Weather Plays Tricks on Air Show : Famed Blue Angels Perform at Point Mugu Before Clouds Roll In

It was a day of adrenaline rushes cut short by uncooperative weather and mechanical snafus.

More than 120,000 airplane enthusiasts got to see the legendary Blue Angels show off their synchronized, high-speed maneuvers Sunday at the 1996 Point Mugu Air Show. But due to capricious weather that teased the skies with off-and-on cloud cover, the “Blues” cut their routine short to the dismay of anxious fans.

“This is my second time [at the air show], and it’s always terrific,” said Guy Holloman of Los Angeles. “I’m sorry they didn’t do their whole routine. This was their 50th anniversary. It was the big celebration for them! It’s like Christmas--you always want more.”

Eleven-year-old Luke Lamarra of Agoura Hills was even more disappointed: “[The show] was all right. The Blue Angels didn’t do as much as last time. I wanted a better show.”

More than 170,000 spectators attended the weekend event, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Point Mugu and the Blue Angels. Attendance was higher than last year. But it was lower than the 200,000 spectators who came to see the Blue Angels and the Canadian Snowbirds fly in 1993.

The weekend offered Point Mugu the chance to celebrate its 50 years as a missile testing and development site, said Capt. Stephen Beal, commanding officer of the Naval Air Weapons Station.

“About one year ago we had 400 people working to put this show together,” Beal said. “This is an opportunity for us to show what Point Mugu does and to thank the community for its support.”

On Sunday, the Blue Angels’ routine was cut short by nearly 45 minutes by an unexpected weather system that blew in heavy clouds and fog on the southern end of the base’s runway, reducing the pilot’s visibility to only one mile.

Don Lewis, the air show’s coordinator, said the skies are usually clear by October. But Mugu’s heavy cloud cover and fog have prevented other performers from flying in the past.

Nevertheless, Lewis looked on the bright side, saying that the Blue Angels’ slim FA-18s were at least able to perform a few Delta formations, unlike Saturday, when spectators went home without seeing the air show acrobats.

“We are pleased that at least they got airborne today,” said Lewis, adding that he has already requested that the Blues fly in next year’s show.

The entire weekend at the air show was a battle with the weather. Some of the stunt shows and high-flying military performances were hindered by heavy cloud cover, particularly on Saturday. But Sunday, as if the clouds had been swept away by a giant broom, patches of blue and sunlight appeared, allowing other fliers to perform their routines.

But if it wasn’t the weather, other glitches cut short some of the program.

Spectators got a chance to see the sophisticated and expensive F-117 stealth fighter fly across the air strip until it was downed due to a failed engine.

Although it made a safe landing, the black stealth was followed by Point Mugu emergency response trucks as it made its way to the southern end of the runway.

Yet for families like the McElderrys, who drove out from Glendale, the day was not wasted. Rick McElderry was happy to bring his wife and two daughters to the show for a little adventure.

“We had a good day,” he said. “It worked out very well and we got to get out of the house!”

Cheri Dejournett, who attended the air show for the first time accompanied by her 3-year-old daughter, Taylor, was also pleased.

“I had a great time,” said Dejournett. “I was really impressed. I will come back.”

It was also a new and exciting experience for Taylor, who whispered in her mother’s ear why she liked the show: “I have never seen guys fly airplanes this close.”