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Gusty winds can't ground the air show
Military aircraft's high-flying stunts and maneuvers awe crowd of 52,000
STORY TOOLS 
More from Other NewsAbout 52,000 people gazed overhead as aircraft such as the F-15C Eagle climbed vertically into the sky, then dove back toward the crowd as the engines roared.
Some could only stare, with their hands covering their ears and their jaws dropped.
Those who did speak uttered one word.
"Wow," said Alex Weaver, 6, of Port Hueneme.
One of the youngest military aircraft enthusiasts at the show, Alex particularly liked the demonstrations. He received the day at the show as a birthday gift from his parents.
"I like it because they flip and do tricks and twists," he said.
He shared the same expression with others who watched the Eagle, the high-performance Air Force fighter jet designed to shoot down the enemy. At first, the plane flew by the crowd unnoticed, then roared as it ascended into the sky.
The winds stopped the U.S. Army Golden Knight Parachute Demonstration Team from jumping in the afternoon, but most demonstrations went on despite the weather conditions.
It was a minor disappointment for residents who still got to see the rest of the 40th Point Mugu Air Show that took place over the weekend.
"I really enjoyed it. But I don't know how they were able to still do it because of the wind," said Joan Jelaca of Ventura.
Some spectators drove from other counties to watch the exhibitions in the air and on the ground.
"We walked around and they have all the aircraft open so you can tour them. It's been really educational," said Charlotte Riechmann of Palmdale.
It was the first show at Point Mugu since 2002, when two officers from the Point Mugu Naval Weapons Test Squadron were killed during a flight. Cmdr. Michael Norman and Capt. Andrew Muhs died while trying to land their QF-4 Phantom jet.
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