Near the end of its North America tour, the Royal Air Force aerobatic team from the United Kingdom delighted hundreds of thousands at the MCAS Miramar Air Show.
Red, white and blue smoke from the eight BAE Systems’ Hawk T1s painted the sky as the last appetizer before the traditional afternoon finale by the Navy’s Blue Angels.
Normally, nine Rolls-Royce powered jets perform, but one Red Arrows pilot flew back to England for the birth of his first child, said a show narrator.
The pilot can catch up with the latest news, thanks to the 55-year-old team’s social media presence at #RedArrowsTour and devoted photographers.
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Toys airplanes were popular among children visiting the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
Zoe McClain, 7, from Menifee reaches new heights as she gets a boost from an Army recruiter at a chin up bar. Photo by Chris Stone
SDG&E’s Sky Maverick makes a 2,000-foot-long water drop to demonstrate its capability. Photo by Chris Stone
SDG&E’s Sky Maverick sir crane pilot shows its maneuverability during a water drop demonstration. Photo by Chris Stone
Vicky Benzing puts her Stearman biplane into a tight loop. Photo by Chris Stone
Vicky Benzing in her Stearman biplane makes a low pass over the Blue Angels jet lineup. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
A boy sits in an aircraft while his family snaps a souvenir photo at the air show. Photo by Chris Stone
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter was on display at the air show. Photo by Chris Stone
One of the favorite activities of families was climbing into aircraft on display at the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
A TBM Avenger took part in the Warbird flyovers during the air show. Photo by Chris Stone
Sean D. Tucker’s Oracle Challenger III will soon be placed in the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum. Photo by Chris Stone
Warbirds from World War I and the Korean War circled the air base during the air show. Photo by Chris Stone
Warbirds from World War I and the Korean War circled the Marine air. Photo by Chris Stone
Smoke from the Aftershock jet fire truck wafted over the crowd, temporarily creating an eerie scene. Photo by Chris Stone
An F-35B Lightning passes over a Royal Air Force Red Arrow jet. Photo by Chris Stone
Thousands of spectators pointed their cellphones skyward to capture Sean D. Tucker’s performance in the Oracle biplane. Photo by Chris Stone
Red Arrows leader called for “smoke on” just before the pilots lifted off at the MCAS Miramar Air Show Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows normally have nine members, but one flew home to meet his newborn child. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows are in their 55th year. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows wowed the crowd with colorful formations and maneuvers Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
Water vapor wraps around a Blue Angels jet as it streaks past the viewing area. Photo by Chris Stone
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are a crowd favorite at the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are a crowd pleaser as the final act in the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are a crowd pleaser as the final act in the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
A member of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team lands in front of the crowd. Photo by Chris Stone
U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team descend to the tarmac. Photo by Chris Stone
Marines advance toward the grandstands as part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration. Photo by Chris Stone
The wall of fire ignited at the end of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
The F 35B Lightning made its appearance on the second day of the MCAS Miramar Air Show Saturday. Photo by Chris Stone
An F-35B Lightning is nearly obscured by water vapor during a demonstration on a cloudy day. Photo by Chris Stone
Pilots and former pilots join the spectators at the MCAS Miramar Air Show. Photo by Chris Stone
Based at RAF Scampton in the eastern county of Lincolnshire, the Red Arrows say they’ve put on 5,000 exhibitions in 57 countries.
The team performed Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia, and flew into San Diego a little before 6 p.m. Friday, after crowds had cleared.
(A cockpit video of their arrival had close to 12,000 views on Twitter.)
After Sunday’s show, the Red Arrows head to San Francisco for shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, with stops in Long Beach and Huntington Beach — at the Great Pacific Airshow — next weekend.
Gates open at 6 a.m. Sunday for the final day of the Miramar Air Show, with performances starting at 8 a.m.
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