MCAS Miramar Airshow 27-29 September 2024

[spellow3010]

Thanks for the update Berf...
Whilst unexpected, the F-22 and P-38 appeared as a pair at El Centro show back in March and looked fabulous together. The pilot of the Raptor had plenty of 'play gas' (to quote the commentator) after starring at Yuma show down the road and went on to do their role demo at El Centro, albeit without the flares (used up at Yuma no doubt). Still quite the unscripted surprise for my friend and I.

Was hoping that the B-29 would fly, but alas, not this year. Never mind.

[DaveL]

Hello folks!

Long time lurker on this forum but since I’m in California in September and plan on attending the airshow, I thought I’d join!

Seats booked for the Friday. I’d planned to get an Uber from downtown. Anyone have experience of this? I see on the shows website there is a dedicated drop off point.

Do shuttles run frequently to/from the flight line and would I be able to walk from the shuttle drop off point out of the base?

Cheers all!

[Tangoringo]

Ref the Uber cost wise you would be much better just hiring a car at the airport. Is there a reason you'd be averse to hiring a car at all as IMVHO that would be a lot cheape and possibly easier to with less waiting at either end. I'm guessing ,as you are asking, that you dont fancy car hire for whatever reason?

Whichever way you get there I'm sure you'll have an awesome day...that MAGTAF demo is a sight to behold.

[Berf]

Here you go, my one is currently unavailable but it gives the dimensions.

30x30x15 with an internal zipped pocket too

https://amzn.eu/d/07VkGgX

There is a rewritten set of rules most of which appear the same but the clear bag one now is a little loser with the addition of 'easily searched large PVC clear bag'

One large clear bag per person is allowed.
A one-gallon Ziploc bag or commercially purchased clear bag plus a small clutch for personal items.
Easily searched large PVC vinyl clear bags

[DaveL]

Ref the Uber cost wise you would be much better just hiring a car at the airport. Is there a reason you'd be averse to hiring a car at all as IMVHO that would be a lot cheape and possibly easier to with less waiting at either end. I'm guessing ,as you are asking, that you dont fancy car hire for whatever reason?

Whichever way you get there I'm sure you'll have an awesome day...that MAGTAF demo is a sight to behold.

A couple of reasons! Car parking at our hotel is very expensive and then I’d like a beer or two when I’m enjoying the show!

I’ve driven a lot in the States over the past number of years so this trip will be more relaxing!

Is the flying schedule the same for all 3 days? I’ve chalet tickets booked for the Friday but seen on the Blue Angels website that they’re only on 28/29th? Same for the Raptor demo on their instagram page.

Thanks all!

[Berf]

The airshow website says the show will be the same on every day. The ACC listing says the F22 demo will be all three days. The other sites, as you have seen, say otherwise - take your pick!

[Berf]

New daily schedules on website
FRIDAY
8:00am Gates Open to the Public – Ticket Holders can Access their Respective Areas Starting at 9:00am

9:15am Precision Exotics Runway Races and T-33 Shooting Stars

10:35am U-2 Dragonlady Flyby

10:40am Red Bull Air Force (Aerobatic Helo/Edge 540/STOL CarbonClub)

11:00am Welcoming Ceremony with the USMC Mounted Color Guard and the USN Leap Frogs

11:20 am Ed Hamill Folds of Honor PITTS S-2C Teaser / USMC MV-22 Osprey Demo

11:40am USAF KC135 Stratotanker Demo/Acemaker 2xT-33 Formation Demo

12:05pm Aarron Deliu Extra 330 Aerobatics

12:20pm Marine Air-Ground Task Force (USMC MAGTF)

1:15pm Vicky Benzing P-51 “Plum Crazy”

1:30pm USAF F-22 Raptor Demo with P-38 Heritage Flight

2:05pm Ed Hamill – Folds of Honor S-2C

2:20pm USMC F-35B Demo

2:40pm Red Bull Air Force

3:00pm USN Blue Angels and Fat Albert

4:30pm End of Show

Please note that schedules are tenative and subject to change.

SATURDAY
8:00am Gates Open to the Public Ticket Holders can Access their Respective Areas Starting at 9:00am

10:40am Red Bull Air Force (Aerobatic Helo/Edge 540/STOL CarbonClub)

11:00am Welcoming Ceremony with the USMC Mounted Color Guard and the USN Leap Frogs

11:20 am Ed Hamill Folds of Honor PITTS S-2C Teaser / USMC MV-22 Osprey Demo

11:40am USAF KC135 Stratotanker Demo/Acemaker 2xT-33 Formation Demo

12:05pm Aarron Deliu Extra 330 Aerobatics

12:20pm Marine Air-Ground Task Force (USMC MAGTF)

1:15pm Vicky Benzing P-51 “Plum Crazy”

1:30pm Alaska Airlines Flyby

1:45pm USAF F-22 Raptor Demo with P-38 Heritage Flight

2:25pm Ed Hamill – Folds of Honor S-2C

2:40pm USMC F-35B Demo

3:00pm Red Bull Air Force

3:15pm USN Blue Angels and Fat Albert

4:45pm End of Show

SUNDAY
Please note that schedules are tentative and subject to change.

8:00am Gates Open to the Public Ticket Holders can Access their Respective Areas Starting at 9:00am

10:40am Red Bull Air Force

11:00am Welcoming Ceremony with the USMC Mounted Color Guard and the USN Leap Frogs

11:20 am Ed Hamill Folds of Honor PITTS S-2C Teaser / USMC MV-22 Osprey Demo

11:40am USAF KC135 Stratotanker Demo/Acemaker 2xT-33 Formation Demo

12:05pm Aarron Deliu Extra 330 Aerobatics

12:20pm Marine Air-Ground Task Force (USMC MAGTF)

1:15pm Vicky Benzing P-51 “Plum Crazy”

1:30pm USAF F-22 Raptor Demo with P-38 Heritage Flight

2:05pm Ed Hamill – Folds of Honor S-2C

2:20pm USMC F-35B Demo

2:40pm Red Bull Air Force

3:00pm USN Blue Angels and Fat Albert

4:30pm End of Show

Please note that schedules are tentative and subject to change.

[spellow3010]

Thanks Berf...
my friend and I land at LAX on Friday so will miss the U2... but got one at RIAT so no real hardship. I'll be interested to see the KC-135 demo. Likely to be a 'March' example, but the special Az ANG example (static at Luke show earlier this year) would be fabulous.

Have a safe trip...

[CWS]

Yep thanks for the info

Not long to go now!!!!

[boff180]

Safe trip all,

Hello from the Texas Roadhouse in Yuma!

Slowly heading west in +40 degree heat.

Andy

[spellow3010]

Stay safe out there Andy... and fond memories of that Roadhouse!! Yeeee-haaaa!!!

See you Saturday

[Berf]

Blue Angels 3pm Thursday followed by arrivals and practice sessions 4.30 onwards -no idea what can be seen from offbase

[Berf]

MAGTF practice 10am Thursday Airshow rehearsal from 8.30 but that’s non aircraft stuff as well and not necessarily flying

[CWS]

Driving up from downtown San Diego for the Sunday show, what way do I head for the show? The East or West side? Or is it both?

I read that you basically head to the gate and they then direct you to parking.

Thanks in advance!

[boff180]

That's pretty much it, I would suggest west being as they used to (not sure if they still do) park you on the tarmac at that end of the airfield and you had to walk by all the flying aircraft to get in....

Hello this evening from El Centro my base for the next two nights.

Yuma was busier today bagging F-35Bs from four squadrons plus a legacy Hornet, Viper, Venom and a tonne of Ospreys. The F-5s were active again but sadly the sole CH-53K on base was not, although it should be on static this weekend.

Swung by NAF El Centro before heading to my hotel to see what was in as it is a very hit and miss base. I could see some T-45s parked up plus what appeared to be RAF Chinooks - the bonus was a mixture of VFA-102, 195, and 27 Super Hornets operating from the airfield. Those to me are very special as all three units are home based at MCAS Iwakuni - in Japan!

TTFN

Andy

[Taildragger]

I'll be there on Saturday. Heading to LA tomorrow from Gloucestershire.

[CWS]

It’s finally time, cannot wait! If anyone sees this in time, it says gates open at 8, is the car park open earlier ? I can get there for 7am onwards

[boff180]

Well good things come to an end, heading home today after some great days.

Review coming soon (tm).

After my first time seeing them with Super’s I’m still in love with the Blue Angels!

Andy

[CWS]

Well that was just amazing. The raptor demo with flares and not the same crowd limits as in the UK! The Blue Angels have it the whole bravado .. but they did back it up, thoroughly impressed. Up there with the best I’ve seen. They probably top the chart of the best I’ve seen as again the over crowd passes , breaks was just madness ! In a good way lol. And lastly that Marine task force demo was just insane. The constant stream of helis, the constant noise of explosions or fast jets getting very close to the sound barrier , to troops and LAVs, just unreal, what a spectacle! 10/10

[spellow3010]

Well good things come to an end, heading home today after some great days.

Review coming soon (tm).

After my first time seeing them with Super’s I’m still in love with the Blue Angels!

Andy

Really good to catch up with you at the show and for dinner on Saturday night at Famous Jimmy's by the harbour. A fantastic show really - some very tasty Super Bugs in the static (Diamondbacks - good grief!) and lots of patches purchased. The Blue Angels excelled naturally with their current mount, and the Marine Corps role demo was the best I have seen (can only really compare it to 2019, which was about half the size). For them to put two legacy hornet CAG birds up both days in the demo was great to see and I know you've nailed the 'vapour cone' top side as well.

Jase and myself were down at the 'eastern' end to get the head on taxi shot as those hornets came back in and we were rewarded with both CAG air brakes raised as they made their way back. Very nice.

The F-22 was superb - elevated with plenty of flares and made for some lovely creative shots shooting towards the light. Looking forward to processing some of those.

As far as US shows go, Miramar was a great effort.

[Taildragger]

I did enjoy queuing in the 'foreign nationals' line, which had 3 people in it when I arrived, versus the massive queue of US nationals

Also, no free water (that I could find), but free Monster energy drinks is peak America.

[CWS]

Yeah the entry was interesting. A lot of shouting and commotion when I entered, screaming nothing in pockets etc but once I handed over my British Passport they were fine and a nice chat.

That airshow was just unreal. Still not on a notch on Riat for static and variety but the whole event, backdrop and displays was a fantastic watch.

F-22 with flairs was a real treat, added a lot to the demo in my opinion. It added to the spectacle of the free falling maneuvers as well as the power loop and falling backwards.