MIRAMAR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION: Blue Angels return to Miramar Air Show

By MANNY LOPEZ - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 4, 2008 9:58 PM PDT ∞

The Blue Angels perform during the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show Saturday in San Diego. ( Hayne Palmour IV / Staff photographer)

MIRAMAR ---- Drawn by the sheer power and speed of big planes, spectators from all over the world have descended upon the 23,000-acre Miramar Marine Corp Air Station this weekend for its annual air show.

More than 700,000 visitors are expected to attend the event throughout its three-day run, which ends Sunday.

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Now in its 53rd year, the Miramar Air Show has become one of the largest in the nation. On display are a wide variety of current and retired military aircraft, including helicopters, jet fighters, bombers, cargo carriers, stealth aircraft and more than 100 static exhibits.

"The power and aviation technology on display is remarkable," Capt. Staci Reidinger, deputy public affairs officer at the air station, said Saturday. "It's wonderful to watch these incredible aviators demonstrate their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft."

With the theme "A salute to Marine Corps Aviation," this year's show again features the Blue Angels precision flying team, which was unavailable last year because of a scheduling conflict.

Brendan Burks, one of three C-130 Hercules pilots that fly Fat Albert, the Blue Angels' support aircraft, said it's his first year on the team and his first time at the Miramar show.

"From the maneuvers that we do, to the aircrew that we work with, to the people that we represent (all of the men and women on the front lines), we are just privileged to come back and show the American public what their Navy and Marine Corps are doing out on those front lines."

Motorists waiting to enter the base were backed up on Miramar Road, but once inside traffic seemed to flow smoothly. Bus shuttles are available to ferry visitors back and forth from parking lots to the airfield.

Maj. Jay Delarosa, Miramar's public affairs director, said visitors may need to be patient when entering the air show, as staff and personnel carry out appropriate security measures to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.

In an effort to promote a more environmentally friendly air show, the Marines have partnered this year with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making bicycling better in San Diego, which has organized its first ever "Pedal to the Air Show."

Cyclists can ride to any of the primary gates and park in a secure bicycle pavilion area, where a wristband identification system is employed and visitors can reclaim their bike any time.

Admission and parking are free to the general public, with upgraded seating available for the grandstands, box seating and chalets.

For more information, go to miramarairshow.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

visitor wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:52 AM:I understand that people need to be patient, however the Marines have made going to the air show a royal pain. There were no shuttles going back to the 2 mile away parking lots on Sat and just to cross a street you had to walk up on street and back down the other just to get to the same spot as to where you started.

As SEVERAL retired military people stated in the show, some nit whit who sits behind a desk drew up these plans. The NAVY did so much better in accomodating people. This was just a joke yesterday. I for one will not be going back anytime soon. Thank God it was cool out, I could see a lot of people going down from heat stroke had this been last weekend.

The jets and the Blue Angels were wonderful as usual.

DW wrote on Oct 5, 2008 12:45 PM:I find this worship of our military might disturbing.

To DW wrote on Oct 5, 2008 4:44 PM:Do you also find it disturbing that this very military is sacrificing everyday for YOU so you can live in a free country?!!!

You should think before you write ignorant things about the military and those who appreciate what it does!

To DW wrote on Oct 5, 2008 5:08 PM:What kind of worship are you talking about? This has been a common practice for decades. It is the military's way of showing people what it is that they do. The flight of the blue angles is an amazing expirence that EVERYONE should get a chance to see. I can tell you it would change a lot of people's views of our military.

I pray that all our Military men/women stay safe.

Patrick wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:55 PM:DW, I have no words for you.

I went to the air show as I have for many years and I am proud to be a Veteran of our great military, my son loves to go and I enjoy to see all the kids and adults alike ohh and ahh at the performances. I had no problem catching a shuttle back to my car, I only waited about 10 minutes.

To Patrick wrote on Oct 5, 2008 8:35 PM:Where did you catch the shuttle? I must have msised something. Oh well, it was well worth the trip. It was my kids first time seeing the show and it was worth the 2 mile hike. I understand with us being at war, that security is necessary, I just wished I was more prepared.

to DW wrote on Oct 5, 2008 9:06 PM:it's mainly done for recruiting because nobody wants to join up to go to a bogus war started by war mongering neocons. They had to lower the bar and now take kids with no high school diplomas and people with police records.

Patrick wrote on Oct 6, 2008 7:32 AM:To to DW,

Yea, they just started the air show a few years ago...what are you talking about? I agree it is a great recruiting tool, I wouldn’t argue with that. Don’t ALL companies recruit in some way, shape or form? If ALL Americans served at least one tour of duty in our military this country would be much better off. BTW, I caught the shuttle right were it dropped us off, by the mini-market across from the hangars.

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