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I
can still remember my second air show in the USA quite clearly. After
the show at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, I was expecting a bigger and more
spectacular show just outside San Diego, but I was sorely disappointed.
The central location near San Diego and the size of the base had misled
me. The air show programme didn’t start until 2 pm and finished
punctually two hours later. But let’s start at the beginning. The waiter
at the YMCA in San Diego was surprised to see me up so early on a
Sunday. I wanted my ‘scrambled eggs’ for breakfast as early as seven
o’clock. Only a snappy Marine was still to be seen at the bar. He, too,
was sitting in front of a plate of beans, bacon and those very same
‘scrambled eggs’. Unlike me, he drowned the whole meal in ketchup.
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye of VAW-114 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnnell Douglas A-4E Skyhawk of VF-127 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech UC-12B Huron from the Base Flight NAS Miarmar (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Vought A-7E Corsairr II from VA-147 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
In my hire car, a small Chevrolet Chevette, I drove through the almost deserted streets of San Diego to NAS Miramar. There, I joined the short queue in front of the gate and waited to see what would happen. At around half past nine, the gates to the base opened and people poured in en masse; the adjacent Highway 15 was already on the verge of gridlock. So much for human herd behaviour.
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15A Eagle from the 550 TFS 405 TFW of the USAF (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II from the 196 TFS 163 TFG. (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
A B-52G from Castle AFB (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The weather hadn’t been ideal so far. It was warm, but unfortunately very cloudy. Much to the dismay of all the aviation enthusiasts, the static display was littered with yellow barrels used as barriers.
Although the aircraft were positioned quite well – not too close together – it was still somewhat difficult to avoid the yellow barrels in my photographs. The wide variety of different aircraft did, however, go some way towards reconciling me with the U.S. Navy officials.
Northrop F-5E Tiger II und eine doppelsitzige F-5F (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamics F-16N Falcon of the NFWS (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamics F-16N Falcon of the NFWS (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
An old Douglas ERA-3B Skywarrior (BuAer 144841) from the resident VAQ-34
An old Douglas ERA-3B Skywarrior (BuAer 144841) from the resident VAQ-34
Mc Donnell Douglas (BuAer 162968) of the VMA-513 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-111 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-24(Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk (BuAer 158489) from VT-86
Rockwell T-2C Buckeye VF-126 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Rockwell T-2C Buckeye VT-25 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Beech T-44A King Air VT-31 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bell TH-57C Jet Ranger HT-8 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Rockwell CT-39G Sabreliner (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman C-2A Greyhound VRC-50 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Vought A-7E Corsairr II from VA-147 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Around midday, the weather cleared up and we were treated to some “San Diego sunshine” – complete with the accompanying heat. My photography was hampered by a new phenomenon I hadn’t encountered before: “parasols!”. Many families with children had brought parasols with them, which blocked the view of the runway and the taxiway. That wasn’t too bad, though, as taking photos was also hampered by the runway’s position, as it was situated to the south – meaning it was backlit.
Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk HSL-41 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Kaman SH-2F Seasprite HSL-31 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing-Vertol UH-46D Seaknight HC-3 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing Vertoll UH-46D Seaknight HC-3 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King HS-16 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Rockwell OV-10D Bronco VMO-2 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet VFA-125 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamics F-16N Falcon of the NFWS (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed S-3A Viking VS-29 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
A good two hours later, once
the "Blue Angels" had finished their display, the mass exodus of
spectators began. The organisers had clearly set themselves the goal of
clearing the base as quickly as possible. So we were rather brusquely
told to make our way towards the exits. Once again, there was a huge
rush of visitors to leave.
All in all, I’d managed to get some rare aircraft in front of my lens –
and plenty of yellow barrels.
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye of the resident VAW-110 BuAer 158496 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman F-14A Tomcat of the reident VF-124 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King HS-4 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King HS-4 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King HS-4 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
General Dynamics F-16N Falcon of the VF-126 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas of the VMA-513 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Two A-7E from VA-146 or VA-147 (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman UF-2 Albatross (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman TBM-3E Avenger (Photo courtesy Michael E. Fader)