VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia... that is!
Here, you’ll find one of the most beautiful beach/boardwalk combinations in all of the United States. This picturesque playground, just south of Chesapeake bay on the mid-Atlantic coastline, conveniently stretches directly beneath the flight path of a certain, very high tempo U.S. Navy air facility:
NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA
Continue on this page for the full 'preview' article, then be sure to click the link below for the detailed 2019 NAS OCEANA AIR SHOW report!
nas oceana - master jet base
Far from your average military air base, NAS Oceana is the only U.S. Navy MASTER JET BASE on the East Coast! The seaward ends of her multiple, parallel runways terminate less than three miles from the hotel-lined beach itself. This close proximity ensures a frequent supply of military aircraft transiting the airspace at various altitudes and speeds throughout the week days, evenings and often into the night. Fighter jets, trainers, transports, helicopters -- any and all military aircraft types -- might be seen at random; crossing the oceanfront, above the three-mile long Virginia Beach boardwalk. Their purposeful air operations provide a noticeable, welcome addition to the usual sights and sounds of a typical day at the beach. Blessed with beautiful Atlantic waters, white crashing surf, world-class hospitality and an abundance of pure beach fun, Virginia Beach is already a perfect setting for serious relaxation and enjoyment. Add a bonus aviation sideshow of military aircraft to this and you've just found one of the top ‘go-to’ destinations in the world (in this writer's opinion)! As they say, ”there’s something here for the whole family”… especially for the family with an 'airplane geek' or two!
The annual NAS OCEANA AIR SHOW
Proud to show off their MASTER JET BASE status, NAS Oceana command opens the station's gates to the public one weekend a year for their truly phenomenal air show event. This gives the men and women of the entire Oceana team a unique opportunity to display their skills and technology for the local community: The incredible accomplishment of safely dispatching and maintaining cutting-edge tactical jet fighters; transitioning aircrews to advanced aircraft and establishing combat/carrier-qualified fleet squadrons. These 'routine' feats -- they perform around the clock -- all year long.
Of course, the annual air show event itself, is a top-notch production, well loved for its content of military hardware and exciting civilian aerial performances. A show of such renown attracts much more than a local audience. Acknowledged as one of the best air shows in the world, military aviation enthusiasts converge from far and wide to catch the NAS Oceana festivities – and by “far and wide”, we mean quite literally, from around the world! Many hard-core “plane nuts” come from all corners of North America and Europe -- still others make the yearly trek from as far away as Japan, to experience and capture the sights, sounds and yes, smells too (jet exhaust)... of U.S. Navy strike fighter operations up close. To observe the cycling of these sophisticated jets right in front of you is a thing of beauty, not normally witnessed by the civilian population. The absolute mastery of teamwork needed to safely orchestrate the launch and recovery of a dozen or so combat jets in quick succession is truly impressive -- and a source of great pride for all hands on the station.
The FLEET AIR POWER DEMO is easily the big draw for the military aviation fanatics who come to NAS Oceana. Brought to you courtesy of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, the hard working ground and air crews from the east coast ‘VFA’ community put on an aerial show of cutting edge power -- wringing the vapor right out of the sky with air-to-air maneuvers and ground attack simulations right in front of the crowd. Comprised of available active carrier air wing squadrons, the shore-based VFC-12 ‘Fighting Omars’ adversary squadron and VFA-106 'Gladiators' fleet replacement squadron, the Hornets and Super Hornets are put through their paces to the total delight of a very enthusiastic crowd --- well over eighty thousand each day, averaged over the weekend.
All this skyward activity is matched -- then amplified -- by concise, complimentary narration and startling pyrotechnic effects. The demonstration is capped with a mass fly-by of F/A-18s (sometimes even including an E-2 Hawkeye) and multiple approach formation “breaks” to the carrier-style landing circuit. Then, after the precision minimum interval landing recovery, the crowd is treated to a stunning parade of Hornets -- taxiing mere feet from the audience fence line as they make their way back to the buzzing activity of the 'hot' ramp. With canopies open as they pass, aircrews wave and smile, making eye contact directly with the excited crowd. This is as close as any air show goer can possibly get to these awesome machines in action, with all the jet noise and exhaust aroma any aviation addict could ask for!
If there was a picture that captures the feeling, 'AIR SHOW!', this image from the 2006 NAS Oceana event virtually screams it out loud! A pair of VF-31 'Tomcatters' F-14Ds leap into the sky from runway 5R, their dynamic launch in high contrast to the foreground line-up of civilian aerial performers. 2006 was the last year the air show would feature the power and excitement of the F-14 Tomcat -- and the audience was tantalized with four of the big cats featured in the thundering Fleet Air Power Demonstration.
One of the most anticipated features of the show: The world famous Fleet Flyby, brought to you by Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic! This ten-ship 2007 edition featured an amazing mass formation of Hornets and Super Hornets from five different Oceana-based squadrons.
Easily viewed from the general admission access areas, a clutter-free image of part of the HOT RAMP jet line-up can be captured. Neatly parked in the early morning sunshine at the 2016 show, these aircraft will later start up and taxi for their flying displays, mere feet in front of the enthusiastic crowd.
The SATURDAY EVENING BEACH BLAST event is definitely not to be missed!
After the crowds have left the airfield, completely thrilled with the Saturday NAS Oceana Air Show experience, they might think that the flying activities are over for the day. Not true, by a long shot! A few hours later, the entertainment merely shifts to the Virginia Beach shoreline, where 31st Street meets the famous boardwalk. Centered around the landmark Neptune statue, a unique party starts at about 6:30pm with a free music concert in the park. As dusk settles in, one of the great highlights takes the stage -- a VFA-106 'GLADIATORS' Super Hornet performs multiple afterburner flybys up and down the oceanfront! The sight and sound is amazing and always pumps up the exuberant audience. Continuing under the darkening sky in the evening's fresh, sea air, precision parachute jumpers with flares and glow-sticks, exit their craft at low level and demonstrate their landing skills just feet from the amazed onlookers. All the action is right there, on the sandy beach.
The party carries on into the night, with introductions in the bandshell, of the headlining demonstration team members (USAF Thunderbirds, this year) on the bandshell stage and more mingling, dancing and music! It is an atmosphere that can't be fully described. It simply has to be experienced.
It's the perfect aviation-themed ending to the day. You'll never forget the feeling! Even better than this: There's still the Sunday NAS Oceana Air Show ahead of you when you wake up the next morning!