Miramar Air Show San Diego

Each year near the start of October, the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar hosts a breathtaking air show impressing hundreds of thousands of spectators. This three day event has proven to be a tremendous success in the past, winning numerous awards from the International Council of Air Shows. Set on a stage surrounded by desert and mountains, and framed by hangars housing Marine Corps jets and helicopters used by America's 9-1-1 Force, the Miramar Air Show is the biggest annual public event in San Diego. Spectators watch planes perform death-defying feats of glory and can go up and tour planes of all sizes.

The Miramar Air Show encompasses 3 main purposes annually: 1-To increase community relations by opening the station to the public, to thank the community for their support of the Marine Corps by offering a free world-class air show, as well as the opportunity for community team-building through direct involvement in the Air Show. 2-To educate the San Diego community about military and civilian aviation and the mission of MCAS Miramar, while promoting a positive image of both to the public, community leaders and decision makers. 3-To back military recruiting efforts.

Initially being a Navy event, the Marine Corps took over the event after they arrived in 1999. The prestigious performing unit began in 1953 as the Air Force’s official air demonstration team known as the 3500th Air Demonstration Unit.

Over 700,000 people attend the three-day event. Viewers come geared up to stand in lines and to sit in traffic because gates commonly open at 8 a.m.; demonstrations and other activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More than 100 aircraft are on the ground and open for exploration, but the real show is high above as top-of-the-line military aircraft astound viewers with precision movements, supersonic flybys and silent hovering above the crowd below. There is also usually a consumer show spotlighting local businesses, and flight simulators to give visitors an even closer taste of the real thing. The best part? Admission, parking and blanket seating are all free. Special ticket packages are available at a range of prices if you wish to view from any of the following areas: Semper Fi, Chalet Flight Deck, Chalet Observation Deck, Box Seats, or Grandstands.

The Miramar Air Show is a great way for young people to get to know the exciting field of aviation up close and personal. It is pure entertainment for people of all ages. The show is open to the public and many say the MCAS Miramar Air Show is one of America’s finest, receiving awards in the past for “Best Air Show”. If power, speed and patriotism are what get you going, then what better place to satisfy your needs than at the annual Miramar Air Show in October?

2007 was the first year that the Thunderbirds performed rather than the annual typical Blue Angels. But Thunderbirds or Angels, these planes are always visible from dozens of spots outside Miramar. The MCAS Miramar Air Show provides a firsthand opportunity for the general public to visit and enjoy a world-class air show and aviation trade expo.