Salinas International airshow

Salinas is known as the home base for world famous aerobatics pilot Sean Tucker.
Although the show displayed here is excellent, photos of demo flights are not easy to take because you will be facing against the sun most of the time.
When the military demonstration team like Thunderbirds, Blue Angels or Snowbirds fly, the sun gets a little better, but they (unlike other performers) do not fly parallel to the spectators, so if you are at right side of the showground (where grandstand is), you will be more far away from the aircraft in flight. This is a bit tricky and makes photography of military demonstration team difficult.
Perhaps the best time for video and photography in Salinas is during an evening show on Friday, and After the Sunday show when the planes take off for their home.

iClick thumbnail photo for a large size high quality image.j

F-16 USAF 388FW 4FS's F-16C demo during the early hours of night show.
F-15 with vapor Amazing! F-15C from USAF 1FW 27FS with vapor.
Photo taken during night show.
Microjet Another night show performer is BD-5J Microjet "Freedom" (N23AP)
Sean Tucker Oracle Challanger
Sean Tucker, based out of Salinas, in his Oracle Challanger II (N260HP).
I think the airliner wants to participate in the airshow, too.
B-25 B-25J" Heavenly Body" (N8195H) also fly for the night show.
Skyraider
Huge piston engine aircraft, Douglas Skyraider in Vietnam war era Mig Killer markings perform a ground attack demo.
Aircraft is AD-4NA Bu.126882 / NX91945 (Later N91945)
CF-18
Every year, Canadians bring in some aircraft for the Salinas International airshow.
The CF-188 (CF-18 188718) demo by CAF 410Sqn. was seen in 1999.
The aircraft is painted in the beautifu CAF 75th anniversary markings.
CF-188 Hornet 20th Anniversary Special Marking
This is a CF-188 (188720) in the special marking of 20th anniversary of Canadian CF-18s appeard in the 2002 show.
Corsair
The FG-1D Corsair (Bu.67087 / N11Y) makes a fly by.
Delta Flat Opener
During the 1997 show, U.S. Navy's Blue Angels performed a "Remote" show from Montrey airport.
The runway was extended in 1999 and now a base show can be performed.
Blue Angels Pitch Up Break
Blue Angels final maneuver, Pitch Up Break, seen during the 2002 show.
Fat Albert Takeoff at night
Blue Angels' support aircraft, TC-130 Fat Albert takes off with the JATO.
If I did not have the Canon IS (Image Stabilizer) lens, this shot was never possible.
Thunderbirds 5 card loop
Thunderbirds of U.S.A.F.
Photo taken in 1998, note the moon just below the formation - I did not notice this until the film has been developed.
Snowbirds
Snowbirds seen durng the 1998 show.
Snowbirds dawn taxi Snowbirds Tutor aircraft taxi for a night show display.
Snowbirds night show
Snowbirds formation taken during night show.
I used Fuji Velvia film (ISO50-very low speed) to catch the colors of the sky, while the Canon 300mm F4 IS (Image stabilizer) lens allowed me to shoot at slow shutter speed of 1/60 sec.
B-25 Taxi
B-25J "Executive Sweet" (N30801) starts engine for departure.
Martin 4-0-4

Martin 404 "Pacific Air Lines" (N636X) takes off just before sunset.


Salinas airshow related links
(Links will open new windowj

Airshow site Click here

What you can see
(This is generic. May differ from year to year.)

 Military aircraft demo, helicoptor demo, warbirds fly-by and static display, civilian aerobatics, military demonstration team.
Location Salinas (California)
Weather Forecast, past weather history Click here
Nearest city Salinas (California)
Nearest Major Airport San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC)
Nearest local airport Monterey (MRY)
Airfield information Click here
Nearby Attractions -



Copyright 2001 Morimoto, Makoto : All Rights Reserved.