After four years of forced pause also due to the Covid19 pandemic, the Airshow at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma-MCAS Yuma in Arizona has finally had its return.
The MCAS Yuma base shares its land with the airport facilities of the town of Yuma, in southern Arizona on the border between Mexico and the United States. Born in 1928 as an airfield to serve the US Army, it later also became civilian and served the US Air Force, the US Navy and the Marines, today it is divided between civilian and military flights sharing its facilities with the Marine Corps.
MCAS Yuma – Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI)
The Marines base hosting the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, the Marine’s equivalent of US Navy Top Gun, to show instructor pilots how to train other pilots in systems and tactics. The WTI course is a seven week period of instruction that incorporates Marine Corps planning and implementation of advanced air and ground tactics.
Airshow
With the support of the main sponsor Lockheed Martin, Yuma Airshow finally took place again on Saturday March 11, 2023 and Best Shot Aircraft was there with his team.
As a tradition of US events, the opening of the show takes place with the American anthem and continues with its program, below is the list of activities.
MCAS Yuma Airshow Schedule (10:30am to 1:15pm):
- National Anthem
- 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band Performance
- USMC Mounted Color Guard
- Military Free Fall School Skydiving Demo
- Commanding Officer’s Welcome
- Baton/Honorary Air Boss Presentation
- USMC Parade of Flight (AH-1Z, CH-53E, F-5N, F-35B, F/A-18C, KC-130J, MV-22B, UH-1Y)
- Aftershock Jet Truck
- USAF Swearing In Ceremony
- USAF F-35A Demo & P-51D Heritage Flight
- USMC MV-22B Demo
- USMC F-5F Demo
- Aftershock Jet Truck
- USMC F-35B Demo
Almost all of the displays were USMC equipment, the USAF also participated in this airshow in particular with the Heritage Flight.
Spectators could almost touch the capabilities and performance of Marine personnel and equipment under the Arizona sun. Apart from a few small technical hiccups, the free refillable water stations for spectators not working, the Airshow took place without any particular problems and was appreciated by the over 20,000 presents, who also attended the performance of the Aftershock Jet Fire Truck of Darnell Racing Enterprises.
The many displays, the side shows and the “warm” environment of the Yuma Airshow have slowly returned after this long-forced break, now the appointment will be for March 9, 2024 for the next edition of the MCAS Yuma Airshow.
From Yuma: Mara Angelosante, Stefano Tempestini & Rino Montagna
Link:
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA (MCAS Yuma)
