Back in September, the Fatherly One and I ventured to San Diego to attend the Miramar Airshow, and invited Naval Gazing readers to join us. Five people showed up, and a great time was had by all, although I personally failed to use enough sunscreen, which made the next few days rather uncomfortable. Still, it was worth it to see a great airshow.
![](/attach/FatherlyOneSchillingMiramar22.jpg?v=1671322391.jpg)
John Schilling and the Fatherly One in the bleachers1
Miramar was pretty much the same mix I remembered of an excellent series of static displays (which for logistical reasons I didn't get to see very much of, sadly) and a lot of very cool aerial displays.
![](/attach/Miramar22B29.jpg?v=1671322397.jpg)
Static displays ranged from "Doc", one of the world's two airworthy B-29s...
![](/attach/Miramar22OspreyStatic.jpg?v=1671322393.jpg)
to the expected Marine aircraft like this V-22...
![](/attach/Miramar22B52.jpg?v=1671322395.jpg)
to active aircraft from the other services....
![](/attach/Miramar22Firetruck.jpg?v=1671322392.jpg)
to some more exotic stuff like this fighter squadron's fire truck.
![](/attach/Miramar22Parachuting.jpg?v=1671322396.jpg)
The displays themselves were also quite varied. There were parachute teams from both the Navy and Army...
![](/attach/Miramar22RedBullHelicopter.jpg?v=1671322396.jpg)
an appearance by the Red Bull team, which looped their helicopter...
![](/attach/Miramar22JSFFlight.jpg?v=1671322396.jpg)
and a demonstration of the F-35B...
![](/attach/Miramar22JSFHover.jpg?v=1671322396.jpg)
which remains very loud in the hover.
![](/attach/Miramar22HornetCondensation.jpg?v=1671322390.jpg)
Then it was time for Miramar's signature MAGTF2 display, with fighters...
![](/attach/Miramar22HeloFormation.jpg?v=1671322389.jpg)
helicopters...
![](/attach/Miramar22OspreyLanding.jpg?v=1671322388.jpg)
and Ospreys...
![](/attach/Miramar22CH53.jpg?v=1671322389.jpg)
landing ground forces...
![](/attach/Miramar22ACV.jpg?v=1671322387.jpg)
followed by the arrival of the ground-based cavalry. There were no tanks this year, but at least the Marines were allowed to use their new ACV. It probably helped that we were well inland.
![](/attach/Miramar22HeritageFlight.jpg?v=1671322385.jpg)
After the MAGTF demo, there was a remarkable demonstration by the F-22 Raptor and a P-51/F-22 heritage flight.
![](/attach/BA22Ground.jpg?v=1671322384.jpg)
And then it was time for the Blue Angels to fly.
![](/attach/Miramar22BABreak.jpg?v=1671322384.jpg)
They put on their usual spectacular show...
![](/attach/Miramar22BA4Break.png?v=1671322399.png)
in their new Super Hornets.
![](/attach/BA22Diagonal.jpg?v=1671322400.jpg)
Even the immense difficulty of getting out of the parking lot isn't going to be enough to deter me from going back in a few years.
Comments
Why don't the footnote links work?
Because, as happens reasonably frequently, I forgot to drop in the bit of text that makes them work. Fixed now.
Typo "n appearance by the Red Bull team, which looped their helicopter..."