On Friday, September 25, the gates opened at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for the first public day of the 2026 MCAS Miramar Air Show, bringing aviation fans, military families, and visitors together for the opening day of one of San Diego’s biggest aviation events.
This year’s show, running September 25–27, celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a weekend built around aviation, military demonstrations, historic aircraft, and civilian aerobatics.
The U-2 Dragon Lady Makes a Rare Appearance
One of the most distinctive moments of Day One came at approximately 1:25 p.m., when the U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady made its scheduled flypast over Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The Friday-only appearance gave air show visitors a rare opportunity to see one of America’s most recognizable high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft in flight.
