March 18: Bleary-eyed, I filled my travel mug with coffee and hit the road. It was 7:30 AM and, a few minutes later, my phone started to ring. “Am I ahead of you, or are you ahead of me?” my friend asked on the other end of the line. “You’re definitely ahead of me.”
The country roads that lead to Naval Air Station Point Mugu were, well, like a drive in the country… until they weren’t. As traffic came to a standstill, the way the road curved up ahead revealed this backup was miles-long. The top of the hangars on the base were just barely visible over the horizon.
Finally on base and parked, I dropped a pin on my navigation app and walked to the long line. I happened to spot my friend and his young son and, 45 minutes later, we were finally through the security check and into the event area.
The air show space was huge. Collections of aircraft on static display were off to the left, straight ahead, and to the right. There were UAV/drone systems, surveillance planes, fighter jets, cargo planes, and beyond the bike racks, the “hot ramp” where performers parked their aircraft. Nearby were the stars of the show: the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. It’s an incredibly rare treat to get both at the same air show.
Now, with that intro, I will let the photos tell the story of the day.
Some of the demonstrations at this two-day event included:
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
U.S. Navy Blue Angels & C-130J "Fat Albert" demo
USN Leap Frogs flag jump
USN MH-60R/MH-60S Seahawks flyby
PT-17 Stearman aerobatics, piloted by Vicky Benzing
USCG MH-65 search & rescue demo
Pacific War re-enactment featuring a F6F Hellcat, Japanese Zero, and B-25 PBJ
Red Bull MBB Bo 105 helicopter aerobatics
AT-6 Texan "War Dog" demo, piloted by John Collver
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules water drop demo
Some of the 30+ static displays included:
F-35 Lighting II
Commemorative Air Force T-6 Texan
Commemorative Air Force Fairchild PT-19A Cornell
Hawker Hunter
Sonex Aircraft SubSonex mini jet
VX-9 (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron) black Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
MQ-8C Fire Scout drone helicopter
Israeli F-21A Kfir fighter
Lockheed P-3C Orion
Icon A5 amphibious LSA
1946 North American Navion
Fairchild 24R-46 Argus
Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
According to the official site, this airshow at Naval Air Station Pt. Mugu should return in 2025 or 2026.
"Photo Essay: NAS Point Mugu Air Show (2023)"
by Justin J. Kilmer
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