Miramar Air Show Turns to Sponsors to Lift Base Budget : Economy: Defense cuts have left some programs at the air base, like the day-care center and athletic facilities, without enough funding. To fill the gap, 18 air show sponsorships have been sold.

While jet aces slice through the air, spectators at this weekend’s Miramar Air Show will see something new on the ground: corporate logos.

Because of recent cuts in the defense budget, the U.S. Navy sold 18 sponsorships for the annual aerial acrobatics performance that is expected to draw 750,000 Saturday and Sunday.

The naval air station needs the money to replace money the Pentagon deleted from its Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, which had funded until this year the base day-care center, gym and athletic facilities and other programs.

“There’s $400,000 that used to be in the budget that’s not there this year,” said Chief Petty Officer Bobbie Carleton, a Navy spokeswoman.

The sponsorships should bring close to $200,000, said Doug Sayers, air show coordinator.

“We can’t have (sailors) going out on six-month cruises and worrying about child care,” Sayers said.

The performance, as always, will feature a variety of airborne daredevils who will walk on airplane wings, parachute and jet through the air. The Navy’s acrobatic team, the Blue Angels, also will perform.

The sponsors, which include Pepsi and R.J. Reynolds, have paid from $2,500 to $33,000. Defense-related companies are excluded from sponsorships.

Those paying the minimum get a quarter-page advertisement in the program, the right to hang a banner on the grounds during the show, a mention on the public

address and a special ticket package.

Those paying more, depending on the amount, will get a larger program advertisement, more banners, food and drink vending rights and other privileges.

Many of the usual concession stands will be run by Navy personnel rather than outside contractors, in an attempt to raise more money. That money will go to offset show costs, including the price of jet fuel for civilian performers.

“We are not interested in having this turn into a commercial free-for-all,” Carleton said, emphasizing that proceeds will pay for on-base activities or the show.

As usual, both parking and admission are free.

Spectators will be able to view base planes, including the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the Navy’s primary interceptor, and the General Dynamics’ F-16 Falcon, which plays the role of the Russian MIG-23 during training maneuvers.

Other 120 planes on display will include the monstrous C-5 transport, a World War II B-17 Liberator bomber and P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-1 and B-52 bombers, and the U-2 spy plane, the same type Gary Powers crashed in the Soviet Union in 1960, igniting the rage of Nikita Khrushchev.

In addition to the Blue Angels, which will perform sometime between 2 and 4 p.m. each day, the Marines will demonstrate the unique ability of the AV-8 Harrier, the British- and American-made attack plane that takes off vertically and can attain speeds of more than 600 m.p.h.

Civilian performers include Bob Hoover, called “the pilot’s pilot” by pioneering test pilot Chuck Yeager. Hoover will perform a dead-stick landing and other maneuvers in a corporate jet.

Also flying will be Joann Osterud, who recently set a record by completing 208 outside loops. There will be a wing-walking act, too.

The show will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Spectators can enter the base from gates on Miramar Way and Miramar Road.

A shuttle will take spectators from parking lots to the viewing area. Gates open at 7 a.m. both days.

Those with box seat or bleacher tickets can park in a special lot at the Kearny Villa Road entrance. Those tickets, which cost $12 and $6 respectively, are available through Ticketmaster and are the only paid seats.

There is access to the base from three interstates. On Interstate 5, get off at the La Jolla Village Drive exit and go east. That road turns into Miramar Road when it crosses I-805, which passes just west of the base.

If driving south on I-15, get off at the Miramar Road exit and go west. If driving north on I-15, take the Miramar Way exit.

Although food and beverages, including alcohol, are allowed, glass containers and barbecue grills are prohibited. Beach chairs, blankets and cameras are welcome, but the Navy asks that pets and babies be left at home.