The base is  just 3 hours from Washington, DC and the East Coast’s only Master Jet Base, the largest type of tactical fighter air base. It  manages a sophisticated array of attack and support aircraft of over 250 aircraft, including both F/A-18 Hornet and Navy F-14 Tomcat squadrons.

From vintage aviation to the latest in military firepower, the show includes demonstrations from the hottest fighters in the U.S. arsenal including the F-22 Raptor, F/A-18C Hornet, the Super Hornet, and the E-2C Hawkeye warning and control system plane.

Here’s a link to the long lost of scheduled performers and aviation demonstrations.

Oceana Air Show – 2008
Naval Air Station Oceana
16 miles East of the City of Norfolk
Virginia Beach, VA – about 200 miles or 3 hours from DC, (map it or click here for basic directions)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, September 20 – 21, 2008. Gates open at 8:00 a.m., flying starts at 10:00 a.m. and the Blue Angels perform at 3:00 p.m. check the website for the schedule.

Tickets – Admission is FREE, with additional paid seating available. Bleachers – $4.00, General – $8.00, Reserved – $12.00 and are available online.

Parking – Free.

Images – Raptor – U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker, F/A-18 – DOD photo/Navy Lt. Peter Scheu,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

There was a great exhibit on the Berlin Airlift inside a vintage C-54 with a few volunteers,  including one woman who was in the British Sector during the airlift and had a few great stories about the living conditions. She was able to emigrate to the U.S. and you could here how proud she was to be an American..

Here are a few photos of the many aircraft and equipment on display at the show.

I enjoyed the opportunity to climb into many of the aircraft on display and speak with the pilots who owned, restored and flew the vintage pieces of aviation history.  And the military personal were great ambassadors to their  branches of service, answering the public’s questions and conducting informative tours.

It looked like the kids loved it too, as when else might they get a change to sit in the pilot’s seat of a helicopter or man a machine gun?  Their smiles said it all.

Images – from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Interested in aviation and flying?  Then this weekend is for you.

It’s the best air show of the year in the Washington, DC area. Everything from vintage bi-planes to the military’s most aggressive fighter jets will perform a FREE airshow at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland, this weekend.

Some of the highlights will include:

• Blue Angels (Navy)
• Golden Knights Parachute Team (Army)
• Vintage warbirds and current fighter jets, including the vintage WW-II P-51 Mustang, AV-8B Harrier, F-104 Starfighters, F-15 Strike Eagle, and the aggressive 1,325+ mph F-22 Raptor
• C-17 Globmaster
• Red Bull Air Force

The other major air show near Washington, DC is the Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach at the end of the summer.

Here are the Blue Angles…takin’ care of business.

2008 Joint Service Open House and Air Show
Andrews Air Force Base
Parking at FedEx Field
Lottsford Road and Fedex Way
Landover, MD  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, gates open at 8:00 a.m., Saturday show starts at 9:00, Sunday at 10:00.  Both days end at 5:00.  Click here for the show schedule.

Tickets – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Branch Avenue, Green line, then take the 20-minute shuttle.

Parking – No parking at the base, but parking is available at FedEx Field where shuttle buses will transport guests to Andrews. Shuttles also run from the Branch Avenue Metro Station.

Security – All attendees are subject to search. No coolers, backpacks, pets or large camera bags.  Portable lawn chairs and collapsible strollers are allowed.

Images – P-51, Blue Angles – public domain, C-17, F-22,

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Post from: The DC Traveler