Thunderbirds Migrate Back to Point Mugu

Highlighted by the Thunderbirds precision flying team, the three-day Point Mugu Air Show begins its 38th annual flight of fancy today.

With a forecast for sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s to low 80s, event organizers expect a huge turnout.

“The attendance last year was around 200,000, and that was without a jet team,” said Teri Reid, a spokeswoman for the naval base. “This year we have the Thunderbirds, and I think the weather is going to be great for the weekend.”

Reid’s theory on why the event is so popular: “The general public is fascinated by aviation and what we have to offer here, and it’s a great opportunity for us to show taxpayers how their money is spent.”

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds, will fly each afternoon, mixing group and solo routines.

The Thunderbirds, which fly the Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon, one of the mainstays of Operation Desert Storm, perform several times a month during air show season. The elite group, based at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, made its debut at the Point Mugu event in 1971, flying McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs. They last appeared at the show in 1998.

Other aircraft flying this year include the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat, FA-18 Hornet, QF-4 Phantom II and E-2C Hawkeye. Air Force planes will include the A-10A Thunderbolt II, C-130 Hercules and F-15 Eagle. Another highlight will be a ground display of one of 59 F-117A Stealth Fighters ever made.

Civilian performers will include John Collver flying his propeller-driven AT-6. There will also be a couple of Russian planes in the sky, including a Soviet-made MIG-17 much like the ones U.S. pilots encountered over Korea and later in Vietnam, plus a newer plane, the Russian Thunder, a YAK-54.

Opening the festivities at 1 p.m. today will be air show veteran Delmar Benjamin, who will pilot a replica of one of the legendary GeeBees. The aircraft was known as the most dangerous plane ever built. Production ceased when the last GeeBee crashed during a test flight in the 1930s. But Benjamin believed the design was sound and built his own replica of a GeeBee. He has been performing at air shows for more than 15 years, piloting his “boxcar with wings.”

There will also be activities on the ground. Squadrons will sell patches, hats, dog tags and related military paraphernalia. Numerous aircraft will be on ground display, and there will also be flight simulators. Open air seating is free but reserved seating at $15 per person can be purchased by calling 800-367-5833 until 5 p.m. today. After that, tickets can be bought at the gate.

The air show, known as the Space Fair during its early years in the ‘60s, has hosted a variety of aircraft. In the ‘70s, the show began with an RF-8 Crusader performing a loop while white puffs of smoke and photocharge flares were ejected from the aircraft. The Thunderbirds made their debut in 1971, and eight years later the Royal Air Force sent an MR Mk 1 Nimrod, a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. It was the RAF’s first and last appearance at the show.

In 1981, live missiles were launched for the first time at the show, and the SR-71 Blackbird made the first of its three appearances. In 1996, the base celebrated its 50th anniversary with the Blue Angels the highlight of the weekend.

The site also has a history. When Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo arrived in October 1542, the Mugu Lagoon was a thriving Chumash village and a prime spot to launch canoes. “Mugu” is a Chumash word meaning “landing place,” an appropriate description of the weekend’s activities at the 1,600-acre base.

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Point Mugu Air Show Schedule

Parking and open-air seating are free. Reserved box seats are $15 per person, and Flight Line Club tickets are $55 for adults and $25 for children ages 4-12. Call 1-800-367-5833 for tickets through 5 p.m. today. They are also available at the gate. Information: 989-8786.

From the Ventura Freeway northbound, exit at Las Posas Road. Turn west (left) on Las Posas to Point Mugu.

From the Ventura Freeway southbound, exit at Rice Road. Turn west (right) to Pacific Coast Highway south. Exit at Wood Road and follow signs to Point Mugu.

Today

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1 p.m. GeeBee demonstration 1:20 p.m. Channel Island ANG C-130E water drop 1:30 p.m. Naval Weapons Test Squadron Point Mugu fly-bys 1:45 p.m. E-2C Hawkeye demonstration 2 p.m. F-15 Eagle demonstration 2:40 p.m. Ghost Squadron fly-bys 3 p.m. Thunderbirds ground ceremony 3:30 p.m. U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds 4:30 p.m. Sean Tucker 4:50 p.m. Channel Islands ANG pallet drop demonstration 5 p.m. A-10A Thunderbolt II demonstration 5:20 p.m. Bearcat demonstration 5:35 p.m. Smirnoff MiGs (bomb blast) 6:10 p.m. Naval Weapons Test Squadron Point Mugu 6:14 p.m. America the Beautiful (Sunset) 6:16 p.m. NWTS FA-18 or F-14 Pass (bomb blast) 6:20 p.m. Land all aircraft 6:25 p.m. Russian Thunder takeoff and demonstration 6:45 p.m. Dan Buchanan 7 p.m. Wild Thing

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Saturday

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8 a.m. Gates open 8-9:30 a.m. Radio controlled airplane demonstration 10 a.m. Welcoming ceremonies Ghost Squadron Missing Man Formation Flag Presentation by Canadian Parachute Team National anthem by Kathy Kramer Invocation 10:15 a.m. AT-6 fly-by 10:20 a.m. F-15 Eagle demonstration (bomb blast) 10:40 a.m. John Collver’s AT-6 Wardog 11 a.m. E2C Hawkeye demonstration 11:15 a.m. GeeBee 11:30 a.m. Lunch break Noon Naval Weapons Test Squad Point Mugu diamond formation 12:10 p.m. A-10A Thunderbolt II demonstration 12:30 p.m. Channel Islands Air National Guard C-130E water drop 12:35 p.m. Bearcat demonstration 12:50 p.m. Russian Thunder 1:10 p.m. Channel Island ANG pallet drop demonstration 1:15 p.m. Sean Tucker 1:25 p.m. A-10A Thunderbolt II demonstration 1:35 p.m. Smirnoff MiGs 1:55 p.m. Dan Buchanan 2:10 p.m. FA-18 Hornet demonstration (bomb blast) 2:30 p.m. Wild Thing 2:50 p.m. Tailhook Legacy Flight 3 p.m. Thunderbirds ground ceremony 3:30 p.m. Thunderbirds takeoff and show

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Sunday

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8 a.m. Gates open 8-9:30 a.m. Radio controlled airplane demonstration 10 a.m. Welcoming ceremonies Ghost Squadron Missing Man Formation Flag Presentation by Canadian Parachute Team 3:05 p.m. FA-18 Hornet demonstration (bomb blast) 3:30 p.m. Wild Thing 3:50 p.m. Tailhook Legacy Flight 4 p.m. Thunderbirds ground ceremony 4:30 p.m. Thunderbirds takeoff and show

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