The return of the Blue Angels highlights a host of unique acts at this year’s Miramar Air Show. The 53rd annual air show will be held Friday though Sunday, Oct. 3 to 5, at MCAS Miramar. “We’re definitely excited about the return of Blue Angels. Everyone is excited about that, given that we are a Navy town,” said Irma Malabanan, the air show’s director of marketing. The Blue Angels return to the Miramar Air Show after being absent last year. The Navy stunt pilots will top the day show each of the three days. “We’re definitely happy to see them come back. They give a lot to the community when they come out for these events. They bring a really strong part of the field to the air show,” said Capt. Staci Reidinger, public affairs officer at MCAS Miramar. Over the three-day span, more than 30 military and civilian acts will perform at MCAS Miramar. Highlights of military acts include the AV-8B harrier, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft; the F/A 22 Raptor, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft; and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team. “We’ve never had that before. It has a lot more maneuverability than the F-18,” Malabanan said of the Raptor. Civilian performers include award-winning aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker in his plane Oracle Challenger, the Silver Wings wingwalking team and Shockley’s Shockwave jet truck, which races planes and can achieve speeds of up to 300 miles per hour. Each of those performers will perform during the day shows, and Tucker and the jet truck will also perform Saturday night. The day show will take place Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the show, there will be exhibits, vendors and sponsors set up behind the grandstand. “We have a whole row of squadrons selling their T-shirts and dog tags and goodies that you can’t find anywhere else,” Malabanan said. A unique aspect of the day shows is the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration. Crowds on each of the three days will get to see a sample of the task force as it would respond to a call, combining air support, armor, artillery and infantry forces. “We basically show the tactical elements of the Marine Corps,” Malabanan said. Following the day show on Saturday, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. will be the twilight show. In addition to a number of various performers, Taps will be played at sunset and the show will conclude with both fireworks and the Great Wall of Fire, a large pyrotechnic display. “It’s something special that a lot of other air shows don’t offer,” Reidinger said. Reidinger said the base expects more than 700,000 people to come to the air show over the three-day span. In addition to the air show, guests will also have a chance to check out the base itself. “It’s the only time of the year where we open the whole base and the flight line to the public because it is our open house,” Malabanan said. Admission, parking and blanket seating on either side of the grandstand are free to the public. For those looking to get a better view, preferred seating ticket packages are available for both the Friday and Sunday matinee shows, the Saturday all-day show and the Saturday twilight show. For ticket information, directions to MCAS Miramar or general information about the show, visit www.miramarairshow.com.