From: steve@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com (Steve DeJarnett)
Subject: Re: Airshows At Edwards And Moffett
Organization: IBM PS Programming, Palo Alto
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 16:08:15 GMT

In article <160@newave.newave.mn.org> john@newave.newave.mn.org (John A. Weeks III) writes:
>In case anyone is interested, here is some info on the airshows/open
>houses at Edwards AFB and NAS Moffett:
>
>NAS Moffett Open House and Military Display:  Oct 17 and 18.  Gates
>open at 8:30 AM.  Both gates will be open according to Public Affairs.
>For more info, the phone number is 1-415-404-4029.  The Blue Angels are
>scheduled to fly each day from about 3:30 to 4:30.  Early reports of
>a public airshow on Oct 16 were not correct.  The base is in Mt View
>California right off of US 101.  Since Moffett is closing, this airshow
>has been rumored to be one of the best Navy airshows this year, but it
>is also expected to have a large crowd.

	It's titled "The Last Airshow".  Should be good.  The last time I was
at a Moffett airshow (during Desert Shield) there wasn't a lot on static
display (one each of the major Navy aircraft).  I don't believe there is any
on-base parking (could be wrong about this).  There are shuttle buses that run
from areas all around the base.  Highway 101 will (if they keep up tradition)
be closed during the airshow (at least during the Blue Angels portion).

>Edwards Airforce Base Open House and Military Display:  Oct 18 (Sunday
>only).  All gates will be open according to Public Affairs, with those
>gates opening at 7:00 AM.  The base in located near Palmdale CA.  For
>more info, call 1-805-277-3510.

	Be there before 7:00.  Last time I went we were at the gates at 6:00
along what seemed like half of California.  As I recall, they open the gates at
7:00 at which point you wait in a long line to park (I seem to recall driving
onto the base and then waiting a while longer before parking, but I could be
wrong).  They had a large static display last time including an X-29 and a 
Blackbird (leaking fuel, true to form).  Stake out a seat early as close to the
VIP areas as you can get (you can hear the announcer there, if you care about
that).

	This is truly one of the best airshows I've ever been to.  It's also 
very crowded, so get there early.  The first time I went I assumed I could just
drive in that morning and get on base without a problem.  We arrived a couple 
of hours before the airshow and waited in a several-mile-long traffic jam.  We
never got near the field.  We eventually turned around and went home.  Get 
there early and you'll get a parking space and a seat.  Get there late and you
MIGHT get to sit on the side of the highway and watch the planes from afar...

>If anyone has any tips on attending either of these airshows, please
>post.  Also post if you know of anything interesting related to airplanes
>near these bases.  For example, I have heard of a Blackbird Park near
>the aircraft factory in Palmdale, and an airliner graveyard at Mojave.

	The airliner "graveyard" (parking lot is probably a better term) is at
the Mojave airport.  I saw a picture in Aviation Week a month or so ago that 
showed several new planes sitting there (747-400s, etc.) waiting for someone to
take delivery of them (or to put them into service).

	Enjoy.  Wish I could make both this year, but I guess it'll just be
Moffett...

Steve DeJarnett			Internet:  steve@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com
IBM PS Multimedia Palo Alto	IBM IPNET: steve@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com
(415) 855-3510			IBM VNET: dejarnet at almaden (only if you must)
These opinions are my own.  I doubt IBM wants them.......
Xref: sparky rec.aviation.military:37 rec.aviation.misc:36 rec.aviation:16413