvers were added that season. In July 1964,

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2222-808: The Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat to the Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat in August 1946; the aircraft wore an all-yellow scheme with blue markings during the 1949 show season. The original Blue Angels insignia or crest was designed in 1949, by Lt. Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes, their third Flight Leader and first jet fighter leader. The aircraft silhouettes change as the team changes aircraft. The Blue Angels transitioned from propeller-driven aircraft to blue and gold jet aircraft ( Grumman F9F-2B Panther ) in August 1949. The Blue Angels demonstration teams began wearing leather jackets and special colored flight suits with

2323-580: The Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation for logistics. In 1970, the Blues received their first U.S. Marine Corps Lockheed KC-130F Hercules , manned by an all-Marine crew. That year, they went on their first South American tour. In 1971, the team which wore the gold flight suits for the first show, conducted its first Far East Tour, performing at a dozen locations in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, and

2424-574: The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet for 34 years from 1986 through 2020. The team currently flies the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet . In August 2018, Boeing was awarded a contract to convert nine single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornets and two F/A-18F two-seaters for Blue Angels use. Modifications to each F/A-18E/F include removal of the weapons and replacement with a tank that contains smoke-oil used in demonstrations and outfitting

2525-567: The New York nightclub The Blue Angel , also known as The Blue Angel Supper Club, in the New Yorker Magazine . The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels during an air show in July 1946. The first Blue Angels demonstration aircraft wore navy blue (nearly black) with gold lettering. The current shades of blue and yellow were adopted when the first demonstration aircraft were transitioned from

2626-549: The SS Naramata provided passenger service to smaller settlements around the lake, as well as excursions for tourists. Many parks and beaches are found along the shores of the lake, which make boating and swimming very popular activities. The lake is home to several species of fish, including rainbow trout and kokanee . It is said by some to be home to its own lake monster – a giant serpent-like creature named Ogopogo . Blue Angels The Blue Angels , formally named

2727-717: The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron , are a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy . Formed in 1946, the unit is the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, following the Patrouille de France which formed in 1931. The team has six Navy and one Marine Corps demonstration pilots. They fly the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules . The Blue Angels typically perform aerial displays in at least 60 shows annually at 30 locations throughout

2828-524: The United States and two shows at one location in Canada . The "Blues" still employ many of the same practices and techniques used in the inaugural 1946 season. An estimated 11 million spectators view the squadron during air shows from March through November each year. Members of the Blue Angels team also visit more than 50,000 people in schools, hospitals, and community functions at air show cities. Since 1946,

2929-678: The high show is performed; in overcast conditions a low show is performed, and in limited visibility (weather permitting) the flat show is presented. The high show requires at least an 8,000-foot (2,400 m) ceiling and visibility of at least 3 nautical miles (6 km) from the show's center point. The minimum ceilings allowed for low and flat shows are 4,500 feet, and 1,500 feet respectively. The Blue Angels have been criticized for creating excessive noise, frightening war veterans and refugees from war zones, celebrating militarism, causing injuries and damage to buildings, causing excessive CO2 pollution, and their cost. The team flew

3030-483: The "trailing horse" in the lyrics. The team thrilled spectators with low-flying maneuvers performed in tight formations, and (according to Voris) by "keeping something in front of the crowds at all times. My objective was to beat the Army Air Corps. If we did that, we'd get all the other side issues. I felt that if we weren't the best, it would be my naval career." The Blue Angels' first public demonstration also netted

3131-512: The 2020 season , there have been 272 demonstration pilots in the Blue Angels since their inception. All team members, both officer and enlisted, pilots and staff officers, come from the ranks of regular Navy and United States Marine Corps units. The demonstration pilots and narrator are made up of Navy and USMC Naval Aviators . Pilots serve two to three years, and position assignments are made according to team needs, pilot experience levels, and career considerations for members. Other officers in

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3232-495: The Blue Angels began performing again with F9F-5 Panthers at an airshow in Memphis, Tennessee . In 1953, the team traded its Sky Train for a Curtiss R5C Commando . In August, "Blues" leader LCDR Ray Hawkins became the first naval aviator to survive an ejection at supersonic speeds when a new F9F-6 he was piloting became uncontrollable on a cross-country flight. After summer, the team began demonstrating with F9F-6 Cougar. In 1954,

3333-627: The Blue Angels have flown for more than 505 million spectators. In 2011, the Blue Angels received $ 37 million from the annual Department of Defense budget. The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to the country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. The Blue Angels perform at both military and non-military airfields , and often at major U.S. cities and capitals; also locations in Canada are often included in

3434-552: The Blue Angels in August 2022. He has accumulated more than 4,100 flight hours and 911 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Strike/Flight Air Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal, unit and service awards. Pilots of numbers 2–7 are Navy lieutenant commanders or lieutenants, or Marine Corps majors or captains. The No.   7 pilot narrates for

3535-754: The Blue Angels insignia, in 1952. In 1953, they began wearing gold colored flight suits for the first show of the season and or to commemorate milestones for the flight demonstration squadron. The Navy Flight Exhibition Team was reorganized and commissioned the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron on 10 December 1973. The Blue Angels were established as a Navy flight exhibition team on 24 April 1946 by order of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Chester Nimitz to generate greater public support of naval aviation. To boost Navy morale, demonstrate naval air power, and maintain public interest in naval aviation, an underlying mission

3636-524: The Blue Angels participated in the Aeronaves de Mexico Anniversary Air Show over Mexico City , Mexico, before an estimated crowd of 1.5 million people. In 1965, the Blue Angels conducted a Caribbean island tour, flying at five sites. Later that year, they embarked on a European tour to a dozen sites, including the Paris Air Show , where they were the only team to receive a standing ovation. In 1967,

3737-510: The Blue Angels. Lt. Andre Webb and LCDR. Julius Bratton have served as demonstration pilots. Flight surgeons serve a two-year term. The flight surgeon provides team medical services, evaluates demonstration maneuvers from the ground, and participates in each post-flight debrief. The first female Blue Angel flight surgeon was Lt. Tamara Schnurr, who was a member of the 2001 team. Annual winter training takes place at NAF El Centro , California, where new and returning pilots hone skills learned in

3838-592: The Blues toured Europe again, at six sites. In 1968, the C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft was replaced with a Lockheed VC-121J Constellation . The Blues transitioned to the two-seat McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II in 1969, nearly always keeping the back seat empty for flight demonstrations. The Phantom was the only plane to be flown by both the "Blues" and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds (the "Birds"). That year they also upgraded to

3939-480: The Delta Grand Hotel and Casino, and Prospera Place arena. The other main route through downtown is Bernard Avenue from Richter Street to the lake, with more shops and restaurants designed for locals and tourists. Although Bernard Avenue continues east well past downtown, it is not part of downtown and is zoned residential. The commercial segment lies within its downtown section between Richter and Abbott streets,

4040-554: The Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Central Okanagan Foundation conducted a coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Count of Kelowna's homeless population. The survey found at least 233 people were homeless, and another 273 were living in temporary housing. Kelowna faces severe suburbanization and urban sprawl promoted by the popularity of low-density car-oriented developments. As of 2007, Kelowna has

4141-561: The Hellcats, the Hellcats were replaced by the lighter, faster, and more powerful F8F-1 Bearcats on 25 August. By the end of the year the team consisted of four Bearcats numbered 1–4 on the tail sections. In May 1947, flight leader Lt. Cmdr. Bob Clarke replaced Butch Voris as the leader of the team. The team with an additional fifth pilot, relocated to Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi , Texas. On 7 June at Birmingham, Alabama , four F8F-1 Bearcats (numbered 1–4) flew in diamond formation for

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4242-517: The Kelowna CMA had a population of 222,162 living in 94,335 of its 102,097 total private dwellings, a change of 14% from its 2016 population of 194,892. With a land area of 2,902.45 km (1,120.64 sq mi), it had a population density of 76.5/km (198.2/sq mi) in 2021. In 2011, 48.4% of residents were male and 51.6% were female. The predominant language spoken in Kelowna is English. Children under five accounted for approximately 4.8% of

4343-558: The No. 7 aircraft in Friday's "practice" so that pilots from the fleet and future team members can experience the show. In 2020, the United States Marine Corps Blue Angels purchased a surplus Royal Air Force Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules (RAF registration ZH885, US registration 170000) as the new "Fat Albert", for their logistics, carrying spare parts, equipment, and to carry support personnel between shows. As of

4444-494: The Okanagan Valley are unknown, but a northern migration led to the habitation of this area some 9,000 years ago. The Indigenous Syilx people are the first known inhabitants of the region where they continue to live today. In 1811, David Stuart travelled to the Okanagan Valley, becoming the first European to do so. Despite this, it was not until 1859 that Father Pandosy , a French Roman Catholic Oblate missionary, became

4545-664: The Philippines. In 1972, the Blue Angels were awarded the Navy's Meritorious Unit Commendation for the two-year period from 1 March 1970 to 31 December 1971. Another European tour followed in 1973, including air shows in Iran, England, France, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. On 10 December 1973, the Navy Flight Exhibition Team was reorganized and commissioned the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron . The Blues mission

4646-515: The University of British Columbia. In addition to vocational training and adult basic education, the college offers a highly regarded university transfer program. University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus has a student population of over 8,000 full-time students enrolled in diverse undergraduate and graduate programs. Kelowna is the seat of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan ,

4747-686: The War in the Pacific), and they spent countless hours developing the show. The group perfected its initial maneuvers in secret over the Florida Everglades so that, in Voris' words, "if anything happened, just the alligators would know". The first four pilots and those after them, were and are some of the best and most experienced aviators in the Navy. The team's first demonstration with Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft took place before Navy officials on 10 May 1946 and

4848-453: The air show dogfights with the Bearcats. The name "Blue Angels" also was painted on the Bearcats. In 1949, the team acquired a Douglas R4D Skytrain for logistics to and from show sites. The team's SNJ was also replaced by another Bearcat, painted yellow for the air combat routine, inheriting the "Beetle Bomb" nickname. In May, the team went to the west coast on temporary duty so the pilots and

4949-743: The air show schedule. During their aerobatic demonstration, the six-member team flies F/A-18 Hornets , split into the Diamond formation (Blue Angels 1   through 4) and the Lead and Opposing Solos (Blue Angels 5   and 6). Most of the show alternates between maneuvers performed by the Diamond formation and those performed by the Solos. The Diamond, in tight formation and usually at lower speeds (400 mph), performs maneuvers such as formation loops, rolls, and transitions from one formation to another. The Solos showcase

5050-676: The airport; Air Canada , Alaska Airlines , and WestJet . The airport is also the main hub of cargo airline KF Cargo . Emergency services are provided by the Kelowna General Hospital , the British Columbia Ambulance Service , Kelowna Fire Department , Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . Okanagan Lake Okanagan Lake is called a fjord lake as it has been carved out by repeated glaciations. Although

5151-403: The beginning of 2021, their 75th anniversary year. The show's narrator flies Blue Angels No. 7, a two-seat F/A-18F Hornet, to show sites. The Blues use these jets for backups, and to give demonstration rides to VIP (civilians). Usually, two back seats rides are available at each air show; one goes to a member of the press, and the other to the "Key Influencer". The No. 4 slot pilot often flies

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5252-519: The built-up city near lakeside, nights are somewhat warm on average by Canadian standards. The city averages about 380 mm (15 in) of precipitation per year, with about a fifth of the precipitation falling as snow, the bulk in December and January; however, June is the wettest month of the year, followed by a sharp drying trend through the remainder of summer. While some smaller communities such as Blue River and Golden get less wind, Kelowna has

5353-522: The city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries . At least two major wineries were damaged or destroyed (now rebuilt) in 2003 due to the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire . Kelowna is also the home of Sun-Rype , a popular manufacturer of fruit bars and juices. Okanagan College and University of British Columbia are the predominant centres for post-secondary education. Over 8,745 students attend Okanagan College and 8,718 students attend

5454-436: The city's geographic centre. Adjoining Knox Mountain to the west, it is part of the eastern heights that form Glenmore Valley and rises about one thousand feet above the rest of the Okanagan Valley. It has been extensively developed in recent years, with scenic suburban-influenced neighbourhoods only minutes from Central City. Like many other Kelowna residential districts, Dilworth has gone from relative isolation and wilderness to

5555-431: The command of World War II fighter ace and 1950 Blue Angels Commander/Flight Leader, Lt. Commander John Magda; he was killed in action on 8 March 1951. On 25 October 1951, the Blues were ordered to re-activate as a flight demonstration team, and reported to NAS Corpus Christi , Texas. Lt. Cdr. Voris was again tasked with assembling the team (he was the first of only two commanding officers to lead them twice). In May 1952,

5656-490: The control stick with a spring system for more precise aircraft control input. Control sticks are tensioned with 40 pounds (18 kg) of force to allow the pilot minimal room for non-commanded movement of the aircraft. Each modified F/A-18 remains in the fleet and can be returned to combat duty aboard an aircraft carrier within 72 hours. As converted aircraft were delivered, they were used for testing maneuvers starting in mid 2020. The team's Super Hornets became operational by

5757-593: The first Marine Corps pilot, Captain Chuck Hiett, joined the Navy flight demonstration team. The Blue Angels also received special colored flight suits. In May, the Blue Angels performed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., with the Air Force Thunderbirds (activated 25 May 1953). The Blue Angels began relocating to their current home at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida that winter, and it

5858-425: The first European to settle there. Pandosy's settlement was located at l'Anse au Sable (Bay of Sand), which he named in reference to its sandy shoreline. Although the population remained small for the rest of the 19th century, sustenance fruit growing expanded in Kelowna during the 1870s, and by the 1890s, commercial agriculture had become firmly established. Kelowna was officially incorporated on May 4, 1905, with

5959-459: The first time which is now considered the Blue Angels' trademark. A fifth Bearcat was also added that year. A SNJ was used as a Japanese Zero for dogfights with the Bearcats in air shows. In January 1948, Lt. Cmdr. Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes took command of the Blue Angels team which was flying four Bearcats and a yellow painted SNJ with USN markings dubbed "Beetle Bomb"; the SNJ represented a Japanese Zero for

6060-461: The first woman to be named as a F/A-18 demonstration pilot. She is serving as a member of the team as of 2024. CDR. Amy Tomlinson, MAJ. Corrie Mays USMC, LCDR. Katlin Forster, and LCDR. Lilly Montana have served as Events Coordinators. MAJ. Katie Higgins Cook USMC served as a C-130 pilot. Several minority flight officers have served including CAPT. Donnie Cochran the first African American to command

6161-411: The five-lane William R. Bennett Bridge to replace the three-lane Okanagan Lake Bridge as part of a plan to alleviate traffic problems during the summer tourist season. The new bridge was completed in 2008. On July 12, 2021, a crane suffered a catastrophic failure while being dismantled at a construction site located at St. Paul Street near Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna. Part of the crane struck

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6262-595: The fleet. During winter training, the pilots fly two practice sessions per day, six days a week, to fly the 120 training missions needed to perform the demonstration safely. The separation between the formation of aircraft and their maneuver altitude is gradually reduced over the course of about two months in January and February. The team then returns to their home base in Pensacola , Florida, in March, and continues to practice throughout

6363-441: The fringes continue up into the hills and are thus built at higher elevations and possess more expansive views than the rest of the neighbourhood; these homes are correspondingly more expensive. This is the exception, however, as the majority of Rutland is among the most affordable of Kelowna housing. Additionally, the presence of numerous low-rise apartment buildings contributes to a higher population density compared to other areas of

6464-465: The greatest percentage of "calm" wind observations for any major city in Canada (39% of the time). The four-year average wind measured at the airport has been less than 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) on average 10 to 12 months of the year between 2008 and 2011.Kelowna has an average high temperature that is above freezing every month of the year, rare for an inland Canadian city. Kelowna consists of ten sectors with multiple neighbourhoods within

6565-402: The high performance capabilities of their individual aircraft through the execution of high-speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns. The highest speed flown during an air show is 700 mph (just under Mach 1) and the lowest speed, is 126 mph (110 knots) during Section High Alpha with the new Super Hornet (about 115 knots with the old "Legacy" Hornet). Some of

6666-510: The highest car dependency rate in Canada and has the second highest per-capita road transportation carbon footprint in British Columbia. Despite having a metro population of about 230,000, the greater Kelowna area is slightly bigger than that of Metro Vancouver . Road transportation accounts for more than 65% of total greenhouse gas emission in the city. The city is served by Highway 97 and Highway 33 . Kelowna Regional Transit System

6767-684: The lack of roads in the region made the lake a natural corridor for passenger travel and freight. The Canadian Pacific Railway Lake and River Service was the main carrier on the lakes, providing freight and passenger connections between Penticton , on the Kettle Valley Railway (the Southern Mainline) and Okanagan Landing ( Vernon ) for connections to the CPR Mainline at Sicamous via the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway . Smaller vessels such as

6868-472: The lake contains numerous lacustrine terraces , it is not uncommon for the lake to be 100 metres (328 ft) deep only 10 metres (11 yd) offshore. Major inflows include Mission , Vernon , Trout, Penticton , Equesis, Kelowna , Peachland and Powers Creeks. The lake is drained by the Okanagan River , which exits the lake's south end via a canal through the city of Penticton to Skaha Lake , whence

6969-497: The lake include Vernon in the north, Penticton in the south, and Kelowna , as well as the municipalities of Lake Country (north of Kelowna), West Kelowna (west of Kelowna), Peachland (south of West Kelowna), and Summerland (north-west of Penticton). Unincorporated communities include Naramata (north-east of Penticton). Various lake features include Rattlesnake Island (a small island east of Peachland ), Squally Point (a popular cliff-diving area) & Fintry Delta on

7070-463: The latter of which is lake-adjacent. Kelowna has declared a 1 km (0.39 sq mi) downtown area a "red zone" of prolific drug trafficking, assaults and robberies. The red zone extends from Okanagan Lake to the west, Lake Avenue, Rowcliffe to Ethel and Ethel to Stockwell, Doyle and back to the lake. The red zone was identified in 1992 to reduce street crime. The RCMP conducts annual "spring sweeps" there, arresting low-level drug dealers. Kelowna

7171-563: The main show, until it crashed on takeoff at a training show in Pensacola on 24 April 1950, killing "Blues" pilot Lt. Robert Longworth. Team headquarters shifted from NAS Corpus Christi , Texas, to NAAS Whiting Field , Florida, on 10 September 1949, announced 14 July 1949. The Blue Angels pilots continued to perform nationwide in 1950. On 25 June, the Korean War started, and all Blue Angels pilots volunteered for combat duty. The squadron (due to

7272-483: The maneuvers include both solo aircraft performing at once, such as opposing passes (toward each other in what appears to be a collision course) and mirror formations (back-to-back, belly-to-belly, or wingtip-to-wingtip, with one jet flying inverted). The Solos join the diamond formation near the end of the show for a number of maneuvers in delta formation . The parameters of each show must be tailored in accordance with local weather conditions at showtime: in clear weather

7373-591: The mid-to-late-20th century. It features a vibrant secondary commercial centre separate from the downtown, with low- to moderate-density residential areas between them. Its northern border is K.L.O. Road. It is often differentiated as Lower Mission and Upper Mission. The Lower Mission contains most of the aforementioned commercial areas, such as shopping malls, grocery stores, coffee shops, and boutiques, and also has extensive recreational facilities. Mission Recreation Park has six softball diamonds, soccer fields, community gardens, playgrounds, and trails while neighbouring H2O

7474-546: The most people in Kelowna, the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley . In summer, boating, golf, hiking and biking are popular, and in winter, both skiing and snowboarding are favourite activities at the nearby Big White and Silver Star ski resorts. Tourism in the Greater Kelowna Area has now become a $ 1-billion a year industry, as of 2016. Kelowna produces wines that have received international recognition. Vineyards are common around and south of

7575-548: The next year's officers. Selections must be unanimous. The Flight Leader (No. 1) is the commanding officer and always holds the rank of commander , and may be promoted to captain mid-tour if approved by the selection board. Captain Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering. Alexander joined

7676-527: The north-point of Whisky Cove at Carrs Landing. Some areas of the lake have up to 750 metres (2,460 ft) of glacial and post-glacial sediment fill which were deposited during the Pleistocene Epoch . Notable features of the Okanagan Valley include terraces which were formed due to the periodic lowering of the lake's predecessor, glacial Lake Penticton . These terraces are now used extensively for agriculture such as fruit cultivation. Cities bordering

7777-645: The population is foreign-born. On February 10, 2016, Statistics Canada declared the 3.1% Kelowna census metropolitan area growth rate as being the highest in Canada. According to the 2021 census , religious groups in Kelowna included: As per the 2021 census, visible minorities comprise about 14% of the population of Kelowna. The largest group of visible minorities are, in order of size, South Asian (4.4%), Chinese (1.9%), Filipino (1.7%), Black (1.3%), Latin American (0.9%) Japanese (0.9%), Southeast Asian (0.7%), Korean (0.5%), West Asian (0.5%), and Arab (0.4%). Kelowna had

7878-495: The relatively flat valley bottom, several large and more recent neighbourhoods, including the community of Wilden, are being built into the adjacent mountains. The Midtown area, bordered by Enterprise Way on the north and Springfield and Baron Road on the south, is a popular shopping destination for locals. Orchard Park , the shopping complex in BC's interior, is here. Since most of Midtown consists of large, car-oriented big-box stores , it

7979-496: The resident population of Kelowna. This compares to 5.2% in British Columbia and 5.6% for Canada. In mid-2001, 18.4% of the resident population in Kelowna were of retirement age (65 and over for males and females), compared with 13.2% in Canada; the average age is 41.1, compared to an average age of 37.6 in Canada. Kelowna's population growth has been driven primarily by the movement of Canadians from BC and other provinces into this region, not by international immigration. Only 15.1% of

8080-418: The rest of the team could become familiar with jet aircraft. On 13 July, the team acquired, and began flying the straight-wing Grumman F9F-2B Panther between demonstration shows. On 20 August, the team debuted the panther jets under Team Leader Lt. Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes during an air show at Beaumont, Texas and added a sixth pilot. The F8F-1 "Beetle Bomb" was relegated to solo aerobatics before

8181-455: The risk of unintentional movement. To compensate for the lack of G-suits, Blue Angel pilots have developed a method for tensing their muscles to prevent blood from pooling in their lower extremities, possibly rendering them unconscious. The Blue Angels were originally formed in April 1946 as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. They changed their name to the Blue Angels after seeing an advertisement for

8282-532: The river continues southwards into the rest of the South Okanagan and through Okanogan County, Washington to its confluence with the Columbia . The lake's maximum depth is 232 metres (761 ft) near Grant Island (Nahun Weenox). There are three other islands: one known as Rattlesnake Island , much farther south by Squally Point. The other two are near Grant Island. They are unnamed and are located just north of

8383-454: The same time, it is the seventh-largest city overall and the largest in the Interior. It is the 20th-largest metropolitan area in Canada . The city proper encompasses 211.85 km (81.80 sq mi), and the census metropolitan area 2,904.86 km (1,121.57 sq mi). Kelowna's estimated population in 2020 is 222,748 in the metropolitan area and 142,146 in the city proper. After

8484-590: The sector boundaries. Central City is a linear commercial sector along Harvey Avenue , from downtown to Highway 33 . Major commercial developments include the Capri Centre Mall, the Landmark buildings, and the Orchard Park Shopping Centre. Commercial activity is mainly concentrated along or near Highway 97 (Harvey). Dilworth Mountain is a relatively low, isolated mountain just over 2000 feet near

8585-467: The show season. A typical week during the season has practices at NAS Pensacola on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The team then flies to its show venue for the upcoming weekend on Thursday, conducting "circle and arrival" orientation maneuvers upon arrival. The team flies a "practice" airshow at the show site on Friday. This show is attended by invited guests but is often open to the general public. The main airshows are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, with

8686-429: The southern interior give Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley near constant cloudy conditions during December and January, making it the cloudiest winter climate in Canada, outside of parts of Newfoundland. Since Okanagan Lake rarely freezes, the warmer air from the lake rises above the colder atmospheric air, leading to a temperature inversion that also contributes to the valley being enveloped by clouds. This valley cloud has

8787-456: The speed of Kelowna's growth. On September 11, 1925, CP was extended to Kelowna, ending the town's reliance on Okanagan Lake for transportation and trade. In 1911, Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen visited Kelowna for fundraising. At that time, approximately 15% of the population was ethnically Chinese . On August 6, 1969, a sonic boom from a nearby air show broke a quarter million dollars worth of glass, injuring six people. The destruction

8888-423: The squadron include a naval flight officer who serves as the events coordinator, three USMC C-130 pilots, an executive officer, a maintenance officer, a supply officer, a public affairs officer, an administrative officer, and a flight surgeon . Enlisted members range from E-4 to E-9 and perform all maintenance, administrative, and support functions. They serve three to four years in the squadron. After serving with

8989-468: The squadron, members return to fleet assignments. The officer selection process requires pilots and support officers (flight surgeon, events coordinator, maintenance officer, supply officer, and public affairs officer) wishing to become Blue Angels to apply formally via their chain-of-command, with a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and flight records. Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 demonstration pilots and naval flight officers are required to have

9090-590: The team its first trophy, which sits on display at the team's current home at NAS Pensacola . During an air show at Omaha, Nebraska on 19–21 July 1946, the Navy Flight Exhibition Team was introduced as the Blue Angels . The name had originated through a suggestion by Right Wing Pilot Lt. Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll, after he had read about the Blue Angel nightclub in The New Yorker magazine. After ten appearances with

9191-450: The team returning home to NAS Pensacola on Sunday evenings after the show. Monday is an off day for the Blues' demonstration pilots and road crew. Extensive aircraft maintenance is performed on Sunday evening and Monday by maintenance team members. Pilots maneuver the flight stick with their right hand and operate the throttle with their left. They do not wear G-suits because the air bladders inside repeatedly deflate and inflate, increasing

9292-528: The third-largest metropolitan area in British Columbia after Vancouver and Victoria and the largest in the British Columbia Interior. With scenic lake vistas and a dry, mild climate, Kelowna has become one of the fastest-growing cities in North America. The appropriate management of such rapid development (and its attendant consequences) is a source of significant debate within the community. Kelowna

9393-478: The town. Rutland was a town until it amalgamated with Kelowna in 1973, and this union has resulted in Rutland having a distinct commercial centre with many shops and restaurants. An improvement and gentrification effort has been ongoing for the past decade, with new parks, widened sidewalks, bike lanes, a renovated YMCA, a rebuilt high school, and many new shops and condominiums being added. The service industry employs

9494-459: The valley during winter, usually for very short periods. The coldest recorded temperature in the city was −36.1 °C (−33.0 °F) recorded on December 30, 1968. The last time the lake completely froze over was in the winter of 1969.A partial lake freeze also took place in the winter of 1985-1986. Some winters pass without any significant surface ice. An inversion layer of cloud created by Pacific low pressure system moving into or stalling over

9595-410: The west side. The five-lane William R. Bennett Bridge , a floating bridge with a high boat passage arch connects Kelowna to the city of West Kelowna and the community of Westbank . This bridge replaced the three-lane floating Okanagan Lake Bridge on May 30, 2008, which had a lift span for passage of large boats. During the early days of settlement and development of the Okanagan region,

9696-724: Was caused by a member of the United States Blue Angels during a practice routine for the Kelowna Regatta festival when the pilot accidentally broke the sound barrier while flying too low. On November 25, 2005, the First Ministers and National Aboriginal Leaders signed the Kelowna Accord , which sought to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples. Kelowna celebrated its centennial in May 2005. The same year, construction began on

9797-664: Was ethnic Chinese. A section of the façade of the rebuilt "Chinese Store" that was in Chinatown is now housed at the Kelowna Museum. Women make up nearly half of Kelowna's homeless . In other Canadian cities, the overwhelming majority of homeless are males. On May 12, 2003, the Kelowna Homelessness Networking Group conducted a limited census and enumerated 198 people: 54 individuals from the street and 144 individuals in shelters. On February 24, 2016, as part of

9898-705: Was here they progressed to the swept-wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar . In December, the team left its home base for its first winter training facility at Naval Air Facility El Centro , California In September 1956, the team added a sixth aircraft to the flight demonstration in the Opposing Solo position, and gave its first performance outside the United States at the International Air Exposition in Toronto , Ontario, Canada. It also upgraded its logistics aircraft to

9999-623: Was met with enthusiastic approval. The United States Navy's Blue Angels performed their first air show at what is now JaxEx (formerly Craig Municipal Airport, one of 6 airports in the Jacksonville, FL area developed for military training), on June 15, 1946. The exhibition team flew three Gruman F6F Hellcat Fighter planes (a fourth F6F-5 was held in reserve). On 15 June, Voris led the three Hellcats (numbered 1–3), specially modified to reduce weight and painted sea blue with gold leaf trim, through their inaugural 15-minute-long performance. The team employed

10100-488: Was the second British Columbia city to declare a red zone. Glenmore is a suburb primarily within Glenmore Valley, a subsection of the Okanagan Valley in the Kelowna area. It has been extensively developed in the past two decades, transforming from a small suburb with a rural character to large suburban neighbourhoods, including several elementary schools and a rapidly growing commercial hub. While most of its homes are on

10201-486: Was to help the Navy generate public and political support for a larger allocation of the shrinking defense budget. Rear Admiral Ralph Davison personally selected Lieutenant Commander Roy Marlin "Butch" Voris , a World War II fighter ace , to assemble and train a flight demonstration team, naming him Officer-in-Charge and Flight Leader. Voris selected three fellow instructors to join him (Lt. Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll, Lt. Mel Cassidy, and Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Barnard, veterans of

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