Posted on 09/27/2017 11:31:35 AM PDT by semantic
Blue Angels and Snowbirds, hoverboards and vintage aircraft, and even the Air Force fifth-generation F-35A fighter plane will be in the skies this weekend for the second Breitling Huntington Beach Airshow.
Headlining the action is the legendary Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team, succeeding last year’s headliner the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Also performing this year are the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
“Rarely do these teams appear together in the same show,” said Mike McCabe, director of airshows for Air Support, the show’s presenter.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
As many know, LA is the 2nd biggest TV market in the country. The Rams will be playing in Dallas, while the Chargers will be hosting the Eagles. With the Blue Angels flying attraction, people who are looking for something else to do with their free Sunday may decide this provides a pretty good alternative.
Even better, I doubt there will be any kneelers or linking of arms among either the pilots or viewers. LOL. Rather, the beach venue could become an counter protest site with lots of flags and pro USA symbols.
The team leader just did a fly-over to evaluate the site. Tomorrow and Friday are when the full complement actually practices many of its complete routines. Sat & Sun are show time. Have at it.
I miss those old SoCal airshows(El Toro, NortonAFB)...they were the best.
I live in HB. This was very cool last year. I must have had my head in the sand & didn’t know it was scheduled until the day it happened. I’m not in too into aircraft, but they flew overhead all day & it was great.
What’s it cost to attend an air show nowadays?
The beach venue is pretty spectacular. Last year they estimated attendance at over 1/2 million. This year, given greater awareness, great weather and a free Sunday for millions of patriots, it could turn out to be a major event with high national exposure. We shall see.
Do they have spotters who monitor for pelicans, seagulls, etc., in the flight path???
It's the parking that can cost money and I have no idea WHERE to park in areas that are free for this event. I'll bet a local FReeper knows, though..
Yes they were.
I watched one when I was younger from the roof-top lunch area of the Lucky’s Grocery Warehouse which sits (or used to sit) on the south-east edge of El Toro. Felt like I could touch the jets they were so close overhead.
Or, you can pay to park. I think they are charging $25 per car this year at both the state & city parking lots. (Normally, it's $15.)
For those thinking of attending, bring an umbrella and/or pop up tent, bring a huge cooler filled with food/soft drinks (no alcohol is allowed), bring some beach chairs, and bring warm clothes. Oh, and bring some firewood - you can always stay late(r) and have a camp fire.
Last year was crowded - I think this year is going to be a blow off top. Greater exposure, the Blues instead of the AF, and the NFL controversy. It's a way for patriots to not only shun the league, BUT to also have a positive outlet for expression instead of just a silent, anonymous boycott.
The Blue Angel shows have free admission when they perform at Miramar in San Diego. You can buy food, drinks, and souveniers if you want to. Military shows and displays are great, put your wallet away.
I used to work for a non profit air force and every year we had an air show and the B!he Angels came. Afterwards we’d party with the pilots. They always had great stories to tell about taking celebrities on a flight and how sick they would get.
This weekend’s air show is free. You are correct in that parking is pricey and traffic can be gnarly (SoCal beach bum vernacular). I was at last year’s show and saw the most bicycles I’ve ever seen. Instead of driving to the show, my friend and I parked in neighboring Costa Mesa and walked 4 miles along the beach to get there. It was worth it....the show was excellent.
Would be awesome to charter a boat and watch from the other side.
I saw the Blue Angels two weeks ago at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.
I used to work in the building on Jeronimo Road dircely across from that warehouse, from 1985 to 1988 or 1989. We weren’t supposed to but we went up on the roof to watch the show. That grocery warehouse is still there but it’s no longer Lucky’s.
Those were the days.
Sadly, my boyhood home of Orange County has gone leftward, the bases have been closed, there are no more orange groves, illegals everywhere, bums/vagrants soiling the Santa Ana River and other locales, state government run by the Marxists, and everything costs at least twice what it should be. Taxes are horrendous.
My family and I will be vacating what used to be a great state within three years, never to look back. It was an awesome place to grow up in in the 60’s and 70’s, but by the 80’s, it started to unravel.
I saw the Blue Angels, along with an F-22 demonstration, at the Brunswick, GA airshow last February. The Blue Angels were great, as always, but the F-22 stole the show, in my opinion. There was an F-35 parked on the tarmac, but it did not fly that day.
Heh, I remember the nightmare exiting Edwards after the 1st Columbia landing, the 1st Challenger wasn't nearly as bad...but it was crazy also.
El Toro I just parked in the back, walked a good distance to the static displays for sure, then watched the airshow from the back of my truck. Got out a lot faster that way.
Buddy I went with took the hike to get himself a couple beers, must have been gone an hour or so, he got within about 50 yards of the truck when he rolled down an embankment.
Don't think I've laughed that hard since.
Speaking of which, seem to remember some of the Marines manning the beer tents were feeling no pain before/during/after the show.
Good times back then.
When we evacuated to Pensacola Beach for Irma, we were treated to a free viewing as the Angels practiced over Fort Pickens and Pensacola Bay.
Years ago, used to watch them during Fleet Week in SF. The best was the year they buzzed the Ruskie Consulate on Green Street (86?) and flew between the buildings in the Financial District. Her dishonor Feinstein was mayor and complained to the Navy about the “harassment”
Loved the Confederate(piss on PC)Air Force static/air displays.
Norton airshow had the SR-71, met Maj. Boyington at Fullerton's event. Warbirds(F4U/P51/others)at Chino...
For aviation buffs like myself...SoCal(back then)was the place to be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.