The 2004 Miramar Air Show

October 16-17, 2004

John Helton - America's Smallest Aircraft Carrier.

Kent Shockley drove the Shockwave jet truck.

Eric Beard's Russian Thunder Yak-54.

Sean Tucker did a morning performance as practice for the afternoon show.

Dan Buchanan in hang glider was taunted by Eric Beard.

Lima Lima Sky Painting was a bit of a bust, the painting of a mountain waterfall was barely visible against the cloudy sky.

Bret Willat Sailplane Magic

Robosaurus breathes fire and snacks on cars.

John Collver's AT-6 Texan War Dog

P-51D Mustang and F4U Corsair.

KC-130 Hercules tanker.

The MAGTF demonstration (Marine Air Ground Task Force) simulated a ground assault.

Super Cobra attack helicopter. The gun can be set to automatically point wherever he is looking!

This 16,000 pound howitzer was moved like it was a toy.

Bil Reesman in the Russian MiG-17F Red Bull.

The MiG raced the jet truck and lost!

The Fry's Patriots jet team flies L-39s.

Sean Tucker gave another dizzying performance.

The B2 Spirit stealth bomber flew by.

F16 Fighting Falcon.

Two P-51D Mustangs...

... joined the F16 for a heritage flight.

The AV-8B Harrier can take off straight up like a rocket!

The Blue Angels' C130 Fat Albert begins rolling for a JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) demonstration.

The headline act was the full Blue Angels performance team.

Because of some cloud cover, they performed their 'low show', which made for some great photographic opportunities.

On static display was the C-141 Hanoi Taxi which returned Vietnam war POWs to the USA.

Inside the Hanoi Taxi.

F-18 Hornets aplenty.

B-17 Miss Angela.

The FAA's DC3 N34.

The twilight show began with another harrier demo.

The Patriots did another performance.

Some prop aerobatic performers will do a zero speed hang in the sky; the Patriots pull this off with two jets simultaneously!

The Navy Seal Leap Frogs jumped from high above, right at sunset.

Fat Albert did another JATO, with dazzling results!

Fat Albert flying in front of the crescent Moon.

Shockley's jet truck really lit up the night.

Hot air balloon night glow - eight balloons were lit simultaneously.

Bill Reesman sputtered fireworks while doing rolls.

There was also a full up fireworks display and WALL OF FIRE but I was too tired to stick around for that (and the post-show traffic).