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Visitors walk through C-5B Galaxy Transport Aircraft
Air Show visitors walk through C-5B Galaxy, largest aircraft in the USAF's Military Airlift Command

MCAS Miramar Air Show

This annual two-day event is held the third weekend of August at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, one of three U.S. Naval stations in San Diego. Miramar has been a part of San Diego history since 1917, when it was known as "Camp Kerney," an Army base. In 1932, the Navy took over Miramar when it became the home of the largest aircraft in the world: the lighter-than-air blimp. Runways were built in 1940, when both the Navy and Marines occupied the base. As it exists today, Miramar is solely a Marine Corps Air Station.

For over 40 years, Miramar has hosted the world's best military and civilian pilots for its annual Air Show -- a spectacle of skill and speed that draws close to one million people. Another 300,000 Southern California families watch the live television broadcast of the show. There are ever-popular displays of military fighter jets and transport aircraft, ranging from the C-5A Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the Air Force's air transport command, to the smallest helicopter. As well as static ground displays of aircraft, there are civilian and military air demonstrations including a show by the famous Navy Blue Angels, demonstrations of the Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, the Harrier vertical take-off craft, the Hercules jet, the Stealth fighter, the Tomcat bomber, and the Apache helicopter. Local law enforcement agencies such as the California Highway Patrol, the San Diego's Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Police Department show off their helicopters and ground equipment.

The show benefits Marine Corps Community Services Project projects. Documentation includes a written report, 15 color photographs and accompanying descriptions, programs from the 1999 event, newspaper articles, and a poster.

Originally submitted by: Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Representative (51st District).



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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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