Air Shows Orange County

Nearly 2 million spectators are expected at this weekend's 46th annual El Toro Air Show, which begins Friday with its first-ever twilight performance, which could cause a commuter nightmare. "The traffic--as it's been every year--will be a challenge," said Marine Sgt. Barry Pawelek, air show spokesman. The California Highway Patrol is advising motorists to stay away from the base area, if possible, to avoid adding to the congestion, Officer Angel Johnson said.

Living up to its name, the sleek, eerily quiet B-2 Stealth bomber swooped past hundreds of thousands of awe-struck spectators Saturday, covering a huge piece of sky with its bizarre, bat-like structure and adding a dramatic flourish to the 47th and final El Toro Air Show. The bomber, making its first and only appearance at El Toro, was clearly a hit and one reason Marine Corps officials estimated they drew a record crowd of nearly 1 million spectators Saturday.

Low-hanging clouds forced a change in the program, but the 45th annual El Toro Air Show concluded Sunday with more precision flying by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and an emotional tribute to troops who fought the battle of Iwo Jima. Maj. Gen. P. Drax Williams, commander of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, put the day's audience at 600,000 during remarks in which he thanked the crowd for attending. Official attendance figures won't be given until later in the week.

Ryan Grosch gripped the wire fence and craned his neck as he watched some of the best Top Gun hobbyists in the state operate their radio-controlled model airplanes at Mile Square Regional Park on Sunday. Ryan, 7, of Mission Viejo, smiled at his father, Greg Grosch, for taking him to see dozens of expensive, handcrafted, miniature aircraft at the fifth annual radio-controlled model airplane air show. About 1,200 people attended the event.

Ryan Grosch gripped the wire fence and craned his neck as he watched some of the best Top Gun hobbyists in the state operate their radio-controlled model airplanes at Mile Square Regional Park on Sunday. Ryan, 7, of Mission Viejo, smiled at his father, Greg Grosch, for taking him to see dozens of expensive, handcrafted, miniature aircraft at the fifth annual radio-controlled model airplane air show. About 1,200 people attended the event.

The Blue Angels weren't there to zig and zag through the sky, nor were the Thunderbirds. But the annual open house at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station did have Team Extra, a squadron of brightly painted planes that performed circles, spins and other crowd-pleasing maneuvers, even though their pilots never left the ground.

Flying at 3,000 feet before my morning coffee is not my idea of a good time. Especially when I'm upside-down. But there I was, strapped into a circa 1940s biplane headed toward Santiago Peak, when the guy at the controls, John Bowman, said, "You wouldn't mind a little maneuver, would you?" You gotta love the Chuck Yeager in every pilot's demeanor. We had just taken off from El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, the site of this weekend's air show that begins tonight with a twilight show at 6:30 p.m.

Masked in camouflage face paint, 9-year-old Justin Smith aimed his toy machine-gun at a U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier fighter plane hovering about 150 above him Friday and fired. Having done this for six consecutive years now, the aspiring Navy pilot said, "I hardly ever miss." As the huge craft darted left and right, its powerful engines drowning out all other sound at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Justin dropped his weapon and covered his ears.

Living up to its name, the sleek, eerily quiet B-2 Stealth bomber swooped past hundreds of thousands of awe-struck spectators Saturday, covering a huge piece of sky with its bizarre, bat-like structure and adding a dramatic flourish to the 47th and final El Toro Air Show. The bomber, making its first and only appearance at El Toro, was clearly a hit and one reason Marine Corps officials estimated they drew a record crowd of nearly 1 million spectators Saturday.

With one arm flapping over his head, Lee Oman clung to the wing of his 1940 biplane like a rodeo cowboy. The aircraft bucked right, then left before launching into a perilous ascent, his fluorescent red suit nearly disappearing in the distance. "It's beautiful up there," the 38-year-old wing-walker from Idaho said between performances Saturday at the El Toro Air Show. "I've got the best seat in the house."

Masked in camouflage face paint, 9-year-old Justin Smith aimed his toy machine-gun at a U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier fighter plane hovering about 150 above him Friday and fired. Having done this for six consecutive years now, the aspiring Navy pilot said, "I hardly ever miss." As the huge craft darted left and right, its powerful engines drowning out all other sound at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Justin dropped his weapon and covered his ears.

Flying at 3,000 feet before my morning coffee is not my idea of a good time. Especially when I'm upside-down. But there I was, strapped into a circa 1940s biplane headed toward Santiago Peak, when the guy at the controls, John Bowman, said, "You wouldn't mind a little maneuver, would you?" You gotta love the Chuck Yeager in every pilot's demeanor. We had just taken off from El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, the site of this weekend's air show that begins tonight with a twilight show at 6:30 p.m.

Nearly 2 million spectators are expected at this weekend's 46th annual El Toro Air Show, which begins Friday with its first-ever twilight performance, which could cause a commuter nightmare. "The traffic--as it's been every year--will be a challenge," said Marine Sgt. Barry Pawelek, air show spokesman. The California Highway Patrol is advising motorists to stay away from the base area, if possible, to avoid adding to the congestion, Officer Angel Johnson said.

The Blue Angels weren't there to zig and zag through the sky, nor were the Thunderbirds. But the annual open house at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station did have Team Extra, a squadron of brightly painted planes that performed circles, spins and other crowd-pleasing maneuvers, even though their pilots never left the ground.

Low-hanging clouds forced a change in the program, but the 45th annual El Toro Air Show concluded Sunday with more precision flying by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and an emotional tribute to troops who fought the battle of Iwo Jima. Maj. Gen. P. Drax Williams, commander of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, put the day's audience at 600,000 during remarks in which he thanked the crowd for attending. Official attendance figures won't be given until later in the week.

With one arm flapping over his head, Lee Oman clung to the wing of his 1940 biplane like a rodeo cowboy. The aircraft bucked right, then left before launching into a perilous ascent, his fluorescent red suit nearly disappearing in the distance. "It's beautiful up there," the 38-year-old wing-walker from Idaho said between performances Saturday at the El Toro Air Show. "I've got the best seat in the house."