California International Air Show 2004 - Salinas - CA - USA

[tvrphoto]

October 17-18
CIAS will be the only show in North America with a jet team for that weekend!  Both the Blues and the Snowbirds will be in town while the T-birds are overseas.

Add to the fact, Fleetweek held the weekend prior, won't be hosting the Blues this year.  Salinas will be your only chance to view the Blues in Northern California this year!!!

We had our first board meeting yesterday and have tons of surprises in store!!!

[F6F]

Err... CIAS is scheduled to happen on the first weekend of October, Tyson (Oct. 2-3). Oct 16-17 is Miramar´s weekend, and the Blues will definitely be at SoCal.

Unfortunately there´ll be no CF-18 demo at Salinas this year. Last year Lt. Travis 'Brass' Brassington really put up a most amazing display with his tiger-striped Hornet. One of the best Hornet displays I´ve ever witnessed.

And Salinas has a top night airshow too. That wall of fire is really something!

[F6F]

This is a preliminary list of the performers expected to take part in this year´s airshow. Tyson can later confirm them:

Blue Angels
Snowbirds
Sean D. Tucker (Team Oracle)
Mike Goulian (CAP 232)
Red Baron (Stearmans)
Smoke 'n' Thunder
Jim Cheatham (Showcopters)
Kent Pietsch
Allen Silver

All info available on airshows.org, as always.

[tvrphoto]

Actually, I was going to pick on the Snowbirds!  An 84-ship demostration team!

I spent most of my time running around the airfield and sometimes cooling off in the press tent.  The only time you may have seen me was when I was running down the flightline trying to catch the Showcopters at noon on Sunday.

[Roger]

I heard this is on of those "look into the sun all day long" shows?

 

Roger

[F6F]

I spent most of my time running around the airfield and sometimes cooling off in the press tent.  The only time you may have seen me was when I was running down the flightline trying to catch the Showcopters at noon on Sunday.

I was at Miramar on Sunday. I attended CIAS this year only on Friday (night air show - great) and Saturday. So I probably didn´t see you then.

I heard this is on of those "look into the sun all day long" shows?

Yes, it is. Miramar is also in this category. Had a hard time taking pics in both shows. And Salinas´main runway is not parallel to the crowd line, which do not help taking photos either. When landing, the planes were just too far away.

[Skymonster]

OK, so is Salinas going to be worth the drive from LA?  I've read the comments about the sun, which doesn't sound promising. I'd gotten Edwards all lined up and will be in California from the UK anyway - I guess the alternative is the monthly theme day at Planes of Fame on the Saturday, but I'd like to shoot the Blues again.

TIA,
Andy

[tvrphoto]

When it comes to looking in the sun, Salinas isn't half as bad as Edwards.  Plus we've got the Snowbirds and the Blues this year along with debuting Butch Voris' book, which he'll be there too.  Plenty of stuff going on.

I guess it depends on how much you want to see airplanes that weekend.

[skyeness]

Since Salinas is one of those places where you have to be "looking into the sun", wouldn't it be nice if somebody copied Edwards example and arranged for photographers to be on the other side of the runway.....  just a thought....

[tvrphoto]

Yeah, it would be nice if we could set it up that way, however the runways prohibit us from doing that.  The active runway actually runs at a 45-degree angle to the showline, so if were to place people out there they would be at an increasing angle to show center.  It would actually be worse than on the flight line.  If our runways ran parellel as they do at Edwards, it might be something to think about.

[Bernardo Malfitano]

But still not long enough for F-16s... Or is there some other reason the Thunderbirds had to fly in for the performance?

Will the Snowbirds and Blue Angels be able to take off and land at Salinas?

And as far as the across-the-runway photography... why not place photographers across the runways' "X"? In other words, if the show show's flight-line is independent of the runway orientation, then as long as we're not ON a runway OR under the flight-line, what's the problem?

Yes, I said "we". I'm sure Tyson plans on arranging VIP treatment at Salinas for everyone on this forum...

[tvrphoto]

Actually, that is exactly the problem.  The active runway jets out at a 45-degree angle form the aerobatic box.  So, if you want to shoot from the other side of the airport, not only do you have to be 1500' outside the box (max for military performers), but you'll also have to be further away because of the active runway.

If you take a look at the GenInfo page http://www.salinasairshow.com/info.shtml you'll notice the runway at far left goes to 45-degree away from the show line.  Of course, that's if they even use that runway.  They may have to alternate between the Southeast / Northwest runway instead.  All and all, just a bad place to be.  The configuration is nothing like Edwards.  There are no facilities opposite the flightline to hang out at.  The only other place you can be is at the hangars to the Southwest of the showline.

Unfortunately, the runway isn't long enough to accomodate all USAF aircraft, however we were able to land a DC-10 last year for FedEx.  Both the Blues and Snowbirds will be performing out of Salinas this year.

[Bernardo Malfitano]

Both the Blues and Snowbirds will be performing out of Salinas this year.

Awesome!

There are no facilities opposite the flightline to hang out at.

Oh well. The grandstand do offer a great view, I don't know what's to be complained about.

we were able to land a DC-10 last year for FedEx

Was it able to take off again or did it have to taxi up the 101 to San Jose?

But seriously, if this was such a noteworthy and unusual event, why DID you have a DC-10 land there? Was it an emergency? Or did you just want to make good use of your longer runway? Why "for FedEx", and why only once? Urgent delivery?

[tvrphoto]

It was for the airshow.  FedEx wanted to having a showing and offered a DC-10.  They landed and took off from Salinas...and will never do it again!  Guess it was a bit hairy.

[Sagar Pathak]

A DC-10, eh?  I must have missed that plane.  I thought that Class V a/c weren't able to land at SNS?  Are you sure it wasn't a 727?  I remember that being there for the plane pull thing. 

~Sagar