Another old airshow thread

[Neal Nurmi]

We're headed back to the 1970s again, and bellbottoms. The Air Force held several Air Base open houses and shows every year. They'd fly in a bunch of display planes, invite some civilian warbirds, and try to have a display team. I don't remember admission fees -- seems like we just parked and walked in. Little security, few ropes or anything -- you could just walk around, touch things, use the B-52 as a sunshade (or umbrella this day).

These are at Beale AFB -- home of the U-2 programs and the SR-71. Late spring 1977, with thunderstorms and the Thunderbirds in T-38s.

Paint schemes are fascinating -- a mix of fleet colors, stateside grey and white, and various southeast Asia schemes. It was nice to see a Hun at this late date.

click on the image for a better version.

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[Stoney]

Miramar 1970

Last edited by Stoney on Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Neal Nurmi]

You really could just wander and touch. It was all amazingly relaxed, and trusting. Still that Beale rainstorm day in 1977.

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[Neal Nurmi]

End of the storm-shortened day, before heading home. This would be the core of a nice museum collection in 2021...

click on image for prettier version

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[Lon Moer]

Miramar 1971

PoF's B-17 "Piccadilly Lilly".

[sandiego89]

Thanks for posting. The VF-1 Wolfpack F-14 is a real treat.

Really like the rain drenched apron with the F-101 and F-106! That was quite an airshow!

[bdk]

Edwards AFB had some great shows in the early '80s as well. Perhaps the '70s too but I wasn't yet in California. I also went to Pt. Mugu for a show.

[Neal Nurmi]

I'd love to see photos from the early Edwards shows, and into the 1980s. There had to be interesting stuff around...

[sandiego89]

Edwards AFB had some great shows in the early '80s as well. Perhaps the '70s too but I wasn't yet in California. I also went to Pt. Mugu for a show.

I grew up in Ojai, California so the Pt. Mugu shows in the 1970's were extra special with the live range right off the end of the runway they could do cannon and sidewinder shoots pointing out to sea from show center. I clearly recall Phantoms rolling inverted to sight a flare, roll level and shoot a sidewinder at the flare. Very impressive speed and corkscrewing of the Sidewinder. Live A-10 strafe at show center with the tremendous buuuuurrttt. Also saw the Black Bunny F-4's and the YF-4 ejection seat test craft shoot a dummy out the back seat at show center. The Privateer shoot downs during the show were before my time!

[Neal Nurmi]

I wanna see pictures, not hear descriptions...

Where's Sledge when we need him??

[sledge39]

I wanna see pictures, not hear descriptions...
Where's Sledge when we need him??

... not too far away...

... A few pictures of N332 ...

01 "Reno 64" (Skyranch) raced cross-country by Wayne Adams

02 Chino, 1 Nov 1970, Cliff Cummins getting used to the airplane, Jack Corrick in back

03 "Cable Airshow" 7 Nov 1970, low flyby by Cliff Cummins

04 "California 1000" at Mojave, 15 Nov 1970, Cliff Cummins racing Bob Love

05 "United States Cup" at Brown Field (SDM) near San Diego, 18 July 1971, Darryl Greenamyer racing Reynolds/Geren

Sledge

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[Neal Nurmi]

Buff, Travis AFB, Fall 1991

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[Neal Nurmi]

An F-14 doing a spirited demo in front of the enormous dirigible hangar at Moffett NAS in the summer of 1977...

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[Stoney]

Reno 1975



Madera, CA 1973

[Lon Moer]

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Reno 1975
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Love the 'wind-up' key for the Sea Fury engine.
- the Leroy Penhall/Fighter Imports F-86 N8686D in the background