Crowds Seek Plane Fun at Naval Base

With a procession of American fighter planes taking to clear blue skies, the 35th annual Point Mugu Air Show kicked off Saturday in spectacular--and often deafening--fashion.

An estimated 75,000 people showed up for an airborne parade that began with World War II-era bombers and ended six hours later with the dazzling Air Force Thunderbirds.

“They’re just awesome,” shouted 14-year-old Devin Gilbert of Simi Valley as a friend strained to capture the Thunderbirds with a camcorder. “They’re what I came for.”

Stiff breezes lashed the Navy base all day, whipping through carnival tents and stealing baseball caps and plastic soda cups. Organizers said the 15-mph gusts may have kept some people away; attendance of 100,000 had been expected. Similarly sunny but breezy weather is expected today, with temperatures rising a few degrees to near 70.

“We thought we did pretty good, with the wind and new air show date,” said Navy spokeswoman Phillis Thrower. “We’re hoping to reach that 100,000 [today].”

The winds appeared to have little effect on the pilots.

The day began with a dose of nostalgia: a green World War II Army bomber flew low as the brass horns of Glenn Miller sounded over the speakers.

But things soon got faster--and louder.

A Marine AV8-B Harrier jet awed those on the ground by hovering backward over the crowd. Its roar was just as awesome--thousands of onlookers stuck their fingers in their ears.

Meanwhile, an Air Force F-117 Stealth fighter gave further cause for wonder as well as a dose of hometown pride.

Air Force Maj. Jonathan Bachman, who grew up in Oxnard, flew the Stealth, which eludes radar because of its angular shape. Bachman lifted off at 12:40 p.m. for a cruise over the Pacific, returning an hour later with a silent approach that erupted in noise over the runway.

“It really is kind of fun to come back,” said Bachman, who trained as a youngster at the Camarillo and Oxnard airports. “Except this time I’m flying much higher and faster.”

On the ground, spectators had plenty to do, too.

Long lines formed to get inside old Air Force bombers. Youngsters climbed on board rugged Humvee jeeps, posing for pictures with Marines near the roof-mounted machine guns.

Meanwhile, the smell of barbecued chicken and hamburgers carried in the air, as hundreds of people lay or sat in the tall grass and caught some sun. Nearby, a children’s carnival was underway, with the traditional Ferris wheel and merry-go-round.

For those who got tired of the planes, there was a vintage collection of 1950s Chevrolets. And inside a cavernous hangar, organizers put on a home show, selling everything from expensive wines to fish tanks to financial advice.

Still, the focus Saturday was on the Armed Forces. And Ventura County residents at the show were delighted that the Point Mugu Air Show is back, after being canceled last fall because of shrinking federal military funds.

“It brings together the veterans, the people and the military,” said 52-year-old Gordie Hemphill of Port Hueneme, a Vietnam veteran and former Seabee. “It’s a way for the military to say ‘Thank you for letting us be here.’ ”

Indeed, with the Thunderbirds capping the day with their warp-speed climbs and high-speed plunges, military recruiters said they couldn’t ask for anything more.

“The kids see this,” said Nancy Otte of the Young Marines of Ventura County, “and they want to wear a uniform too.”

The air show wraps up today. Gates open at 8 a.m.; the Thunderbirds fly at 2:30 p.m.

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1998 Point Mugu Air Show Schedule (VENTURA COUNTY EDITION)

Today’s schedule:

8 a.m.: Gates open

8-9:30 a.m.: Radio-controlled airplane demonstrations and helicopter rides

9:30 a.m.: Confederate Air Force

10 a.m.: Bill Cornick aerobatics

10:15 a.m.: Confederate Air Force (CAF) Warbirds fly-bys

10:45 a.m.: E-2C “Hawkeye” VAW-116 fly-by

11 a.m.: Welcoming ceremonies invocation, CAF fly-by (missing man formation), flag presentation by Navy SEALs

11:15 a.m.: T-37B “Tweety birds” fly-bys

11:20 a.m.: F-14 “Tomcat” demonstration by VF-101

11:40 a.m.: George Tuers and “Flashback”

11:50 a.m.: John Collver’s “Wardog”

12:05 p.m. : VX-9 bombing and strafing demo with AV-8B “Harrier II,” AH-1W “Super Cobra,” EA-6B “Prowler”

12:25 p.m.: Channel Islands Air National Guard C-130E “Hercules”

12:30 p.m.: Channel Islands Air National Guard pallet drop

12:40 p.m.: F-117A Stealth fighter (takeoff)

12:40 p.m.: Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadron 5 (HCS-5) and Navy SEALs demonstration

1:15 p.m.: F-15 “Eagle” demonstration by 33rd Fighter Wing

1:30 p.m.: F8F “Bearcat” demonstration

1:40 p.m.: F-117A Stealth fighter by 49th Fighter Wing

1:45 p.m.: Steve Stavrakakis “Wild Thing”

2 p.m.: Frank Ryder’s “ORECK XL” airplane

2:15 p.m.: Delmar Benjamin in his GeeBee

2:30 p.m.: Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron: Thunderbirds

For information, call 989-8786.