Two Marine Corps attack helicopters have landed at San Francisco's Pier 27 during Fleet Week. San Francisco police are inviting residents to view the aircraft and meet the pilots before the festival ends.
The San Francisco Police Department said
the pier would host two Marine Corps attack helicopters and the pilots who flew them to the city, with the public invited to see them up close this weekend. The department's Saturday post did not specify viewing hours and noted that its account is not monitored 24/7.
The aircraft in question are a U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom and an AH-1Z Viper, both assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, according to footage and photos published by dvidshub.net. The two helicopters landed at Pier 27 on Oct. 6, 2026, as part of the broader Fleet Week festivities. CBS News San Francisco captured the arrival in dramatic fashion, reporting that the attack helicopters from the U.S. Marine Corps swooped onto Pier 27 earlier in the week.
A Decades-Old Bay Area Tradition
This year's celebration marks the 45th iteration of San Francisco Fleet Week, per dvidshub.net's coverage of the helicopter landing. The annual event is designed to let Bay Area residents witness today's maritime services firsthand, with capability demonstrations, equipment displays, community service events and hospitality activities built into the schedule, the same report notes.
Fleet Week 2026 runs from Sunday, Oct. 4 through Monday, Oct. 12, according to NBC Bay Area's rundown of this year's events and schedules. Pier 27 has emerged as a hub for much of the hands-on programming, anchoring what organizers call the Service & Safety Expo.
What Else Is Happening at Pier 27
The San Francisco Fleet Week Association describes the Pier 27 expo as a gathering point for military and first-responder teams, with emergency-response equipment on display and live demonstrations throughout the festival. Visitors can also explore classic and military vehicles, plus family activities set up beside the SkyStar Wheel near the pier, the association says.
Fleet Week's history and getting around
According to the San Francisco Fleet Week Association, the event began in 1981, when then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein led a national celebration of America's sea services. The association describes its annual event as honoring the U.S. Armed Forces and advancing cooperation and knowledge among civilian and military humanitarian-assistance personnel. For transit during Fleet Week, SFMTA says F Market & Wharves historic streetcars will switch back at Pier 39 on Saturday and Sunday. Extra F Market service by bus will run Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Beyond the helicopters, Fleet Week's footprint spans ship tours and other maritime programming across the city, part of a tradition that has given Bay Area residents a close-up look at military equipment and personnel for over four decades. For now, the Venom and the Viper remain the headline attraction at Pier 27, with San Francisco Police pointing residents toward the waterfront for a rare chance to meet the Marines who flew them in.
