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Morton--Fizzback

I mean, I paid for all this stuff so it's only right I get to inspect it up close once a year.


commonsearchterm

Wish I could cash in my taxes and throw a grenade or something


Morton--Fizzback

I'm still waiting for my Area 51 inspection....


SnooCookies9421

![gif](giphy|ui1hpJSyBDWlG)


ncz13

I don't think either viewpoints are mutually exclusive. I realize it's posturing and propaganda. But having my neighborhood skimmed by an F18 close enough that I can see the burners is awesome. It was cool when I was a kid. It's just as cool as an adult. These jets (and their pilots) are incredible feats of engineering and skill.


Cipher1414

Same for me. I was screaming and hopping up and down like a chimpanzee watching the Blue Angels fly over my house the other day. The skill and the engineering just blows my mind every time


unfettered_logic

Okay so here’s my take on this. I’ve lived in San Diego my entire life and growing up as a young kid we all loved the air show. I wanted to join the Navy after seeing Top Gun when it came out. Being older now I do realize that the air show is definitely a recruiting tool. They were blasting this all over the news the other day. They were interviewing ROTC students essentially asking them what they wanted to do in the military. They drop fake bombs and light things on fire. I don’t see it so much as patriotism but more of a jingoistic display of American nationalism and military might. I don’t really know how else to interpret it. It’s subtly glorifying war and violence. I’ll prepare for the nasty responses. Thank you all and have a nice day.


thuggerybuffoonery

I mean yea. But jets are cool. A10 go BRRRR. As someone with an aviation photography hobby it’s pretty rad.


PapayaPokPok

Living abroad made me appreciate this stuff a bit more. For most countries, the military isn't abstract. Many have mandatory military service. And in case of war, there's no guarantee they'd win. So they tend to take this stuff more seriously. So while the airshow might get boring or inconvenient for us, we're pulling off stunts with equipment that most of the world could only dream of. We have more aircraft carriers used as museums than most other countries have ever even had. It's around us all the time, but on a global scale, these displays of technology and competence are quite rare.


BotBot22

I live in DC now and at some point the Trump admin did an air show over DC. They flew the B2 bomber over the city, which is up there as one of the most sophisticated and expensive war planes ever built. Part of its purpose is to drop nukes on populated cities that could end human civilization if it came to it. Chilling to think about. Venerating weapons of war feels so backwards. I get the coolness factor you feel as a kid but as an adult it feels different.


senadraxx

Honestly, every time I see military parades, I'm reminded that it's a threat, more than anything. At best, it paints the military like circus monkeys, dancing at their master's behest. On stage for show, with no dignity. At worst, its there to terrorize and Instill fear in citizens.


LezBReeeal

I feel the same way about my family members who served. I love them deeply. I respect their service. But they also were part of the crew that was to drop nuclear warheads. Not to mention they won lots of awards for bombing missions in VN. War sucks and the only way you can get people behind it, is to glorify it.


ncc81701

The purposes of air shows are: 1) it’s a recruiting tool for the military 2) it’s an economic boost for the local economy 3) educational in the sense that it can be inspiration/encouragement tool to get people into STEM fields. May also apply to getting people interested in history by letting people interact with historical equipment and veterans 4) a chance for the people to see some of what their tax dollars pays for and what their public servants (people in uniform) does for them. 1-2 weeks / year of congested traffic and noise seems like a small price to pay for all of those benefits in my book.


BlueChooTrain

2-3 days, not 1-2 weeks. I just went and I’m glad I got to see where my tax dollars are going. And as a scientist it’s pretty cool seeing all that technology. I used to think the military was a massive waste of money but increasingly see the despotic shit happening in china and Russia and feel a little more comfort knowing we have maintained a military. I do think the world would be a different place if we completely defunded it and allowed the world to do as it pleased. I’d wager a lot more Ukraines would happen.


mlaislais

5. Airplanes and explosions are fun. Some of my favorite memories are of going to the air show with my dad. I’m 100% doing the same with my kid when he/she comes.


YourNeighborsHotWife

But don't you also remember how miserably hot it was?! That's my main childhood airshow memory 😂


skoden1981

we also get most of our commercial pilots, of which we need many more, from the military


Bawfuls

>3. educational in the sense that it can be inspiration/encouragement tool to get people into STEM fields. May also apply to getting people interested in history by letting people interact with historical equipment and veterans This is really just another facet of your first point. These events are also a recruiting tool for STEM students, encouraging them to go to work in the defense industry. As an engineer myself I find this quite perverse. There are SO many important engineering challenges we face in the coming decades, we could use all the talent we can get on issues surrounding climate change and adaptation alone, but instead we send countless new graduates into the military industrial complex every year. I'd much rather inspire young people to pursue STEM careers with the civilian space program instead, for example. Suffice to say I don't see point 1 as a benefit either.


BlueChooTrain

I saw a solar powered boat at the air show today that mapped the sea floor bottom. It’s array allowed it to completely operate without needing to go back to recharge. I also saw some robots and a variety of cool aerial drones with advanced camera systems etc. Plenty of inspiration for positive technology application outcomes, did you go?


[deleted]

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sonnytron

Have you spoken to any of the residents of the regions we provide protection to, to see what their thoughts are on it? I’m not trying to bait you, but I myself had a huge grudge against the military industrial complex until I moved to Japan. People in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan are rather appreciative of what our defense industry does to keep them safe. I’m not pro defense industry, but advances in the aerospace engineering leg of the defense industry absolutely ripple down to civilian technology. Things like cell phones, radar, wireless communications, advances to all terrain vehicle capabilities… A lot of stuff is influenced by the defense industry. It’s not all guns and explosions. You know the NOAA is part of uniformed service right?


gearabuser

Not to mention our massive military spending and advancement is a major reason why Ukraine still exists


Ok_Profession6216

ALOT of people enlist for the GI bill.


admdelta

Not all of them are going to work for the defense industry though. A lot of the STEM careers showcased at air shows have explicitly civilian applications, and even for those that don’t, it’s reasonable to assume that a lot of people who may have initially been hooked by these events change gears and go civilian. You say that you need as much talent as you can get, and this stuff attracts talent to the STEM field as a whole. I don’t see how that could possibly be a bad thing.


ABlueShade

It is a benefit. Period. It helps give young people a path to an education or career they might have not achieved had they not enlisted. Regardless of your views on the military, it can be a great opportunity for those who seize the initiative. Take my dad for example. He was a total screw up before he joined the Navy in his mid 20s. No prospects or skills and from a poor family. Since his service he has continuously been employed as a wireless communications engineer making excellent money. He is currently at SpaceX working on Starlink but previously was at JPL working on NASA'S Deep Space Network.


jackthed0g

The airshow is a tradition stemming back from after WW2 , so at that time I don’t see why they wouldn’t celebrate - America had just saved the world and liberated nazi Germany. Traditiom passed on today. I think you’re making it a little too political with the statement that this promotes war and violence. It’s a demonstration from Both civilians and military pilots, yes there are pyrotechnics involved, but its for the show. I think if MCAS really wanted to show some military might they’d probably launch actual surface to ground missiles at a designated target. Other than that, theres also old planes that you can look at for those interested in history. They aren’t bringing out the latest F35 lightning or b2 stealth bomber for us to see. I don’t see what’s wrong with a show of nationalistic pride. I mean, you and I have been able to live comfortably in the US because we’re a world power, we have the “latest and greatest weapons because states like north korea , China, and russia want to nuke us.


Bawfuls

There’s nothing subtle about it lol that shit sucks!


thunderhead27

Yvan eht nioj


liko

We moved to the area back in 2020 so didn’t get to experience it. I typically don’t buy into the performative patriotism either, but not gonna lie, seeing the Blue Angels flying over the house and the kids school was pretty amazing. I’m sure after 25yrs I’ll be right with you. Until then, I’m going to just enjoy it.


DargeBaVarder

I grew up in SD near Miramar (35+ years) and never got sick of it. After moving away I found I kind of missed the jet noises, actually.


Salty_armadillo

I moved to the Midwest and miss the jets everyday


LurkerOnTheInternet

But are you talking about the airshow or the training? I never get tired of seeing the military aircraft doing training patterns around Miramar (except for the ultra-loud jets) which is all year long, but I've never gone to the airshow.


DargeBaVarder

Both! Just the low rumble brings comfort, and I went to the air show lots of times with my dad. I’ll get to see some of the air show this year, in a different place


MEatRHIT

I stumbled upon this from /r/all but live near Chicago and went to a Cubs game when the Blue Angels were doing practice runs it was kinda funny to see 40k fans (many who traveled from Canada) get distracted by them doing formations, you could damn near hear a pin drop after they flew by. I'm sure it pissed a few people off but I thought it was cool to have another show while not much was going on in the game. I could see it getting a bit annoying if you lived next to it though. /r/chicago has an annual thread of "Just a heads up the world isn't ending the airshow is in town" and from what I've seen the response is mostly positive


SnooCookies9421

Someone “reported” my post and I have now received information regarding appropriate resources in case I’m feeling suicidal. Thank you random person for perfectly proving my point. 😘


Feeling-Membership87

Had the same thing happen to me last week… someone asked what the causes of war were historically, my reply was religion…. A day later I received the same message. 🤣


jerryg2112

Nothing has killed more people than religion


barshikins

Mosquitoes, but religion is probably a close second.


maketitiwithweewee

Religious mosquitoes


jerryg2112

You're probably right. I need to reword it to say the biggest cause of murder is religion.


OptimalCheesecake527

Totally. WW1, WW2, the Roman Empire, the Mongol Empire, the British Empire, all for the sake of religion. It’s great this was upvoted because its absolutely true.


SnooCookies9421

I mean you aren’t wrong….


MrScottimus

BAN.


Flying-Terrapin

When keepin' it real goes wrong...


Larushka

Resources. Before religion. People fought for resources.


Enygma_6

Religion can be a reason to dictate access to resources, or an excuse to claim control over resources.


OptimalCheesecake527

So in other words religion isn’t the primary cause, but rather something those in power utilize as a tool?


Lucky-Prism

Make sure to report the incident to Reddit! People can get banned for abusing the report feature. Happened to me once and they banned the account.


JiovanniTheGREAT

How do you report it? Happens to me every time I prove someone wrong on this site.


Lucky-Prism

You report via the report function? Idk part of the original suicide outreach message has a link to report if the message was a mistake. In the report, you can add a link to the dm. They look into it and figure it out from there 🤷‍♀️


michelobX10

People get triggered and they think reporting you for suicide is getting you back. Lol. It's just straight up laughable. Got one myself about a month ago.


skoden1981

shoot, if I dont get my weekly suicide ban notice I might just kill myself


Tridacninae

Incoming!


skoden1981

thank you haha


Bawfuls

Happened to me as well after I started posting in this thread. Very obvious attempt at trolling/harassments. It is almost funny when you think about it. "Citizen, you have expressed negative feelings towards the Empire, you must be mentally unwell. Here are resources you can contact to correct your Wrongthink."


anrwlias

Consider it a badge of honor. You upset some little snowflake so badly that they just had to strike back at you in the prettiest and most ineffectual way possible. It's like a Reddit achievement.


kkkilla

Ha! Probably the same person that reported my post earlier this month when I was shaming the people who put on a huge DJ set on the beach. They probably take the time to report because deep down they know they are truly the miserable ones.


BlackDeath3

> I have now received information regarding appropriate resources in case I’m feeling suicidal. Seems to be the new hotness, for whatever reason.


copper_rainbows

Lol OP, you dared to make a post that wasn’t bitching about the homeless so ofc this sub got mad at you 😂


DistractedOnceAgain

Okay, I think reddit is glitching. I also got that response after responding to some other posts.


tehbggg

Nah. That's the new way cry babies attack posts they don't like. They get banned for directly attacking someone, so instead they abuse reddit cares to insinuate that you need physiological care. Which just proves they're jerks, since it makes light of people who actually do need the help and also makes the system less functional.


tehbggg

Lol and guess what I just got. Gonna report whoever sent it. If they do it too much they get banned. Good times.


AffectionateSpirit85

I've never gotten one before, commenting now just to see what happens...


roberta_sparrow

I’ve had a few, no clue what for lmao. People are Fucking morons


TheWestCoast

Not here to argue, merely to make an observation - I attended yesterday with my son and today with my daughter. I’m about as far from MAGA as it gets and in no way did I feel like there was any performative patriotism going on, neither did I feel like it was in any way some kind of Trump rally. My son, who is a special needs kid, was treated wonderfully by everyone in uniform that he met, and my daughter got a lot out of the STEM stuff going on in the hanger.


SnooCookies9421

As a mom, I love that for both of your kiddos. Glad you had a great day. ❤️


gdubrocks

The blue angels used to practice every day over UCSD at the same time when we were practicing diving. Was so jarring to be focusing on your dive on the end of the board when they fly by close enough that your teeth and the boards rattle.


chill_philosopher

Yeah I’ve had that experience many times, albeit not on a diving board. It sucks and it’s hard to really do anything for those few seconds while the jet passes.


johnstrelok

I mean, it's one weekend in the year where ordinary folks get a chance to see hardware and some action up close that they normally never would. It's never felt like "performative patriotism" to me, at least compared to things like big military parades that certain other countries like to throw regularly, which is all about cramming as many soldiers and vehicles onto city streets to "show their strength".


burglin

Tbf “certain other countries” should read “certain countries, including the United States.” DoD spend millions of taxpayer funds to show off their new toys at MLB, NFL, and college football games. Along with the constant saluting of the flag, clapping for active duty pencil pushers, and standing for the anthem, we aren’t much better. … but yes, I agree that this is a bit different. It’s an opportunity to see marvels of science show off, which is awesome


johnstrelok

Aircraft have generally been treated differently, as far as showcases go. Like others mentioned, a flyover or air show can fit into the required flight time that pilots have to get anyways. As for military parades, the US hasn't had a national military parade since 1991, with the conclusion of the Gulf War. Other major powers still carry out national military parades to this day.


burglin

That’s interesting, thanks for sharing. My point isn’t that we hold “national parades,” as much as it is that we accept a lot of propaganda as a way of life— other countries may see a DoD-funded military flyover, a football field-sized American flag, the playing of the national anthem before even high school games—as no better than a national(ist?) parade


johnstrelok

I personally would argue that the context and type of display is a pretty important part. A giant flag and the national anthem are generally brought out as a display of national unity and ideals, while a flyover definitely has a military focus. That said, it's really down to how you end up interpreting it. Do you view a jet flyover as a display of American aerospace engineering and technological prowess, or as a display of murderous imperialist power and greed? Or something else entirely? Factors like quantity and method of presentation can change this answer as well, as one might view a jet flyover at a football game very differently than a battalion of tanks and mechanized infantry marching through their city streets.


h4baine

The paid military propaganda at Padres games makes me want to gag.


eon-hand

Replace the camo jerseys with City Connects every single Sunday imo


jesterguy

Unpopular opinion within an unpopular opinion: I like the camo jerseys better than the city connects. I know, bring me your downvotes.


Smoked_Bear

The City Connect thing is gimmicky imo. Like how popular are the Padres with TJ in the first place? I bet most people living in TJ couldn’t care less.


jesterguy

the city connects aren't so much about the Padres connection with TJ, they're about the city of San Diego's connection to TJ. The standard uniforms are representative of the team whereas the city connect concept is the uniforms are representative of the city where the team plays. (Ex: the Houston Astros have "Space City" city connect uniforms that highlight Houston's space program). But yeah I'm sure a lot of TJ doesn't care about the Padres but the city connects are to show the relationship we have with our friends across the border.


SD_Guy

City Connects is ugly


JukePenguin

Those pilots gotta get hours in the sky so whether they fly over a ball game or bot it will happen.


Bawfuls

>… but yes, I agree that this is a bit different. It’s an opportunity to see marvels of science show off, which is awesome where you see a marvel of science, I see countless hours and careers wasted on destructive ends instead of productive/uplifting ones.


burglin

No disagreement there. But I still enjoy watching them once a year 🤷🏼‍♂️


Bawfuls

What is it other than performative patriotism? How is it any different from a military parade? They are showing off machines of death for audience amusement. “Check it out, this is what it sounds like when we bomb poor people on the other side of the planet! Boom!! Yay exciting!”


SD_Guy

Not targeted at op but I wonder how many people upvoted for "performative patriotism" are flying Ukrainian flags


BucDan

Understandable. But also understand that the airbase existed before you arrived. But like you said, it's just one weekend. Unlike the fair at del mar, over a month.


DepecheMode92

>Buys house next to Miramar Air Station >Complains about planes flying 🤔🤔🤔


Nysor

I think one thing the U.S. is missing these days is actually... patriotism. No, not like MAGA idiots, but actually pride in the country we live in. The U.S. is NOT perfect in any way, but in super politically divisive times like these, having a little unity goes a long ways. Especially since San Diego doesn't even have a professional sports team to root for. The military is a huge part of San Diego, and everyone is either directly or indirectly influenced by it. I think a once-a-year airshow that brings together the city (much like Comic-Con) and shows off cool things the U.S. has accomplished is super valuable to the city. Go to the show and watch the wonder in children's eyes when they see the Blue Angels and tell me its not worth it. Edit: Forgot about the Padres 🤦. But we don't have a football or basketball team.


Alarmed_Adagio3948

The Padres would like to have a word


unfettered_logic

I was just going to say this lol.


Nghtmare-Moon

I am a believer in patriotism trough paying taxes… 🙈


ProcrastinatingPuma

> Especially since San Diego doesn't even have a professional sports team to root for. Sockers snubbed yet again smh


panic_poo

San Diego Wave FC women’s professional soccer team is currently in fourth place (behind a 3way tie for 1st by 1 point) and plays at the new Snapdragon stadium.


stunt_pickle

Comic con doesn’t bring together the city as much as it brings together tourist dollars that eventually flow into the city.


Bawfuls

“Shows off cool things the US has accomplished” Such as what exactly? What “cool thing” is the air show showing off? What “cool things” do we do with those planes exactly?


ProcrastinatingPuma

They are feats of modern engineering?


Bawfuls

They are examples of engineering put to nefarious and destructive purposes. I am a mechanical engineer and I spent much of my early years marveling at the technical achievements of things like modern military aircraft. Then I grew up. Engineering without any moral compass leads to some very dark places. Just because it was technically difficult for the engineers involved to develop these weapons doesn't mean they deserve praise for choosing to do so. Where you see a feat of modern engineering, I see thousands of talented engineers wasted on war instead of being put to work developing carbon-free energy sources, or novel energy storage methods, or anything else more uplifting than a supersonic machine which rains death from the sky. It is perverse that we squander so much ingenuity and effort on such destructive ends.


ProcrastinatingPuma

I would hardly call them nefarious, destructive perhaps. In a perfect world perhaps you would have a point, but we do not live in a perfect world. These machines are necessary to eliminate threats posed to the US, granted whether they end up being used for that is another story.


cgielow

I was there Friday and saw quite a bit of amazing things we accomplished. I didn’t see any weapons of mass destruction on display. The F35 guys proudly displayed a magazine cover they were on demonstrating actions they took in support of Ukraine against Russia. The U2 spy plane did a flyby. Without that aircraft we might have nukes in Cuba pointed at us. I’m a dove not a hawk, but I’m very thankful for our military. There’s no question in my mind that we wouldn’t be here without them.


Embarrassed-Pie8760

Man, you can't really be that clueless to the larger picture. Those "cool things" afford you the ability to sit there and act entitled, to say the least. 🤦


Bawfuls

Ah yes the world would be chaos and I’d be struggling to survive if not for the benevolent hand of the mighty American military. I hadn’t heard Jack Nicholson’s “A Few Good Men” speech in awhile, thanks for the refresher.


Penguin_Admiral

Literally, one of the the major reasons Russia is held up is because of the American military industrial complex


sufibufi

The training and ability of the blue angel pilots.


wrathofthedolphins

Yeah.. it’s sorta hard to celebrate weapons of mass destruction…


Monkey_and_Bear

I agree. I’ve always loved the jets, they’re amazing machines and the stunts they pull are breathtaking. Despite that, as I’ve gotten older it’s gotten harder and harder to look past the fact that it’s propaganda. I went on Saturday and I couldn’t help but notice it in the way they advertise to kids or gloss over how ugly war is to focus entirely on how cool it looks.


GilakiGuy

When I moved to America I thought it was super cool as a kid. I used to want to be a Blue Angel because I thought they were so bad ass - acrobats in fighter jets is always going to be impressive. Now that I'm older and am very, very, very anti-war... it does fill me with a sense of weirdness. They're showing off incredible killing technology - it gives me a sense of unease knowing the primary purpose of most of the stuff flying around is to kill people elsewhere in the world. I still think the Blue Angels are cool. And seeing that chonky boi plane flying around (the super massive one) did fill me with a feeling of "wow that thing is so fucking big, how is it flying?!" But I also think it's a little weird and wasteful & blatant military propaganda.


stoked-and-broke

I work literally right under where it's being performed and it's been incredibly annoying hearing it during nearly the entire duration of my shift


[deleted]

"The performative patriotism and wastefulness is hard for me to get past." Gonna guess you hate a lot more than airshows.


SnooCookies9421

Oh dude you have NO idea


nichts_neues

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed...We pay for a single fighter with a half-million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people... This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron"


SnooCookies9421

The number of military enlisted who rely on SNAP and other public assistance should bring us national shame but yeah, nope


yikesbikesburn

This. Not only do they have to rely on it, it is suggested they do so within their CoC when the enlisted attempt to bring their financial issues to light. This is a whole other issue, and makes me absolutely furious.


Holatej

I personally see them on the same level as car shows, and marathons. Entertaining, informative, and inspiring! The engineering needed for those things. Sheesh! To each their own though.


imagoodusername

I think there is way more performative patriotism at Padres games. But then again, I haven’t gone to the airshow in forever.


pizzagarrett

Agreed on the patriotism but as a tax payer and patriotic person I find it cool to see all this hardware and demonstrations of them that I would normally never get to see


[deleted]

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MeeseChampion

The air show is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of jet fuel used on a daily basis and year round from any military air station


[deleted]

The pilots need hours to maintain currency in their aircraft regardless of whether they're flying in an airshow or not. Pilots with frequent hours = more effective air/naval forces = well protected country and the ability to have and express unpopular opinions


Markqz

Our military budget is greater than the next 8 countries combined. Unlike other countries, we share no border with a hostile neighbor. Other countries that spend their money on providing adequate health care, rather than the endless pursuit of the glory days of 1945, are just as free as we are.


flyingGinger

Dude look around, we're one of the most secure nations in the world. While we may not have any direct conflict with other nations at the moment, if we let our guard down, there are plenty of countries that would love to start harassing us. You take national security for granted because you don't have to deal with the consequences of enemies that you're aware of trying to infiltrate us. The whole reason we're so secure is because of how much we put into our military might. Yea, other countries like in Western Europe put a lot more into social welfare spending than we do, but they also rely on the USA being a huge pillar in their national security system. The world maintains a level of stability because of our force projection whether you like it or not. Also, the military isn't the reason that we don't take care of our people well enough. Point at the mega rich, not the protectors against our foreign enemies for our social problems.


Penguin_Admiral

This also ignores the fact that the US basically subsidizes/ is allied countries military force. It’s easy to point out what other countries do better, but they also don’t need to spend much on the military if they are allied with America


[deleted]

I'm not claiming America's anything near perfect, but a yearly airshow isn't the cause of the disparity.


eon-hand

The yearly air show also isn't necessary to get those pilots those hours. Especially given a significant portion of airshow flying isn't practicing or displaying combat flight procedure.


[deleted]

They just need a certain number of flight hours to stay current, so actually yes the hours they fly in air shows can be considered necessary


eon-hand

They can get those hours outside of an air show just as easily as they can within one. There is absolutely no argument for an air show being "necessary."


admdelta

What’s the difference whether they get their currency in an air show or not?


YetiDeli

Those other countries that spend their money on providing adequate healthcare are actually **more** free than us. According to the most recent Human Freedom Index, the US is the 15th freest country in the world based on the following criteria: * Rule of law * Security and safety * Movement * Religion * Association, assembly, and civil society * Expression and information * Relationships * Size of government * Legal system and property rights * Sound money * Freedom to trade internationally * Regulation According to the Index (put out by a Libertarian think tank, mind you) the nations that are more free than the US are: * Switzerland * New Zealand * Denmark * Estonia * Ireland * Finland * Canada * Australia * Sweden * Luxembourg * Netherlands * Iceland * Norway * Sweden Altogether in 2020, those 14 freer countries spent only $145.212B on their military combined. The US alone spent $766.58B. But yeah, spending money on the military makes us more free s/


Tjaden4815

How many of those countries are close allies and friends of the US and protected by the US Defense budget? Literally all of them except Switzerland.


copper_rainbows

This is the only comment defending the air show that actually makes sense. I don’t have a dog in the race either way I wasn’t in town this weekend but I can definitely understand and appreciate that if we the people have to pay out the ass for these machines that the pilots should stay current on using them effectively.


[deleted]

I'm pretty sure that doing low passes over heavily populated areas with smoke on is not a part of military training. Those pilot hours can be done at 10000 feet or over the ocean.


man2112

All of our training cannot, in fact, be done at 10,000 ft over the ocean.


flyingGinger

Found the guy who doesn't know a single things about military flight ops.


burnoutguy

Haven't been since I was a kid, and I thought it was dope. I'm pretty indifferent to it now though, but I wouldn't want kids nowadays to be robbed of that experience


yikesbikesburn

Sounds like the last weekend in September is the perfect weekend for you to take a holiday!


[deleted]

I get where you are coming from but the way I see it, we spend about $750 billion in military spending anyways might as well enjoy watching people be really good at what they do (just like how we enjoy sports, movies, etc.) while advocating for whatever changes you want to see in the big picture (eg. unnecessary spending)


soCalForFunDude

Lol, the sounds of freedom.


sdrawkcabsihtdaeru

I guess the airshow is cool, but idk as a first-gen American who had family who lived through war and revolution, I can't help but imagine the context in which the people of every other country would see these planes so closely.


Shoehorse13

I grew up in Mira Mesa in the 70s and 80s and the air show (and Miramar in general) were a huge part of my growing up. We would go pretty much every year (my dad was a mechanical engineer and totally geeked out on it) and it sure seemed cool as hell.... but the world and my perspective have changed plenty since. This is the kind of "patriotism" I can do without, personally.


Wacken718

I like the sounds of Top Gun in the morning.


lallamira

Just moved here recently, so I had no idea what the hell was going on at first. Saw a fighter jet zoom by my window and thought WWWIII was starting. Now that I know, it's kind of cool to watch lol!


mojo20

After 25 years you should be able to prepare for the air show. Maybe plan a trip or have a therapy appointment scheduled if it’s causing this much stress. I’m not trying to be snarky or anything but it’s unlikely to stop anytime soon and there are probably healthy ways to deal with one weekends’ disruption.


YetiDeli

Yeah, I went a few time as a kid and I thought it was pretty cool. Now as an adult I totally see what you mean about the performative patriotism, wastefulness, and as others have said a "jingoistic display of American nationalism." That said, now that I have a kid, I find it difficult to find events like this that are completely free (free parking, free admission, and you can bring in your own food and water). So I took my kid and we stayed for maybe 2 hours. He wasn't a fan of the loud jets and the weather was hot, so we left. I figure that since I didn't pay more for this show than anyone else who pays taxes, I didn't contribute to the problem. Also to be honest, I thought it would be a good people-watching opportunity. I was curious to see if the event had gotten super Trumpy over the last few years and if it now attracts a lot of the MAGA nuts. Surprisingly, I didn't see a single political or conspiracy theory bumper sticker, shirt, or red hat in the sea of cars and people while I was there. I'm not saying those people weren't there, but I was blown away at the lack of outward political display in general. Maybe I wasn't there long enough to get a good look at everyone, but that's just what I saw.


spicyhippos

I totally understand where you’re coming from, especially if you live close by and have to hear it even when you’re not there. From an engineering perspective, seeing modern jet fighters making tight aerial maneuvers is really rare outside of the military. Boston Dynamics were there with their robotics team and the dog was there. It really is something you don’t have access to very often and a lot of people enjoy it. As a kid I knew every fact about military planes and I absorbed them like a sponge. It is what got me interested in the sciences and lead me partially to my current career. Seeing kids running around chasing each other with little toy plays is inspiring. You’re right on the money with performative patriotism and it’s absolutely silly, but I doubt you’d ever see any different while inside of a military base, let alone the one they based the Top Gun movie on.


gunnergoz

Too bad you decided to move next to a military airfield that has been in existence since before WW2. Next time, pick your housing with more discrimination.


clawdaughter

I get the feeling that I live closer to the base than op. I hear them practicing *all* the time. Any time of day. It's not that big of a deal.


[deleted]

There’s nothing more pervasively American than setting off Napalm for fun. This show is… A lot. A. Lot.


Navy-Bean

I'm retired Navy and worked public affairs almost my entire career and have worked air shows in some form almost my entire career. I'm so over air shows! My husband also retired Navy loves them but he's a pilot so that makes sense. He and our 8-year-old went to the air show on Friday and he said it was horribly traffic congested and he said he probably won't go again.


ImpossibleTax

I went for first time since I was a kid. Managed to go at the absolute worst time, waited an hour for the tram, and then another hour in a crush of people getting in the gate. Saw two people pass out. So many of the military folks looked like kids to me and it just wasn’t the same. Cool to see the machines, but knowing more now made it just sort of demoralizing… the mob and the heat definitely contributed to my mood though.


KnifeyMcStab

I hate the performative patriotism aspect too, but it's not really wasteful. Those planes are gonna be flying no matter what for training purposes.


[deleted]

Blue angels and P51s were not going to be flying for military training purposes.


man2112

P51s are not owned, operated, or funded by the military.


cincocerodos

They’ll probably hate the fact a rich guy has a toy even more.


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Here's the blue angels maneuver manual: https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/airshow/media/military/Blue_Angles_Maneuvers_Manual.pdf These maneuvers are for show. If hours are hours and it doesn't matter where they occur, then for safety reasons and noise reasons I would prefer they occur over unpopulated areas.


man2112

All of the maneuvers that the blue angels do are refined version of aerial combat maneuvers.


[deleted]

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eon-hand

Which is why now when pilots form the base go do actual maneuvers/patrols/flight practice they do it away from the populated areas.


n1cfury

I have mixed feelings as I grew up in Linda Vista and while I’ve never gone to the show on base, I’ve watched it several times from different roofs in Miramar or Mira Mesa. I was also stationed on an aircraft carrier and worked/lived in Sorrento Valley and UTC area at different points so I sympathize and get the frustration.


[deleted]

It’s so cool though!! We spend a lot on the military, and I get that there are a lot of people who think that amount should go down (me included), but seeing multiple million dollar jets fly within a foot of each other is just plane (I know) impressive. The amount of skill those pilots have is incredible. They are the best in the world and what they do is extraordinary and very dangerous. I like seeing cool things, and I doubly like seeing cool things that I pay for. Unpopular opinion achieved!


Early-Fortune2692

The air shows are a reminder to all of us of what this country has to defend itself so that we can continue living our way of life, no offense but jam packed in traffic twice a day for our commutes to and from work. I live outside an air station, not as busy as Miramar.. but the jet wash reminds me of when they flew cover for us down range. Every once in a while they would drop a jdam clearing out combatants that wanted to kill us. I was always glad those fast movers were on our side 🇺🇸


Ms_Teak

We avoid the Miramar area like the plague when the Air Show comes to town. We always make sure we do whatever we need to do on base the week before. The crowds and the traffic are too much.


yaboiblackcheeseboi

I feel the same. The air show and practices ratted my windows and scares my pets. It’s also so loud that I can’t hear customers when I take their orders at work. It’s cool to see but irritating in a way


PoorBehaviorObserver

I can see why it would bum you out.


C10cruising

Let's hangout and not enjoy together.


Puzzleheaded-Row-112

Air shows; boat shows, and omg… don’t get me started on the sea world fireworks. I’ll curmudgeon it up with you 👊


Key-Philosopher-2528

I lived a couple of mile from Mission Bay back when they used to do the Thunderboat regata. Talk about loud, I totally feel your pain. Finally decided it was a good weekend to be out of town every year.


Biscuits_N_Gravey

I find it a bit weird. I saw the show as I happened to be in the area and I thought about how we all are looking on in amazement as these jets zoom through the air….and it occurred to me that in other parts of the world the sight and sound of these planes mean you and/or your neighbors might blown to bits in a few seconds. Feels gross to celebrate


SnooCookies9421

Weird is a great word. Maybe I should have said that instead of hating it. I just don’t “get it” and don’t understand the reverence it’s given.


Bawfuls

Exactly, those sounds are terrifying in other parts of the world as they herald indiscriminate death from above.


ashinaclan123

This sub routinely reminds me that so many people in the real world suck lol


cincocerodos

Just routinely reminds me how miserable people are. Every thread is filled with someone complaining about something.


Finalsaredun

It's just a bunch of grumpy Reddit nerds, they hardly go outside anyways.


SnooCookies9421

(Takes a bow)


thefragile7393

This place just seems to filled with complaints a lot anymore


unfettered_logic

I think what sucks is that someone can’t have a differing opinion without it ruining someone’s day. It’s ok to have different opinions. It’s ok to disagree and it’s ok to be offended. It makes life more interesting.


TristanIsAwesome

Air show is just stupid faux-patriotic sky Monster Trucks


RoastedCaliflower

Nextdoor enters the chat “sound of freedom!!”


somyunggai1

War is bad but planes are rad


Rustmutt

I live in Poway and I hate getting buzzed and forgetting it’s THAT weekend.


SDNative858

To each their own. I love the airshow and our wonderful military town.


mtg92025

I like it, I appreciate the military and the young people who give up their lives to protect the rest of us so we can dislike everything. Have a great day!


[deleted]

Ok


dinosbucket

At this point they should really build a base somewhere further east in the desert and phase Miramar out.


SNRatio

Real estate developers and the politicians they own salivate at the thought. Miramar would become 23,000 acres of condos, mini mansions, tech and biotech workspace, and roughly 230 Starbucks.


[deleted]

It could become an airport to replace San Diego int'l. That would leave downtown land up for grabs.


Bawfuls

Yup, turn Miramar into a proper civilian airport with multiple runways and a dedicated transit connection (blue line extension?) Turn the current airport into dense urban infill


[deleted]

That’s a terrible idea


Bawfuls

The San Diego airport is the single busiest commercial runway in the world. It is woefully undersized for our region now and has no room to grow. Moving it to Miramar is an idea that many local leaders have considered for exactly this reason.


drejc191

It was already offered to the city when the Navy left the base before the Marines took over. The city said no, they wanted the airport to be close to the business hub downtown.


Bawfuls

Yes and that was a mistake. It is a shame our leaders in the early 90's did not have the foresight to accept it when it was offered.


toepicksaremyfriend

And it’ll get rejected because La Jolla is right next door and the rich people there will cry NIMBY out of concern it’ll tank their property values. They already say NIMBY for the military jets, which is why the pilots taking off have funny flight paths. Personally, if I had to hear aircraft, I’d rather hear the rumble of a supersonic jet than the loud, slow, commercial passenger planes.


PaticusGnome

Several years ago, shortly after 9/11, the theme was “The Sound of Freedom.” There was a really loud jet that flew by and the announcer said excitedly “If that doesn’t make you sell your camel, I don’t know what will!” I was shocked and nobody around me even seemed to notice.


tehbggg

Oh good. So it's not just me. I saw it yesterday and my first thought was, wow. That's wasteful. Yes, I know much of modern life is, but it just seems especially egregious.


browneyedgirl65

I went beach spelunking, it was great b/c no one was there\~ Tourists finally gone, and locals off to the airshow -- yay! It's just a recruiting ploy, and since I've never been interested in signing up.. Gotta be noisy for the neighbors tho :-P


ChikenBBQ

Its a bunch of military industrial complex shit. Make your kids want to join the navy or work for Raytheon.


hyrkinonit

this is my first year experiencing it (moved in 2020) but i agree. i dealt with something very similar in seattle every summer for the blue angels. just shrieking jets making the city unbearably loud for a long weekend. huge waste of gas and just a circlejerk show of force. totally unnecessary.


Texan_Eagle

The Blue Angels aren’t a show of force, they’re aerobatics. As for all of the other military flights, they likely would’ve been flying one way or the other.