AIR SHOW TIPS

Schedule

Here is today’s and Sunday’s schedule of events for the 36th annual Navy Relief Air Show at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station:

9 a.m.: Gates open.

10:20 a.m.: Aerobatic flight demonstration.

10:40 a.m.: Glider demonstration.

10:45 a.m.: Bob Hoover, an executive of Rockwell International and an acclaimed stunt pilot, performs.

11:05 a.m.: Glider demonstration.

11:15 a.m.: Joann Osterud Nottke, an Oxnard pilot known for taking nose-over-tail tumbles, performs in her Stephens Akro, a steel-framed monoplane with wooden wings.

11:35 a.m.: Bob Hoover performs again.

Noon: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band performs.

12:15 p.m.: Marine Corps generals hosting the show make their welcoming remarks.

12:25 p.m.: Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstrates combat maneuvers that might be used in landing on hostile shores.

1 p.m.: A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, used in air-support missions, makes its first appearance at the El Toro show.

1:15 p.m.: The Interservice Precision Parachute Team--25 volunteers from Marine, Navy, Army and Air Force installations in Southern California--makes its only appearances of the year.

1:45 p.m.: Intermission.

2 p.m.: The Goodyear blimp makes an appearance, Sunday only.

2:15 p.m.: Leo Loudenslager, a seven-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and five-time world champion, pilots the bright-red Bud Light 200.

2:30 p.m.: The Blue Angels, the Navy and Marine Corps’ 39-year-old flight demonstration team, perform their precision maneuvers and close formations. The elite group of fliers performs in air shows across the nation and around the world to promote naval aviation and help in Navy and Marine recruiting and public relations efforts.

4 p.m.: Show ends.

How to Get There

By car: From the Santa Ana Freeway, take Sand Canyon Avenue east; from the San Diego Freeway, take Jeffrey Road east to either Trabuco Road or Irvine Boulevard south. Then follow the signs to five visitor parking areas on the base.

By bus: Take the Orange County Transit District’s express buses from either 6th and Flower streets in Santa Ana or from the Laguna Hills Mall. The buses will leave the park-and-ride lots every 15 minutes from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and will return between 3:30 and 5 p.m. Adult fare is $1.50 each way; children 12 and under ride for half price.

Road Closures

Santa Ana Freeway: Northbound exit ramps closed at Sand Canyon Avenue, Jeffrey Road, and Culver Drive, from 2 until about 3:30 p.m.

Alton Parkway and Bake Parkway: Closed from 2 to about 3:30 p.m.

Irvine Boulevard: Closed south of Sand Canyon Avenue to base housing areas, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Trabuco Road: Closed north of Bake Parkway to base housing areas, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Marine Way: Sections on base closed from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

MP, Los Angeles Times