Air Show Hits New Heights on Its Second Day

An F-16 Thunderbird jet screeched through the air at the brink of the sound barrier to cheers and high fives in the Point Mugu control tower.

Out on the runway and its grassy edges, 122,000 people packed the Navy base for Day 2 of the Point Mugu Air Show, enjoying breezy, clear skies full of roaring planes.

The Air Force’s Thunderbird thrill team got ready for a razor-edge pass over the craned necks and shielded eyes of the spectators. The air traffic controllers leaned across their consoles to catch the approach. At 130 feet above the tarmac, those tower windows offered the best view.

“Cool!” one yelled, nose pressed to the glass. “That was impressive. Just three feet apart; tighter than yesterday.”

The controllers were enjoying the show, betting on G-force numbers, when the jovial mood suddenly turned serious. The five Thunderbird jets were traveling 475 mph in diamond formation high above the crowd when an intruder entered their air space.

“Thunderbird control, this is tower, we’re showing 11,000-foot traffic and no one’s talking,” the call went out.

“He’s inside the box, four miles north and climbing.”

Eyes were fixed on the radar screen, where a blip had entered the uppermost tip of the five-mile-radius, 15,000-foot-high security zone.

Tower supervisor Sean Adams pulled out his binoculars to make visual confirmation.

“It’s a 727 heading to LAX,” Adams said. “He’s out of the way. No problem.”

Back to the show.

Organizers were thrilled by Sunday’s crowd--nearly 50,000 more than attended Saturday--certainly boosted by continued good weather and a star attraction.

“We’re glad to have the Thunderbirds back,” said Capt. Stephen Beal, commanding officer of the Naval Air Weapons Station at Point Mugu. “This lets us say thanks to the public for their support and gives them a chance to see the base and what the military does up close.”

A demonstration of the seemingly gravity-defying Harrier jet was another crowd pleaser. Mike Allman held his 5-year-old son, Nicholas, on his shoulders for a better view. It was hard to tell who was enjoying it more.

“Look, he’s going to stop in mid-air. Look at that!” Allman exclaimed as the jet hovered. “And now he’s going backwards. Wow! Look, Nicholas, he’s turning around.”

The Harrier made a vertical landing to cheers, and little Nicholas seemed happy it was finally over.

“Can I uncover my ears now?” Nicholas asked his dad. “It was loud.”

Allman, a West Hollywood resident, said air shows are a weakness of his.

“It’s certainly big fun for me,” Allman said. “I don’t mind spending tax dollars on this at all.”

But airplanes were far from the only spectacle at Point Mugu this weekend.

It was literally a carnival with rides, a Dixieland band, eight Clydesdales and plenty of off-beat military sideshows.

The Seabee divers from the Navy’s bomb disposal group bobbed around in a plexiglass-enclosed tank, playing underwater tick-tack-toe with passersby. The game’s wax pens were used to send messages, too. “Can I go in with you?” someone wrote on the glass.

Shawn Davis, a naval chief petty officer, stamped out dog tags for $5 each, including chain. He threw in a “silencer” for an extra buck.

“Keeps them from clinking together when you’re in the jungle,” said Davis, explaining the function of the rubber band that encased the metal tag.

The authentic military identification tags were a big hit with the kids, David said.

“They’ve been printing spy code names,” he said. “Top-secret stuff.”

Over at the Air Force’s 146th Security Forces Squadron booth, troops were selling hand-rolled Maduro Churchill “Blacksheep” cigars. The $5 donation went to the unit’s MWR fund--Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

“You know, for when we throw parties and barbecues,” said Master Sgt. Steve Timbol. “A little incentive to help our guys before going out in the field.”

Timbol’s unit is responsible for Air Force security, and the troops kept a close eye on a popular air show exhibit: a parked B-2 Stealth bomber.

The area around the $2-billion radar-evading plane was double roped, guarded by three machine-gun-wielding soldiers. Hundreds gathered around to gawk at the plane.

“People ask if those guns are really loaded. Yes they are, and we still have authority to use deadly force if needed,” Timbol said. “Stealth is a priority resource, which means it’s still classified.”

As for all the tourists taking pictures, that was OK.

“Everyone can see the outside,” Timbol said. “What we’re protecting is the classified stuff on the inside.”

After the Thunderbirds safely landed, ending the weekend-long air show, Navy spokeswoman Phillis Thrower headed to a tent along the midway that offered massages.

“I’m just thrilled at how everything turned out so well this year,” Thrower said as a masseuse pounded out the knots earned from helping run an event that drew nearly 200,000 people. “This completes a very successful air show.”