MIRAMAR 2005 SHOW A SUCCESS

MIRAMAR 2005 SHOW A SUCCESS

STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRANK LOREY III

Unusually warm weather marked a “hot” airshow this year, as the Marines at MCAS Miramar hosted the 50^th Anniversary airshow at the San Diego base.

Probably ľ million visitors attended the four shows over the three-day period. The Blue Angels in their F/A-18 Hornet fighters were the headline event, and with the good weather were able to put on their spectacular high show. When the weather does not cooperate, they fly a “low” show with fewer of the familiar aerial displays.

While the much-anticipated Osprey was a no-show, the aging CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, which the Osprey will replace, was part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force showcase event.

Included were the “mile of fire” pyrotechnics, as well as strategic use of an example of just about everything in the Marine’s aviation and ground equipment inventory: the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, AH-1 Cobra, UH-1N Huey, CH-53 Super Stallion, KC-130 Hercules, Abrams tank, and other assault vehicles.

Other military demonstrations included the F-117 Nighthawk, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt (also known as the “Warthog”), AV-8B Harrier, and fly-bys of the B-2 Spirit and F-22 Raptor.

The civilian performers included Bill Reesman’s Mig-17, John Collver’s AT-6 Texan, the Patriot’s Jet Team in Czech L-39 Albatrosses, and others. The civilian portion of the show was smaller than in the past.

The Heritage Flight included a rare Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom, which had not been seen flying over Miramar in decades.

Many beautiful aircraft were parked on display, also heavy on the vintage military. A B-17 Flying Fortress got the most attention, along with a Mig-21, A-7Corsair, T-28 Trojan, Beech AT-18, TBM Avenger, and T-37 Tweet. Many immaculately-restored civilian aircraft from years past were also there.

TheMiramar airshow continues to be one of the largest military airshows in the world, and thanks to the Marines for another fine event.