Countywide : Air Show to Fill Skies, Area Roads

The skies above and the roads around El Toro will be filled this weekend as the 42nd Annual El Toro Air Show comes to town.

The El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is expected to draw crowds of between 800,000 and 1 million people to see such stunt flying groups as the world-renowned Navy Blue Angels, famed for their precision manuevers in fighter jets.

Clear skies are expected for both days of the show, with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s in El Toro, according to the National Weather Bureau.

All those people combined with all that good weather spells a potential for large traffic jams in the areas near the show, as well as on the Santa Ana and San Diego freeways, said California Highway Patrol Officer Rick Pena.

“It is going to be a mess,” Pena said. “It’s not too bad until the Blue Angels start. Then it seems like everyone pulls over on the 5. In the past, people have stopped in traffic lanes and gotten up on the top of their cars. The traffic just stops.”

Anyone who stops on the freeway to watch the show will have to pay the price. The CHP said it will issue tickets to anyone stopping for non-emergency purposes.

But those brave enough to attempt the drive to El Toro will be able to see more than a dozen separate flying displays, including the Golden Knights, the Army parachute team, demonstrating aerial maneuvers and formation parachuting.

Also appearing will be the Red Baron Stearman Squadron, an aerobatic stunt exhibition team in vintage planes.

The French husband-and-wife flying team of Daniel Heligoin and Montaine Mallet will perform a routine choreographed to music and poetry from a pair of small propeller aircraft.

Spectators will also witness a mock invasion, complete with make-believe enemy fire, conducted by the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

There will be a display of aircraft ranging from 1930s-era craft to those used to fly missions during the Persian Gulf War--including the stealth fighter.

“It’s one of the best showcases in the country for Marine and civilian aircraft,” said 2nd Lt. Beth Carreiro, a public affairs officer at the air station.

“For those who don’t know a lot about aviation, it’s a great opportunity to get a taste for it.”

Getting In and Out Of the Air Show Days: Today and Sunday Admission: Free Time: 9:05 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; gates open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking: Free, Arrive early; lots fill quickly. Information: (714) 726-2100

WANT TO AVOID THE JAM? TAKE THE BUS Express shuttles will run from two centers. Service begins at 8:30 a.m. with departures every 15 minutes until noon. Fare is $2 each way for adults and children, $1.80 each way for the handicapped. Buses will return immediately after the show, last return bus will depart at 5:30 p.m. Call (714) 636-RIDE for more information.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS The schedule is the same for both Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. 7 a.m. Gates open 9:15 a.m. GOLDEN KNIGHTS-Aerial maneuvers and formation parachuting by the U.S. Army parachute team 10 a.m. SALUTE TO AVIATION--formation flying demonstration 10:15 a.m. WORLD WAR II WAR BIRDS--veteran aircraft review 10:30 a.m. REBEL 300 AEROBATIC JET--piloted by Don Johnson, 1991 U.S. National Aerobatics Champion 10:45 a.m. BD-5 COORS LIGHT SILVER BULLET JET--World’s smallest jet aircraft 11 a.m. YAK ATTACK--demonstration of the Soviet-made YAK-50 jet 11:15 a.m. GLIDER DEMONSTRATION--Pilot Bret Willat pilots his GROB G-103 Acro sailplane 11:25 a.m. TEAM AMERICA--Precision flying performance in three Marchetti F-260 jets 11:50 a.m. ASSAULT FORCE TAKEOFF--Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) moves out in preparation for a mock assault 11:55 a.m. THIRD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING BAND--Military band marching exhibition and musical performance Noon PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS and opening remarks 12:05 p.m. GOLDEN KNIGHTS--Second performance by the U.S. Army Parachute Team. 12:30 p.m. MOCK ASSAULT--The Marine Air-Ground Task Force launches a mock invasion of MCAS El Toro 1 p.m. RED BARON STEARMAN SQUADRON--Aerobatics and formation flying demonstration in four Stearman A-75, antique biplanes built in the 1930s and 1940s 1:20 p.m. AERIAL STUNTS--Crop duster Sean Tucker performs in his PITTS S2S 1:35 p.m. FIGHTER JET--Demonstration of the F-8 Crusader 1:55 p.m. FRENCH CONNECTION--Husband and wife precision flying team pilots a pair of CAP 10-Bs through a choreographed routine set to music and poetry 2:15 p.m. AERIAL COMBAT--A USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon performs combat maneuvers 2:35 p.m. EAGLES AEROBATIC FLIGHT TEAM--Precision flying trio will demonstrate skills that won them the 1972 World Aerobatic Championship title 2:55 p.m. USMC AV-8B HARRIER--demonstration of the plane’s unique vertical takeoff, landing and hovering ability 3:15 p.m. U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS--World-famous fighter jet group performs in F/A-18 Hornets 4 p.m. Show ends Source: Irvine Police Dept., El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and OCTD