Great one-day show on April 27th, 2003, with the Navy's Blue Angels appearing for their first performance at this show, along with the Thunderbirds. This show had a huge static display of numerous and various aircraft types. This show also had free admission and free parking, although it was a lengthy walk on the base after sitting in a very lengthy and slow-moving line of traffic outside the base (A1A north entrance).

It's amazing that this air show, with a F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter on display and giving a performance, can keep the public under control and meet increased security measures with portable plastic barricade fencing and have no problems. Yet, the TSA and the Airport Director at Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL) Airport deemed the public to be a security hazard and kept the PUBLIC view park closed on the west side of the airport during the 2003 Air & Sea Show less than one week later, even though there is a permanent seven foot tall metal chain link fence with barbed wire on top to separate the crowd from the warbirds, military fighters and the Thunderbirds taxiing out. Absurdity at its finest!

Unfortunately most aircraft performances at the Patrick AFB Air Show are over the Banana River and too far from the spectators at the show (300mm or better required), and afternoon performances have the spectators looking into the bright Florida afternoon sun. We left after the Blue Angels, and before the Thunderbirds, like many thousands of others, and it took 35 minutes of stop and go traffic just to get off the base after walking at least a mile back to our car. Would I do it again? You bet! (Special Galleries created to reduce loading times for viewers with dial-up connections)