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MCAS Miramar Air Show 2024 |
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flying demonstrations
Part 2 |
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Text: |
Chakrit Samithinan |
Pictures: |
Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Kraiamat |
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(Picture
courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture
courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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The
flying demonstrations took place on three days, i.e. from Friday, 27 to
Sunday 29 September 2024. The author attended the two shows of Saturday
and Sunday. The weather was perfect on all three days with moisture in
the air from the disappearing morning fog which helped to create very
special pictures. With one or two minor exceptions, the program was the
same on all three days, i.e. a mix of military and civilian aircrafts
with a heavy emphasis on aircrafts from the Marine Corps. |
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Task Force Demo |
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After
a demonstration by the home base VC-22B Osprey, the 3rd Marine Aircraft
Wing’s signature Air-Ground Task Force Demo took place. This is an
explosive display of Marine Corps power. As F-18 Super Hornets and F-35B
Lightning II’s screamed through the air, large King Stallion helicopters
were landing in front of the airshow area bringing Marine soldiers ready
for action onto the ground. The FA-18’s, the lone Growler and the F-35Bs
were then returning to the scene staging a mock-attack against simulated
targets on the ground supported by a large contingent of helicopters and
Ospreys. Rising Fire- and Smoke columns were the result of these
attacks. The helicopters types involved were AH-1Z Vipers, AH-1V Venoms,
UH-1V Iroquois, and CH-53 King Stallion who were transporting a heavy
artillery gun and an armored personnel carrier hanging underneath their
crafts. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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Tankers & Transport |
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To
demonstrate the Marine’s flexibility to go into action in far-away
places, a C-130 J Super Hercules Tanker and a KC-135 tanker were flying
in support of the aircrafts and troops usually engaged in such
deployments. There were so many aircrafts and helicopters in the air at
the same time that it was difficult to get pictures from all the
happenings. This incredible show made way for another civilian act, i.e.
Vicky Benzing in a plum-colored P-51 D Mustang which was followed by a
beautifully decorated Boeing 737-900 of Alaska Airlines who made several
fly-bys. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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F-22A Raptor |
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Then,
it was time for more speed when a USAF F-22 Raptor from the specially
created demo team based in Langely, VA with Captain Samuel “RaZZ” Larson
in the cockpit showed an amazing display of high speed- and low speed
manoeuvers enhanced with lots of flares which contrasted very well with
the dark blue sky. A fantastic demonstration of the incredible
capabilities of this super aircraft. At the end of his demo, Captain
Larson teamed up with a P-51B Mustang for the heritage flight so popular
with spectators in the USA. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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Blue Angels |
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After
a more subdued performance by Ed Hamill’s in his Pitts S-2C named “Folds
of Honor”, the local Marines were again in action with their solo F-35B,
skillfully piloted by Major Craig “Brembo” Norris, the West Coast demo
pilot of this amazing aircraft based in Miramar. Always a spectacular
show with fast passages and hovering in place in front of the crowd.
Another performance by the Red Bull Air Force brought the program back
to a civilian act before the highlight of the day was evolving, i.e. the
Blue Angels with Fat Albert (C-130J Hercules) making the start of the
hour long demonstration of the six blue Super Hornets of the Blue Angels
which no doubt belong to the very top of formation aerobatics, not the
least because they are flying closer to each other than any other
aerobatic team and with a much heavier aircraft than their European
counterparts. |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
(Picture courtesy Saichol Kraiamat) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan) |
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A wonderful end to an
unforgettable airshow which by the way did not charge any entrance fee
from the public and distributed a free souvenir program of a quality the
author had never seen before. |
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