Countywide : Air Show Puts ‘Em in High Spirits

Despite his years in the Air Force, Don Eckenrode had not seen a parachutist land until Friday. Eckenrode, one of several thousand spectators at the first day of the 43rd annual El Toro Air Show, watched in awe as members of the Army Golden Knights Parachute Team landed perfectly about 200 yards away.

“This is the first time I ever saw anyone parachute,” Eckenrode, 56, said. “I had to strap one on once, but never had to use one.”

Eckenrode and 11 other patients of the Long Beach Veterans Hospital were among the guests at the Marine Corps Air Station, which reserves the first day of the air show for school groups, the handicapped and other special guests. The show runs through the weekend and is free to the public.

Eckenrode, who lives in the home care unit of the hospital, said: “It’s good to be out of there. This is a treat.”

In an expression of loyalty to his branch of the service, Eckenrode said he was glad to see the Air Force Thunderbirds and their F-16Cs at the show instead of the Navy’s Blue Angels. Before the Thunderbirds took flight, Eckenrode said, his favorite act involved a woman’s walking on the wing of a plane.

Eckenrode took in sight of the eight red-and-white Thunderbirds gleaming in the sunlight and the various planes and helicopters flying over the airfield performing aerobatics and battle simulations.

Rick Bono of Irvine and his 11-year-old daughter, Erica, sat with other parents and children as guests of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, enjoying the aerobatics and the sunshine.

“The best part is coming on a day like today,” Bono said.

Occasional clouds and a steady breeze kept things cool.

Janine Shelton, a teacher at the R.H. Dana Exceptional School in Dana Point, brought 10 pupils from her class. Each pupil brought a friend from the companion regular elementary school as a buddy. “This is the highlight of the year for them,” Shelton said. “I had one student talk about it for a month.”

After they watched an air-to-ground battle simulation, complete with howitzers, Shelton took her group to look at the helicopters and airplanes from World War II.

Sunday Pulsipher, a psychiatric technician at the Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa, said about three busloads of staff members and patients came to the show. “We figured this could be the last year, so we should bring them,” Pulsipher said, referring to Pentagon plans to close the base. One of her charges watched the air show from his wheelchair with a smile on his face.

“Do you like the planes, Jeff?” she asked the young man. “Yes,” he replied.

This weekend, California Highway Patrol officers are prepared to issue citations to motorists who pull over on the freeways to watch the show.

“Every year it’s a problem,” said CHP officer Wendy Lopes. “It’s illegal to stop on the freeways for any reason other than an emergency such as a flat tire, car trouble or a medical problem. Looking at a map or stopping to watch an airplane go over is not an emergency.”

Lopes said motorists who do pull over will probably get tickets carrying fines of up to $80.

“We do often issue citations during the air show because this is a dangerous problem,” Lopes said. “That’s why it’s illegal.”