Thousands attend the annual MCAS Miramar Air Show in San Diego – NBC 7 San Diego

The annual Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar drew thousands of people Saturday to showcase the military's aviation art in full display. A safe assumption at any air show is that the main attraction is in the air. However, sometimes it is the local people who make the difference.

“To be able to own a brand that is such a tribute to the people who fight and die for our country and work on these machines and just be part of something that is not just a brand but something to be proud of being an American,” said Greg Greco, CEO of Blackbird Flight Wear.

Greco has been participating in the Miramar Air Show for 10 years. As the company grows each year, Greco is most concerned about the people he meets who are passionate about aviation and our armed forces.

The Miramar Air Show and the Blue Angels will return this weekend, reports NBC 7's Steven Luke, who has been on the ride of his life.

“I am a patriot. I love America. “I never fought for our country, but I just respect the people who did,” Greco said.

Blackbird Flight Wear sells flight toys, keychains and other merchandise. Perhaps the biggest appeal, however, is the clothing featuring hand-drawn artwork of all sorts of military aircraft.

“Every single design we have, even today, in 2024, every single one is digital. We still have artists who draw everything by hand,” Greco said. The company participates in air shows across the country, and Greco said they always try to make a difference at each event.

“A lot of what we do is donations and charitable giving to the organizations or the shows we go to, even Miramar. “One of the things we do is donate about $10,000 worth of merchandise at the end of the show,” Greco said.

Other patriots, like Michael Diaz and his family, got a front-row seat on the flight line to watch all the action.

“We got up at 4 a.m. just to drive here,” Diaz said. His family has been coming to the air show for five years, including Diaz's 6-year-old son, Donovan, whose first air show was when he was one year old.

“When we get here, we're usually late, so we sit in the back. So this year we decided to get up earlier to get a nice seat in the front so my son could have a better view,” Diaz said.

Diaz and his wife hope little Donovan becomes interested in a career in aviation or perhaps even an astronaut.

So while many eyes will be on the sky this weekend, it's also worth checking out the surroundings on the ground at MCAS Miramar.

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