The Skies of March ARB Are Roaring Yet Again

After a long hiatus since the last air show March ARB shines yet again

Coming back home is always something I look forward to. No matter how long you have been away there is that feeling of longing that makes a person want to go back to the familiar. For over ten years March ARB was home for me. In that whole time I spent my military career at this one base. People came and went but the base and many of the planes were the same. It was a time in my life that I could never forget and always have fond memories of. So, when I heard that March would finally be bringing back their famous air show I couldn’t be more excited. Ever since the days of covid there had been a pause on many air shows and events. And while it took some time for things to go back to normal (at least as much as they could) we would finally get a chance to have an air show on my old stomping grounds. Yes, for the first time in about five years the skies of March would be open for business yet again. And wouldn’t you know, this show did not only come back but it ended up being one of the best airshows I had ever been to.

The day of the show I had a flood of emotion as I stepped onto the runway that I worked on for so many years. I had a lot of memories there and at one time I even got to work one air show. The set-up on the runway brought all the aircraft and vendors close to each other and everything was easily accessible. Without having to walk very far you could get pictures of your favorite aircraft and get some great food. It was one of, if not the most convenient shows we had ever been to. Not to mention nearly every aircraft in the Air Force inventory made an appearance. In fact, I couldn’t believe just some of the aircraft on display there. It’s not every day that you get to see come beautiful (and fully functional) WWII-era fighters, but lo and behold not only did we get one, we got several at the show. Courtesy of the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, CA (which in and of itself is one of the most incredible museums I have ever been to) there were several planes that made an appearance. From the P-40 Warhawk to a Bearcat, P-51 Mustang and several other aircraft in between, it is a real treat to see some of those aircraft (let along in flying condition). And that was just part of the incredible stuff on display!

The March ARB was a great show and it was really nice to be back on the runway that I worked on for so many years. It had been several years since the last time they had a show at this base so this was a very welcome return to form. I’m just sad that after this show was finished we would find out that there would not be another show for a while. Until then the memory of this show and my time at my favorite base will always have a place in my heart. Good times and kudos for the organizers for putting everything together like they did. I don’t know who laid out the runway parking like they did but everything was easy to walk to and didn’t require a days journey to get to. The team or person that put that together deserves a Noble Peace prize and a pay raise in the least. Just awesome. That alone made the show worth it to be there. We already know what to expect when going to most shows but the atmosphere, great camera positions and close-in flight paths made this show a dream for photography. I really enjoyed this show and eagerly await the next one. I’m sure I speak for many people in saying that March’s next show can’t come soon enough.

Words and photos by Daniel Navarrete. Additional photos by Alejandro Mendiola

This article was prepared or accomplished by Daniel Navarrete in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spektrum Magazine, or its affiliates.