Military Aviation History On Parade

It was a time of transition in the aviation world on Nov. 22, 1953. The jet age was still in its infancy as Naval Air Station Miramar welcomed aboard thousands of spectators to witness the Air Power Day military air show commemorating the 50th anniversary of powered flight.

Whether under the command of the Marine Corps or Navy, Miramar has held an air show regularly for more than half a century. This year, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar continues the tradition begun decades ago with the 2005 Miramar Air Show, featuring dozens of thundering aircraft and intricate aerial demonstrations from aircraft past and present.

Upon reaching the air station flight line, hundreds of thousands of spectators will immediately find themselves amongst more than 130 static displays of military and civilian aircraft, Marine Corps ground vehicles and weapons systems.

Featured are military aircraft from across the armed forces, including those from MCAS Miramar's resident warfighters, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, many of which have flown in support of the Global War on Terror.

Sleek modern fighters, including the Navy F-18F Super Hornet and Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-117 Nighthawk and A-10 Thunderbolt II are just a few examples of the state-of-the-art aircraft designed to dominate the skies, conduct reconnaissance and destroy ground targets in all weather conditions.

Nearby, immense bombers and cargo planes like the B-52 Stratofortress and C-5A Galaxy will cast their vast shadows across the concrete tarmac. Some of these aircraft have been the backbone of the country's heavy cargo lift or heavy bomber fleets in times of peace and war for more than 40 years.

Representing the host air station and the aviation combat element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force are a host of Marine jets, propeller aircraft and helicopters, including the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, KC-130J Hercules, CH-46E Sea Knight, CH-53E Super Stallion, UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Super Cobra. These aircraft are designed to work seamlessly together in missions ranging from direct air support by the Hornet, Harrier, Huey and Cobra to cargo and troop transport by the Hercules, Sea Knight and Super Stallion.

These Marine aircraft will show off their abilities as they fill the sky with the beat of rotors and roar of jet engines during the MAGTF demonstration, in which Marines give the spectators an up close and personal demonstration of a well coordinated Marine assault. The MAGTF, numbering anywhere from a few hundred Marines to 200,000, is a self-sustained combined-arms force organized for a specific mission, be it full fledged combat or humanitarian relief.

Also on display are other military aircraft dating back to before the original Miramar Air Show over a half century ago. Though now dated, many of these aircraft have storied histories and were the Cadillacs of the skies during past eras when our nation was at war.

In the skies above the air station, dozens of aircraft from military demonstration teams and civilian performers will dazzle the crowd with daring loops, low passes, tight formation flying and sheer power.

Highlighting these performances is the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron - the Blue Angels. Comprised of Navy and Marine pilots, the Blue Angels perform for more than 15 million spectators annually. Currently showcasing the Navy and Marine Corps' F/A-18 Hornet, the Blue Angels have continued to perform for more than 55 years in nine different airframes.

Saturday's airborne performances do not end as the sun begins to set. Pyrotechnics and aircraft light up the sky using fireworks, rockets and the "Great Wall of Fire" as the day's show comes to an end.

Early air shows featured the Blue Angles but had significantly fewer static and aerial displays, drawing an average of fewer than 300,000 spectators annually. As the number of displays and technology increased, so has the number of visitors to the Miramar flight line. Recent years have logged nearly 700,000 visitors to MCAS Miramar during this busy fall weekend.

FMI: www.miramarairshow.com