Annual Marine Air Show Takes Flight This Weekend

The Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s flight demonstration team, will be back in Orange County skies Saturday and Sunday as the 43rd annual Air Show returns to the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.

The team will perform its aerobatics and group maneuvers as the finale of each day of the show, which has drawn more than 1 million people in past years.

Other performers include the Red Barron Team, Team America, acts from National Air Shows, Bill Muszala Performing Warbirds, the Navy Hot Air Balloon Team, the Army Golden Knights and several individual fliers and performers. Starting each day at 9 a.m. will be the Canadian Sky Hawks Parachute Team.

A Marine Corps Air/Ground Task Force demonstration, combining air and ground combat troops coordinated under one commander, will kick off at noon each day. The Thunderbirds take to the sky at 3 p.m. and land at 4:15 p.m. Military and civilian aircraft will also be on display on the ground during the show.

Gates will open at 7 a.m. Admission to the show is free, although 5,000 grandstand seats will be sold for $6 each through Ticketmaster. Lawn chairs and blankets will be allowed, and visitors are encouraged to bring hats and sunscreen. Vendors will sell food, film and souvenirs at the event.

Entrance to the event will be through gate 15A (off Irvine Boulevard), gate 3 (off Alton Parkway and Fairbanks), gate 9 (off Marine Way) or gate 1 (off Trabuco Road).

Parking is free but limited, and traffic around the air base can be horrendous. The Orange County Transportation District is offering a bus shuttle service; for information, call (714) 636-7433.

For general information on the event, call (714) 726-2100. For information on grandstand seating, call (714) 740-2000 (Ticketmaster).