I took a trip out to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar yesterday (10-14-12) to see the annual Air Show, which featured the legendary U.S. Navy Blue Angels and many other high performance military aircraft, as well as other military equipment of all kinds. The Air Show is a three day event, this year it ran from the 12th to the 14th. I have attended this event at least 5 or 6 times previously (Frankly, I’ve lost count) and I have always enjoyed it. This year was no exception.
There were two B-52’s at the show this this year. The Air Force has done a great job of keeping these 50 year old aircraft in excellent condition. It is projected that some of these bombers will be able to stay in service until the 2040’s!
A massive C-17 transport was also on hand..
The show featured more than just planes….
The Blue Angels are the big stars and they end show with a spectacular display of precision flying..
The Air Force sent a couple of F-22 Raptors to the show. Only one Raptor flew a demonstration flight, the other is there to serve as a back-up if mechanical problems develop with the primary aircraft. The Raptor is the best, most technologically advanced fighter aircraft flying today and it is a real crowd pleaser when it takes to the sky. The thrust vectoring capability of the Raptor makes it incredibly maneuverable.
BTW, this show is free to the public. You do have to pay for a seat in the grandstands ($11.00 for adults), but you can watch from anyplace out on the tarmac for free. You can’t beat that deal. Many people bring portable chairs and some even bring umbrellas, which is not a bad idea because the sun can be intense out on the airfield. I would advise anyone going to wear sunglasses and a hat.
Several people have posted some very good videos of the Blue Angels and the Raptor performing at this show on You Tube. Just use the search term MCAS MIRAMAR AIR SHOW 2012 and you will find them. You need a fairly good video camera in order to capture the high speed movement of these aircraft. So, I would encourage you to take a look at a few of those videos if you want to see just fast and powerful these aircraft here.
gmf journal 