Miramar Marine Corps Air Station Airshow,
October 18, 2003
Page 1


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The Miramar MCAS Airshow was held from October 17 to 19, 2003. Here is a selection of images taken on October 18.

The crowd line at Miramar faces nearly due south. The sun is in front of the crowd all day. The humid air is very conducive to the formation of vapor during high-speed and high-G flight by the fast jets. By the end of the day the air temperature and humidity were both in the 90s. Many of the spectators were sporting red, sunburned faces.

Base search and rescue Bell HH-1N Huey, 158554 Base search and rescue Bell HH-1N Huey, 158554 made a circuit of the airfield before the show. It wears tail code SY.

John Helton lands his Piper J3L-65 Cub N26170 on a Chevy Van. John Helton lands his Piper J3L-65 Cub N26170 on a Chevy Van, billed as the World's Smallest Aircraft Carrier. The Cub was built in 1940.

Bud Collver taxis North American SNJ-5 Texan, N1038A War Dog Bud Collver taxis North American SNJ-5 Texan, N1038A War Dog out for the opening of the airshow. War Dog has been a familiar sight at Southern California airshows for over fifteen years.

McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier, 164119 #13 of VMA-211 based at Yuma MCAS McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier, 164119 #13 of VMA-211 based at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Arizona in vertical flight mode. It wears tail code CF.

Link to the VMA-211 page.

Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352 based at Miramar MCAS. Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352 based at Miramar MCAS running up engines number 3 and 4 in preparation for the airshow. It wears tail code QB.

Link to GlobalSecurity.org's page about VMGR-352.

Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 based at Fort Worth, Texas Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 based at Fort Worth,Texas also starting up its engines. It wears tail code QH.

Link to GlobalSecurity.org's page about VMGR-234.

Patty Wagstaff autographed programs for her fans after her dynamic aerobatic performance. Patty Wagstaff autographed programs for her fans after her dynamic aerobatic performance.

Link to Patty Wagstaff's Aerobatics Source web site.

Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 of the 9BS based at Dyess AFB, TX Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 of the 9th Bombardment Squadron based at Dyess AFB, Texas takes off. It wears tail code DY.

Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 of the 9BS based at Dyess AFB, TX Vapor forms over the wing and in the wing tip vortices streaming from Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 during a high-speed afterburner pass.

Fokker C-31A Troopship, 85-1607 of the Golden Knights parachute demonstration team. Fokker C-31A Troopship, 85-1607 of the U. S. Army Golden Knights parachute demonstration team taxis out with a load of parachutists. It has been used by the Golden Knights since 1985. It is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 of the 9BS based at Dyess AFB, TX Fokker C-31A Troopship, 85-1607 of the Golden Knights taxis onto the runway with a load of parachutists.

Link to GlobalSecurity.org's page about the Fokker C-31A Troopship.

Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 of the 9BS based at Dyess AFB, TX Boeing-Rockwell B-1B Lancer, 86-0112 taxis back to the ramp following its performance.

Stearman E75, N802RB of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team Stearman E75, N802RB of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team. It carries Boeing construction number 75-6451 and was built in 1943.

Link to the Red Baron Squadron web page.

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD Marine's Dream has been owned by Ray Dieckman of Cincinnatti, Ohio since 1996.

North American P-51D Mustang, N151AF Val Halla is piloted by Bill Anders North American P-51D Mustang, N151AF Val Halla wears post war Air Force markings. Its North American construction number is 124-48278. It has been registered to the Heritage Flight Museum of Eastsound, Washington since February 1999. Its pilot is Bill Anders, who was on the Apollo 8 mission to the moon in 1968. Val Halla still wears its original Army Air Force serial number of 45-11525. It entered the civil register in March 1982 as N91JB. It was owned by John Macguire of Texas. After 1984, it was operated as Silver Ghost by the War Eagles Air Museum of Santa Theresa, New Mexico.

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD The Goodyear construction number of FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD is 3694. Its Navy BuNo was 92433 and it still carries that number on its tail. It was displayed at the Movieland of the Air Museum at the Orange County Airport in the 1960s.

Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team open the show. Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team open the show by circling a parachutist with an American flag while The Star Spangled Banner plays over the loudspeakers.

Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team open the show. Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team open the show by circling a parachutist with an American flag while The Star Spangled Banner plays over the loudspeakers.

Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team perform a formation loop.

Stearman PT-17s of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team Stearman PT-17, N805RB of the Red Baron Pizza aerobatic team carries Boeing construction Number 75-2729. It was built in 1941.

Lim-5 (MiG-17), NX117BR Red Bull The Red Bull Lim-5 (MiG-17), NX117BR taxis in at the end of its aerobatic performance.

Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352 based at Miramar MCAS. Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352 flies the Jolly Roger as it taxis out for the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) demonstration.

Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 based at Fort Worth, Texas Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 based at Fort Worth,Texas taxis out for a refueling demonstration.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornets 303 and 305 of VMFA-232and F/A-18D, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 A trio of Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas Hornets taxis onto the runway; F/A-18C #303 and #305 of VMFA-232 and F/A-18D, 164651, #04 of VMFA(AW)-242. The tail code of VMA-211 is WT and the tail code of VMFA(AW)-242 is DT.

McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier, #09 and #14 of VMA-214 based at Yuma MCAS, AZ A pair of McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harriers follow the Hornets onto the runway; #09 and #14 of VMA-214 based at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Arizona. They wear tail code WE.

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, NX773RD returns to the ramp.

Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352 refuels a pair of Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions of HMH-466 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions #17 of HMH-466 Wolfpack and #67 of HMH-465 Warhorse based at Miramar MCAS have engaged the refueling drogues of Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, 149795 of VMGR-352.

Link to HMH-466 Wolfpack web site

Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 with a pair of AV-8B Harriers of VMA-214 and a pair of F/A-18C Hornets of VMFA-232 Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 with a pair of AV-8B Harriers of VMA-214 and a pair of F/A-18C Hornets of VMFA-232.

Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234 refuels an AV-8B Harrier of VMA-214 and an F/A-18C Hornet of VMFA-232 AV-8B Harrier #14 of VMA-214 and an F/A-18C Hornet of VMFA-232 have engaged the refueling drogues of Lockheed KC-130T Hercules, 164999 of VMGR-234.

Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, 157670, #02 picks up ground troops during the MAGTF demonstration. Boeing-Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight, 157670, #02 of HMM-165 White Knights picks up ground troops during the MAGTF demonstration. It wears tail code WK.

Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, 157670, #02 picks up ground troops during the MAGTF demonstration. Boeing-Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight, 157670, #02 of HMM-165 White Knights picks up ground troops.

Link to the HMM-165 White Knights web site.

Link to GlobalSecurity.org's page about HMM-165 White Knights

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 Vapor shrouds the wings of Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 as it turns sharply during its egress from show center.

Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions #17 and #67 of HMH-466 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions #17 of HMH-465 and #67 of HMH-466 based at Miramar MCAS deliver artillary to the MAGTF demonstration. They wear tail code YK.

Boeing-Vertol CH-46D Sea Knight, 154829, #07 and Sea Knight #12 of HMM-165 Boeing-Vertol CH-46D Sea Knight, 154829, #07 and Sea Knight #12 of HMM-165 depart the drop zone as a pair of Bell AH-1W Super Cobras move in to suppress enemy gunfire.

Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights of HMM-165 A trio of Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knights of HMM-165.

Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions #17 and #67 of HMH-466 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions #17 of HMH-465 and #67 of HMH-466 depart the drop zone.

McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier #14 of VMA-214 based at Yuma MCAS, AZ A cloud of vapor forms on the wings of McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier #14 of VMA-214 as it pulls out of its diving atack.

The next three frames are from a single near sonic pass by Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, #04 of VMFA(AW)-242.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 Vapor forms in the low pressure surrounding Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, #04 of VMFA(AW)-242.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 Vapor billows in the low pressure behind the shock wave over the wings of Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, #04 of VMFA(AW)-242.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651, 04 of VMFA(AW)-242 The vapor cloud over the wings of Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet, 164651 dissipated within moments.


2003 Miramar MCAS Airshow Page 2:

Page 2 of the 2003 Miramar MCAS Airshow Page 2 of the 2003 Miramar MCAS Airshow features a performance by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Static Displays Page 1 - Combat Aircraft Static Displays Page 1 - Combat Aircraft.

Static Displays Page 2 - Transports, Tankers, Helicopters, Trainers, Electronics warfare aircraft Static Displays Page 2 - Transports, Tankers, Helicopters, Trainers, Electronics warfare aircraft.

Static Displays Page 3 - Vintage Aircraft Static Displays Page 3 - Vintage Aircraft.


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