AWESOME AIR SHOW; AVIATION EXPO '98 PROVIDES UP-CLOSE LOOK AT MILITARY, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT.Byline: Melissa Schmitt Daily News Staff Writer It wasn't hot enough Saturday to stop thousands of aviation fans from gathering in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. for the 35th annual Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. air show, Aviation Expo '98. They sought refuge from the near-100-degree heat in hangars, under trees, any spot of shade they could find - the most popular spot being the Red Cross misting station, where air-show attendees packed like sardines under a tent of drizzle. Christian Hernandez Corporal Christian Hernandez is a United States Marine from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines who was part of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and while at Camp Whitehorse, in Iraq, was accused of having a role in the death of Nagem Hatab. , 6, of Van Nuys took a breather about 1 p.m. under the tent with his family. His toothy smile spread from ear to ear as he was cooled by the misty spray while he recounted his day at the air show. ``I liked the planes that go fast,'' Christian said, batting his long eyelashes. Other children roamed the grounds of Van Nuys Airport in camouflage T-shirts, caps, pants and headbands. They learned about the stealth bomber and what's involved in being a pilot. They cooled themselves with water loaded into National Guard water tanks - filling their baseball caps and then putting them over their heads. With parachutists descending from above, Victor Pichardo, 30, and his son Stephen, 3, checked out the stealth bomber, where ``Black Sheep'' pilots detailed the plane's ability to avoid radar. ``I wanted to show my kid all the planes,'' Pichardo said. ``He likes planes. It is for my kid that I am here.'' Across the tarmac, one mother used a beach towel to create a makeshift turban on her young son's head, trying to shield him from the sun. Another sprayed her 13-month-old with water. Brandon Willson giggled and cooed as cool water flowed over his flushed face, finally maneuvering the bottle away from his mother and dumping the remainder in his lap. ``This is his first air show,'' said Brandon's mother, Kathleen Willson, 33, of Northridge. ``His grandpa worked for Lockheed in aviation, so we wanted to bring him.'' National Guardsman Charles Brown Charles Brown is the name of: In politics:
``You could literally saw somebody in half with this thing,'' he told the crowd, eliciting admiration from the men and cries of disapproval from the women. ``Everybody wants to know about this weapon,'' Brown said. ``In all the `Rambo' movies, this is what he was carrying.'' The air show, always a popular draw in the San Fernando Valley, features advanced military aircraft, aerobatic pilots, parachutists, hang gliders, fighter jets and transport planes. Air show planners expected about 300,000 spectators, which will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The day will feature helicopter demonstrations, simulator rides and an array of aviation-related exhibits. Pilots at the show are usually available to sign autographs and talk with people about the planes on display and what it's like to fly them. ``The annual Van Nuys Airport Aviation Expo has been a tradition in the San Fernando Valley since 1963,'' said Van Nuys Airport Manager Ronald Kochevar. ``We are extremely proud of the national reputation our show has gained for being one of Southern California's premier air shows. Spectators have the opportunity to view some of the world's most exotic aircraft and witness Top Gun military and civilian pilots in action.'' Among the aircraft on display this weekend are the F-117A stealth fighter, the B-1 bomber, the F-14 Tomcat The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform from 1974 to 2006. , the F-15 Strike Eagle, the F-16 Falcon, the FA-18 Hornet hornet: see wasp. , the German Luftwaffe Noun 1. German Luftwaffe - the German airforce Luftwaffe air force, airforce - the airborne branch of a country's armed forces Tornado, and the Cobra, Blackhawk and Chinook Chinook, indigenous people of North America Chinook (shĭn  k`, chĭ–), Native American tribe of the Penutian linguistic stock. helicopters. Classic and vintage aircraft on display include the C-121 Lockheed Constellation, the B-25 bomber, the Stinson Detroiter, the Russian Antonov AN-2 and the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. T-28. Today's highlights will include the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, which will launch an aerial demonstration at 10:30 a.m.; hang glider Dan Buchanan, who is paralyzed par·a·lyze tr.v. par·a·lyzed, par·a·lyz·ing, par·a·lyz·es 1. To affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic. 2. To make unable to move or act: paralyzed by fear. ; and an aerobatic flying circus at 3 p.m. Free parking is available with shuttle service at the Woodley Golf Course lot; Birmingham High and Mulholland Middle schools; California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an ; the Veterans Administration hospital at 16111 Plummer St.; and Monroe High School For other uses, see James Monroe High School. Monroe High School may refer to:
Admission is free. CAPTION(S): 4 Photos, map, box PHOTO (1 -- 2 -- color) Fighter planes, above, draw a crowd at Aviation Expo '98 at Van Nuys Airport. Below, Mirna Portales and Jay Rodrigues gaze up at parachutists. (3) Sean Lenchner, 10, exits a helicopter with help from his father, Evan, and Maj. Nilo De Los Reyes. (4) Members of the Army's Golden Knights parachute team perform a tandem stunt as they approach their landing spot. David Sprague/Daily News Map: Aviation Expo Box: Schedule of events |
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