Interlude - Point Magu Air Show

Air Show! Young daughter emailed us a couple days ago to mention that the Navy base next to her ANG wing she serves with (they share a common runway complex) was having an air show this weekend. Mentioned this to young son and the Missus and both said they wanted to go! And, it was going to be free admission! Who could pass this up? Not this old grouch for sure.
So, not too early today we loaded up into the trusty Aztek and set off for the coast. Young daughter has drill this weekend so she could not attend with us but she did get to see and hear some of the activities during the day capped by a ring side seat atop one of the base buildings as the Thunderbirds streaked over her part of the base during the finale of the airshow. Can't beat that!
So, now for some pictures. Click on the pics for a larger view.

The first interesting item we encountered was in the apron outside of the gianormous hangers. A bronze plaque inset into the concrete commemorating a visit by President Kennedy in 1963. Who knew?

An ironic display was the Predator remotely controlled aircraft.

The future probably lies with this type of aircraft and manned military airplanes will someday be a thing of the past and with it airshows and the romance that goes with the aircraft and their pilots.

This B25 is seen frequently at area airshows. Young son was going to tour it but the crowd was too heavy around it. However, he did tour it, but years ago! See the next picture.

Same plane, different airshow and with young son, much younger, peering out of the pilot's seat!

The mighty C17 built in Southern California by Boeing at the old Douglas factory in Long Beach was on display. Young son looks nonchalantly at the impressive cargo plane.

The same plane going through its paces later. A very impressive short take off and landing cargo plane that can carry 170,000 lbs of cargo!

Young son and the Missus next to a Humvee which coincidentally was brought by some NCOs from my state reserve unit!

The Grouch's dad flew in a plane much like this while working as a Norden bombsight tech in WW2. His was an AT11 but the planes are essentially the same.

Not something seen at many airshows - a WW2 Japanese Zero fighter! Its arch-enemy was also at the airshow - a Grumman Hellcat fighter. I think it was there to keep an eye on it.

The infantryman's friend: the A10 'Warthog'. This plane is incredibly maneuverable and did many aerobatic stunts that I had no idea it was capable of doing. It made several low passes over the field and explosions were set off on the ground to simulate bombs being dropped. The flame effect was pretty spectacular. The explosions made the ground jump and rattled the windows at the ANG base according to young daughter. Too bad they also set the grass on fire next to the runway and delayed the start of the Thunderbirds by an hour!

The A10 taxing by the smoke from its ground strike.

The amazing finale: the Thunderbirds (go Air Force!). The formation flying, the low passes, the incredible precision...simply has to be seen to be appreciated! According to their schedule they will be in Pittsburgh later this year so all Grouch groupies in the 'burgh best go see them at Greater Pitt!

After the airshow we met young daughter for pizza. A great end to a great day!