Thread: JETS TO THUNDER OVER SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK-END

Two members of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds mirror each other as one flies inverted over another during their performance at the Miramar Air Show on Saturday.

Jets to thunder over San Diego this weekend

By: SHANNON WINGARD - For the North County Times
Air Force, not Navy, stars of Miramar show

MIRAMAR ---- For the first time in 35 years, the Air Force's precision jet-flying Thunderbirds will be the stars of the Miramar Air Show when it opens today.

The Thunderbirds, who fly F-16 jets, are the Air Force's flight demonstration team and the counterpart to the Navy's popular Blue Angels who decided instead to perform at a show in Hawaii this weekend, according to Maj. Jason Johnston, a Marine public affairs officer.

"I think people will be pleasantly surprised at the performance of the Thunderbirds," he said.


The air show, called "Thunderbirds Over Miramar," runs today through Sunday at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in northern San Diego. The regular show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a twilight air show from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Admission and parking are free, although preferred seating can be bought at the ticket booth.

At approximately 2:45 each day, the Thunderbirds squadron will maneuver its Fighting Falcons through the skies over the base.

Attendees of the three-day show also will see demonstrations of a variety of Marine Corps aircraft, such as the F/A-18 Hornet, the KC-130 Hercules tanker and the CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter, as well as performances by numerous military and civilian pilots.

With streams of red, white and blue smoke trailing from their black jets, the L-39 Patriots will be a colorful standout from the other civilian performers.

Lead pilot Dean "Wilbur" Wright said the squadron is known for its signature "Tail Slide" in which jets slide backward toward the ground.

He said the maneuver is a sight to see, because "jets just normally don't do that. It's very unique."

A regular at the Miramar Air Show, the Red Baron Squadron also will be back this year.

Pilot Matt Losacker said the squadron, which has been performing in air shows for approximately 25 years, is made up of four Stearman A-75s that perform acrobatic maneuvers.

He said the planes are historical biplanes that were originally used by the government to train pilots in World War II.

Although they have been refurbished numerous times, he said part of the fun of performing in shows is "traveling around and explaining that history to people."

Another civilian performer, Jacquie Warda, said she is one of about "five people in the country who do what I do."

Warda said she has been performing airplane acrobatics for 10 years, and has been part of the circuit for five.

Although she recognized it could be dangerous, she said she started performing aircraft stunts in the Pitts "Red Eagle," because "I was bored with just going straight."

In the plane, which has a bald eagle painted along the side, she said she averages traveling between 100 to 200 mph and will perform 21 stunts.

As a three-propeller plane, she said she needs to "dive toward the ground to build up air speed" when performing acrobatics.

Tentative daily show schedule for the Miramar Air Show, Friday through Sunday

(Show begins at 9 a.m. and runs until midafternoon.)

For information on the Miramar Air Show, go to:
http://www.miramarairshow.com

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10 ... _11_07.txt

That picture is so cool!!