Air show ready to take off

America’s military might will roar through the Yuma sky Saturday as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma hosts its annual air show.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. for the 51st Annual Air Show and Open House.

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Getting there, parking:

Close to 60,000 people are expected to attend the popular event, which will feature static displays, aerial demonstrations and much more. Please see information for instructions on driving to the air show and where to park. For more information, go to YumaAirShow.com.

The air station has increased its traffic control points, signage and parking options as well as increased the number of shuttles offered to transport attendees from their vehicle to the flightline and back.

A shuttle team of 70 shuttles, an increase of 53 shuttles from 2012, will provide transportation for general parking patrons. Patrons should plan their route to the air show based on their parking location and should plan for longer wait times to enter the air station between the hours of 8-11:30 a.m. At 2 p.m., all traffic routes for general and preferred parking will turn in to exit-only routes.

Free, General Parking

• Enter MCAS Yuma via County 14th Street

• Traveling from the east, take I-8 West, exit on Araby Road, turn left heading south and take a right on to County 14th Street

• Traveling from the west, take I-8 East, exit on 16th Street, turn right, take a left on South Avenue B or South Avenue C, and take a left on to County 14th Street

• Traveling from the south, take Araby Road north and take a left on County 14th Street or take South Avenue B north and take a right onto County 14th Street

• Avoid taking the I-8 Avenue 3E exit, Avenue 3E, 32nd Street and South Avenue 4E due to heavy traffic flowing in the main entrances of MCAS Yuma

VIP/Chalet Parking

• Enter MCAS Yuma via the North Gate off of Avenue 3E

• Traveling from the east or west, exit on Avenue 3E which leads to the entrance of the air station on the right; or, exit on Araby Road heading south, turn right on 32nd Street and then left on to Avenue 3E. Drivers can also can take Araby Road south, turn left on to South Avenue 6E, right on to East 40th Street and right on to Avenue 3E.

DoD ID Card Holders

• Enter MCAS Yuma via the Main Gate off of Avenue 3E

• Same as VIP/Chalet Parking

Pre-paid $15 Preferred Parking

• Enter MCAS Yuma via the Meyer’s Gate off of Avenue 3E

• Same as VIP/Chalet Parking

Pre-paid $10 Preferred Parking

• Enter MCAS Yuma via County 13th Street

• Traveling from the east, take I-8 West, exit on Araby Road, turn left heading south, right on 32nd Street, left on South Avenue 5E or South Avenue 4E and right on County 13th Street

• Traveling from the west, take I-8 East, exit on 16th Street heading south, take a left on South Avenue B or South Avenue C, take a left on to County 14th Street, a left on to East 40th Street and a right on to County 13th Street

• Traveling from the south, take Araby Road north, take a left on County 14th Street, a right on either South Avenue 5E or South Avenue 4E and then a left on to County 13th Street

• Avoid taking the I-8 Avenue 3E exit, Avenue 3E and 32nd Street due to heavy traffic flowing in the main entrances of MCAS Yuma

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Performance Schedule:

10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• "The Commandant’s Own" Drum and Bugle Corps (National Anthem)

• USA Military Free Fall School demonstration

• Bill Braack’s Smoke-n-Thunder demonstration

• USMC VMFT-401 F-5 flyby

• Steve Stavrakakis’ IAR-823 demonstration

• Greg Colyer’s T-33 demonstration

• Bill Braack’s "Smoke-n-Thunder" Jet Car demonstration

• Todd McCutchan’s T-34 demonstration

• Kent Pietsch Comedy Act demonstration

• USMC Search And Rescue HH-1 demonstration

• Planes of Fame Korean Era demonstration

1 to 1:30 p.m.: Intermission

1:30 to 4 p.m.:

• USMC MV-22 demonstration

• Kent Pietsch Comedy Act demonstration

• Bill Braack’s "Smoke-n-Thunder" Jet Car demonstration

• USMC AV-8 demonstration

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Q and A with air show organizers:

Q: What makes the air show so popular?

A: The MCAS Yuma Airshow is proud to host the largest free public event in Yuma every year and encourages people of all ages to come out on Saturday to join in honoring our Korean and Vietnam War Veterans and get a sneak peak at the amazing F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter on display.

Q: What should show-goers expect from this year’s air show?

A: MCAS Yuma is proud to host several dynamic aerial performers, amazing aviation static displays, interactive educational displays as well as local and regional business offerings. More specifically, this year’s show will include:

• U.S. Marine Corps F-35B on static display with pilots and maintainers available to talk about the aircraft and the squadron

• Commemorative Air Force F-4, F-6, F-7, F-8 Performance which includes an amazing wall of fire and special Tora Tora Tora World War II reenactment

• U.S. Army Free Fall Demonstration Team and a U.S. Army Proving Ground static display with interactive activities for children and adults.

• U.S. Marine Corps VMFT-401 F-5 Tiger II Flyby, U.S. Marines Search and Rescue UH-1 Demonstration, MV-22 Demonstration, VMA-311 AV-8B Harrier Demonstration

• U.S. Navy VFA-122 F/18 Demonstration with a legacy flight with an F-6 and F-8)

• John Collver’s AT-6/SNJ War Dog, with a wing span of 42 feet and a performance speed of 212 mph will also make an aerial appearance.

• The U.S. Marine Corps "Commandant’s Own" Drum and Bugle Corps will perform during the air show.

Q: What is the importance of recognizing the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans during this year’s show?

A: Often seen as the forgotten wars, Korean and Vietnam war veterans deserve to be honored for their sacrifice and service to the United States of America. This year’s show will pay tribute to those veterans and their military friends who never made it home.

Ultimately, MCAS Yuma hopes that the attendees will take the time to visit with the Korean and Vietnam war veterans in two special camps set up with aviation and ground equipment as well as personal items from the war that veterans have brought out to share with the public. Each generation has a debt to pay the previous for their actions to keep our country free. Join us as we honor them during this special day at MCAS Yuma.

Source: Information provided by the MCAS Yuma public affairs office

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Invitation from the colonel:

Welcome to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s 51st Annual Air Show and Open House.

We are proud to kick-off the Marine Corps’ first aviation event for 2013 by saluting our brave and time-honored Korean and Vietnam War Veterans. Additionally, the future arrived in Yuma on November 20th when our first operational F-35 squadron received her first airplanes and VMFA-121 was activated for service and training.

This year’s show will feature both the past and future, so please take the time to thank the Korean and Vietnam veterans at the show as well as the Marines that fly and service the new F-35B. Additionally, we hope you’ll enjoy the brilliant display of power and agility of the Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, the Navy’s newest F/A-18E Super Hornet, the Marine Corps’ first MV-22 Osprey demonstration of the season and numerous other talented performers.

Above all, you will have the opportunity to interact with all the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Service members from your U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard will be available throughout the event to showcase their capabilities and share some of their military experiences. I highly encourage you to meet some of the finest, and bravest young people this country has to offer.

MCAS Yuma’s mission is to provide aviation training and ranges for U.S. and NATO forces that are vital to the defense of this great nation. We continually seek creative training opportunities to prepare our Marines and Sailors for combat. The Yuma community has supported us by allowing the use of venues throughout the local community to add realism to our training. I personally regard this show as the Yuma community’s air show. Without their support we could not perform our mission, much less perform this show.

On behalf of all the Marines, Sailors, civilians and family members of MCAS Yuma, I thank you for your support. Enjoy the show.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Kuckuk

Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps

Commanding Officer,

MCAS Yuma