SAN DIEGO ---- The 57th annual Miramar Air Show, this year featuring the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flying squadron and a tribute to space flight, will finish up a three-day run today at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

More than 700,000 airshow fans turn out each year for the free event, which opened Oct. 12 and concludes with an all-day show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

This year's air show celebrates Miramar's occupants with the theme "Marines in Flight: Celebrating 50 Years of Space Exploration." Special static exhibits will honor the U.S. Marine aviators who made history in space, including retired senator and astronaut John Glenn and current NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

Highlighting today's show will be the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Blue Angels. Their F/A-18 Hornets will close the show around 3 p.m.

Other military acts scheduled to perform are the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet, an F-22 Raptor stealth plane, an AV-8B Harrier (capable of vertical liftoff), the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration team, the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team and the Navy's Leap Frogs jump team. There will also be legacy flight formations, showing state-of-the-art aircraft flying together with vintage fighter aircraft.

Civilian performers include the Patriots Jet Team, a flying tribute to Bob Hoover, Sean Tucker's "Oracle Challenger," John Collver's AT-6 Wardog, Bret Willat's Sailplane, hang glider Dan Buchanan, stunt pilot Gregory Colyer, Hawker Beechcraft's Texan II Demo plane and Smoke-n-Thunder, a car that races down the tarmac spouting 20-foot flames from its afterburners. There will also be a Red Bull helicopter, the Silver Wings wingwalking team, a radio-controlled plane demonstration and many more.

On the ground, patrons are invited to tour more than 100 aircraft, military vehicles, weapons and hardware systems on display at the airfield. There will also be a consumer fair, simulator rides, a military recruiters' fair and food, beverages and gifts for sale.

Because of heightened security, on-base visitors should come prepared. Food and nonalcoholic beverages (no glass bottles) are allowed in, but large coolers, backpacks and large bags must stay in the car. All bags will be searched. No pets, bikes, skateboards, skates or scooters are allowed.

All three gates will be open for air show visitors. Drivers can enter through the North and West gates on Miramar Road, or through the East/Main gate off Interstate 15 or Kearny Villa Road. The South Gate, off Harris Plant Road, is for preferred parking only. Parking is prohibited along the Interstate 15 corridor, and violators will be ticketed.

Gates open to the public at 8 a.m. Visitors are advised to bring blankets, beach chairs and shade umbrellas. Preferred and bleacher seating is available for an additional charge.

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Miramar Air Show ready to fly out of town