Stunts at Air Show Cut Short as Wild Blue Yonder Turns Gray

Shawn Armstrong and Tony Rodriguez arrived hours early at the Point Mugu Air Show Saturday just to find a good spot to watch the Navy’s hotshot planes, the Blue Angels.

But what they got were gray skies.

As the two teen-agers from Van Nuys got comfortable in their lawn chairs and set up their camera equipment, the morning’s blue sky filled with clouds.

The Blue Angels made a practice run above the field before the show started at noon, but the gloomy weather prevented them from performing their full routine for the 78,000 spectators who had gathered for the event.

“But the day wasn’t a waste,” said Rodriguez, 16. “At least we were able to see them practice.”

Other performances also had to be shortened.

“The visibility was fine, but the low cloud ceiling made it difficult to perform,” said aerobatic pilot Leo Loudenslager. “I had to cut out a lot of my vertical maneuvers . . . the things that make it exciting.”

The show is scheduled to be held again today, event officials said.

“Maybe we’ll luck out with the weather,” said Navy Rear Adm. William E. Newman, the commander of the Pacific Missile Test Center. “It’s always a chance you take when you do an air show along the coast.”

Gates open at 8 a.m., and performances are expected to start at noon.

Greg Wooldridge, the commander of the Blue Angels, said if the sky is clear, the Navy fliers plan to perform at about 12:30 p.m. today in an attempt to beat the afternoon clouds.

“It’s disappointing not to be able to perform,” Wooldridge said. “We like to be able to go up there and show what we can do. We’re just as disappointed as the spectators, maybe more so.”

Aviation buff Bob Cuccias said he plans to attend the show again today.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime treat to see the Blue Angels perform,” said Cuccias, of Port Hueneme. “I’ve got to see them.”

Larry Spencer of Fillmore agreed.

“I just love the speed and the sound of them,” Spencer said. “It’s amazing that those planes can do what they do without falling apart. I’ll be back.”

Despite the problems with the show, Westlake Village youngsters Gabe Albaria and Mike Moll said they were amazed at the stunts performed by the aerobatic pilots in biplanes.

“They did a lot of flips and tricks,” said Gabe, 8. Mike, 9, added: “The way they can maneuver is so neat.”

Between acts, a monster truck with a giant engine that spouted fire raced down the airstrip at 300 m.p.h.

“You can feel the heat from here,” Nona Jones of Bishop told her grandson Matt Guay as they got autographs from the Blue Angel pilots.

Meanwhile, people wandered around the base, looking at the military planes.

“We’ve been coming to the show year after year,” said Duncan McPhee of Camarillo. “It’s nice to see how our tax dollars are being spent.”

In addition to the Blue Angels and the aerobatic pilots, today’s show is expected to feature the Armed Forces West Parachute Team, F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters, a Los Angeles Police Department race car and the giant truck.

There is no admission charge, but limited bleacher seats are offered for $5 per person. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Navy spokesman Bob Hubbert said the best way to get to the event is to take either the Las Posas Road exit south off the Ventura Freeway, or California 1 south from Oxnard to Wood Road or Las Posas Road.