NAF El Centro Air Show 2011
The 2011 United States Air Show season kicked off this last Saturday down at Naval Air Station El Centro. Performers included The Blue Angels, Viper West F-16 team, Navy VAF-122 F-18 team, and other civilian performers. There were many classic war birds on static display. Thousands came out to kick off the new season.
Following all of the civilian performers to kick off the military’s part of the show was the VFA-122 F-18 team. Baby Huey took to the skies in his F-18 and ripped them up with some nice high speed passes. After his demo it was followed up with the Navy Legacy flight that included not just one but two F-18’s from the VAF-122 squadron as well as a Hellcat and Bearcat.
Following the Navy’s portion of the show was the Viper West F-16 Demo team from the 388th Fighter Wing from Hill Air Force Base. The team was led by Captain Dover who was partaking in his first ever Air Show Demo. He ripped up the skies to the crowd’s pleasure and was later joined up with P-51 to perform the historical Heritage Flight!
Now it was time for the main event, The Blue Angels. With this being the first official show to kick off the 2011 season there were many nerves amongst the pilots, who took the pressure and went out and performed valiantly for the spectators pleasure! To anyone that makes it out to see the Blues this season you will not be disappointed with the show that they bring to the table!
With that the 2011 season is now underway; the Thunderbirds will kick off their season next weekend at Luke Air Force Base where PhotoRecon will have reporters on site to cover the start of the season for them. Both the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels will run from here till the weekend of November 12th and 13th where they will each end there season’s at Pensacola Air Show for the Blues and Nellis Air Force Base for the Thunderbirds.
Special thanks to Baby Huey for taking the time to take me out for the photo op of him and his F-18 team on the flight line following his flight. Also to Opi from the Viper West crew for the photo op after the show with his crew and taking the time to do a group photo with the Air Show Buzz crew that was also on hand at the event.
By Brandon Farris
Dex Images