NAS Oceana, VA 2024 Air Show

Enhc-F-35C-VFA-125-NJ-426-169031-sR-DR-2-A

Story by Daniel O. Myers, photos by Bob Finch and Howard German

If you like military jet noise and flaming hot afterburners, you would have loved the 2024 NAS Oceana (NASO) Air Show. It was jets, jets and more jets!

With warm blue skies and unlimited visibility, the annual September show kicked off with the Skydive Suffolk Demonstration Team jumping from their ARNE Aviation C23A Sherpa. Descending from 14,000 feet and to the playing of the American National Anthem, the hi-performance jumpers spiraled in at high speed before leveling off and landing with the American flag in front of the crowd. Next to jump was the U.S. Navy EOD Jump Team with a high altitude free-fall leap. Their technique demonstrated airdropping personnel at high altitudes when aircraft are unable to fly above enemy locations. With Air Boss Wayne Boggs controlling the action and Ric Peterson announcing the show, it was Afterburner…GO!

First of the many jets to fly this weekend was the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18. 2024 marks the 100th anniversary for the RCAF. Throughout the 2024 air show season; a specially painted CF-18 Hornet featuring a uniquely exquisite, excitingly-attractive, commemorative paint job, displayed to audiences across Canada and the United Kingdom as part of “Operation Inspiration 2024.”

Enhc-CF-18-Demo-Hi-Viz-5551-sR-

Flown by Captain Caleb “Tango” Robert, the 2024 CF-18 Demonstration Team proudly represented Canada and RCAF’s Centennial to the NASO crowd. “Tango” departed the runway with a Dirty-Roll-on-Take-Off, climbed to altitude and committed a Tail Slide before engaging in a Square Loop. Capt. Robert serves as a CF-18 combat-qualified element lead for the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (Alouettes) at 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec, actively training throughout Canada and the United States. Continuing in full afterburner, Caleb’s demo included multiple High Speed, then Inverted-Dirty and High-Alpha passes. “Tango” then rocked the show with a sneak pass from behind the crowd. Prior to landing, he gave the thrilled spectators an appreciative Wing Wave flypast.

On the ground, eight CF-18 technicians keep the CF-18 flying. Divided into two teams of four; the Eastern Team, from 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec, maintain the jet for shows east of Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Western Team, from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, do the same for shows west of Thunder Bay. These eight technicians travel to show sites in a truck towing a trailer that contains all the tools and parts needed to maintain the demo jet.

Enhc-F-18F-VFA-106-CAG-206-sR-4644

Not be outdone at their home base, VFA-106 “Gladiators” Pilot Lt. Sam “Shy Ronnie” Magilke with WSO Lt. Jake “Dancing Bear” Brouker and Pilot Lt. Marty “Grouse” Wilson with WSO Vicky “Trash Cat” Gibbons, lit up the sky Saturday and Sunday by demonstrating the supreme capabilities of the USN F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The high performance, twin-engine, carrier-capable, multi-role F/A-18E/F “RHINO” is the USN front-line Carrier Air Wing fighter. On Sunday, as Lt. Wilson was calling out his airspeed for the high-alpha pass, he got a surprise visitor on the radio. His mother! As “Grouse” accelerated to .98 Mach departing show center he said, “Got to go, mom. I love you!”

Enhc-F-18F-VFA-103-203-sR-238-6-

The heat was turned up significantly when seven more Super Hornets took flight for the “Sound of Freedom” Air Power Demonstration and Fleet Flyby. The seven “Freedom Flight” F/A-18E/Fs, represented by four NASO squadrons, rocked the base and it’s environs! With balls of hot smoke and fire in the background provided by Firewalkers International, LLC Pyrotechnics, these front-line pilots and their jets performed simulated battle-action 20mm gun strafes and bombing runs. The deafening battlefield ballet concluded when they joined up for a six-ship wedge formation, but not before a simulated refueling and several sneak passes. Following their performance, the jets taxied back to their line to a heroes welcome in front of an exuberant crowd.

DSC_0175

NASO welcomed back the US Navy’s newest stealth fighter, the F-35C II Lightning. In constant burner, the F-35C Lightning II performed a variety of tight aerial maneuvers, demonstrating just some of the amazing motility of this 5th generation fighter. The demonstration pilot from NAS Lemoore, CA VFA-125 “Rough Raiders,” provided just a glimpse into the incredible flying characteristics and power along with the advanced training taught to every F-35C Navy and Marine Corps Aviator.

Enhc-F-22-Demo-Flares-sR-0948

Next to fill the sky with heat and jet noise was the USAF. NASO welcomed back the 1st Fighter Wing (FW) F-22A Raptor Demo Team, stationed just across the Chesapeake Bay at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, VA. In full afterburner and flairs popping, demo pilot Major Samuel “Razz” Larson showcased the unmatched maneuverability of the Air Force’s 5th generation air dominance stealth fighter. With more than 750 hours flying in the Raptor, combat-experienced fighter pilot “Razz” proved why the F-22 is the most dominant fighter in the world!

DSC_0284

DSC_0146_01

The air around NASO cooled momentarily when a USCG C-130 from Elizabeth City, NC made several pass down the runway.

A few civilian acts then followed with Michael Goulian returning from his show opener to perform a full routine in his Extra 330SC. With smoke-on, the former Red Bull Air Race pilot and holder of numerous aviation aerobatic competition awards, performed gravity defying feats in front of his adoring fans. The Redline Airshow Team captivated the audience with their high-energy aerobatics as well. With Ken Rieder flying lead and his son Austin on his wing, this dual mirror-image, father-son formation, delivered a thrilling aerobatic performance in their custom-built Van’s RV-8 aircraft. Appearing for the first time at NASO, the Warbird Thunder Airshow Team flew formation aerobatic maneuvers in their 1943 vintage SNJ-2 and SNJ-3 trainer aircraft. Powered by 600-horsepower supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engines turning nine-foot Hamilton-Standard propellers, a signature “bark” can be heard as the tips of their propellers reach the speed of sound.

The heat and jet noise returned to the field when Jarrod Lindemann of Rad Aerosports logged more hours in his Jet-Waco. In his tapered-wing Waco, modified with the addition of a Learjet engine, Lindemann’s aircraft can accelerate while climbing straight up due its greater than 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio. In addition to reaching speeds of up to 250 mph, Jarrod demonstrated the capability of his aircraft by performing such thrilling tricks such as snap rolls, spins, barrel rolls, and hovers.

DSC_0288

The Smoke and Thunder Jet Dragster then rolled onto the runway, tainting and challenging the Jet-Waco to a race. Jet-Waco responded by diving down on the dragster in a tease prior to the race. The Jet Dragster is powered by a Westinghouse J34-48 jet engine that was originally used in a North American Buckeye T-2A aircraft. With 10,000 pounds of thrust and the Jet-Waco in trail, the Jet Dragster accelerated to nearly 400 mph, winning the race. The contest was capped off when Firewalkers International Pyro blew off voluminous amounts of explosives resulting in dark clouds of smoke and fire.

Enhc-F-18F-Blue-Angel-4-5277-sR-

With several of their pilots matriculating from NASO squadrons, the air show for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is a homecoming of sorts. Since 1969, the precision demonstration jet team has headlined at NASO for forty-two years. With professional teamwork and excellence the Blue Angels have been inspiring the men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps for nearly eight decades. As the blue and gold jets taxied back to parking, the boss transmitted to the team over their discrete radio frequency, “It’s important to show the military community what we do and what we are all about. It’s an honor to fly with you guys.”

For Saturday evening, the jet noise and heat moved to the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
The Skydive Suffolk Demonstration Team, clad in LED lighted suits, jumped from 14,000 feet to a precise target on the beach. With light giving way to dark, a 1st FW F-22 Raptor joined on a VFA-106 F/A-18 Super Hornet for tandem afterburner passes. The two jets then separated from each, making multiple thunderous afterburner passes that lit up the sky and rocked the Virginia Beach skyline!

Enhc-F-18E-VFA-83-205-sR-6481

Sunday’s weather turned dark and cloudy. Low 1,500 foot ceilings precluded a jump but provided an artistic opportunity for photographers with lots of vapor and afterburners illuminated by dark skies. Next year’s show is scheduled for September 20-21, 2025 with the USN Blue Angels once again headlining.

You may also like...

error: Content is protected !!