MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- With the deafening scream of jets flying overhead and the blinding flash of a 1,000-foot wall of fire, the 2005 Miramar Air Show presented a wide array of military and civilian aircraft demonstrations and static displays at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Oct. 14 - 16.

Approximately 750,000 spectators attended the three-day air show to witness the spectacular performances and displays of U.S. military might.

"I think people can appreciate more of what the military does by seeing a show like this," said John Varley, owner of an Antonov AN-2P, known as the "Big Yellow Panda," on static display at the air show.

The air show featured more than 130 static displays of various civilian and military aircraft of foreign and domestic origin. With more than 20 flight performances daily, including the world-famous U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, onlookers' eyes were glued to the sky.

"It was a great show," said Varley, an Anaheim, Calif., native. "I've always loved aircraft since I was little, especially the Blue Angels."

In addition to state-of-the-art civilian and military aircraft, the air show also gave visitors a brief look into the past at the history of aviation with static displays dating back to before World War II, like the B-17 Flying Fortress.

"The plane is a Boeing aircraft designed in 1934 and flew between the years 1935 and 1945," said Donald R. Sutherland, a volunteer at the Palm Springs Air Museum - home of the B-17 that was on display. "There are only 13 of these planes left flying. There is one in England, one in France and 11 here in the states. This is one of those 11."

The Miramar Air Show is unique in that in addition to many different aircraft in flight and on display, spectators were treated to a simulated Marine Air-Ground Task Force assault.

Visitors saw first-hand how Marine ground assets and aviation elements work in concert to bring to bear the world's most responsive and lethal on-call military force.

In a tribute to the valor and heroism of servicemembers at home and abroad, more than 750 patriotic individuals clad in yellow T-shirts joined hands Oct. 15 to form the world's largest human yellow ribbon.

Although bad weather loomed intermittently over the weekend, spectators showed their true colors, remaining at the show even amid high winds and unseasonably low temperatures.

Highlights of the weekend included fly-overs by the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

Throughout the weekend, visitors young and old enjoyed the event.  Some were even nostalgic.

"I just love these air shows," Sutherland added. "It's the excitement you see on the people's faces when the planes fly through the air."

Whether it was their first air show or 50th, the 2005 Miramar Air Show wowed the young and young at heart.  Whatever the case, age was not a factor as the "Sound of Freedom" rang loud and clear over San Diego for yet another year.