Roberta Aguirre
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) (IATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Miramar, a community of San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego. The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, a commander during World War II. The base contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) and is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15. The area east of Kearny Villa Road, called East Miramar, is undeveloped and used for military training.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) |
| IATA Code | NKX |
| ICAO Code | KNKX |
| FAA LID | NKX |
| Location | Miramar, San Diego, California |
| Distance from downtown San Diego | 14 miles (23 km) |
| Airfield name | Mitscher Field |
| Size | 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) |
| Former location | United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) |
| Current use | Home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Cemetery | National Cemetery at the northwest corner |
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What You'll Learn
Miramar Mcas Airport is the official name of NKX airport
Miramar Mcas Airport, also known as MCAS Miramar, is the official name of NKX airport. NKX is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, who commanded Task Force 58 during World War II.
MCAS Miramar is located in Miramar, a community in San Diego, California, approximately 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego. The base spans 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) and is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15. The area east of Kearny Villa Road, known as "East Miramar", remains undeveloped and is primarily used for military training.
MCAS Miramar has a long history dating back to the early 20th century when the land was predominantly used for grazing and farming. In 1947, the Marines relocated to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). On March 1, 1952, it became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar). During the Vietnam War, the base came into its own and played a significant role.
MCAS Miramar is best known as the former site of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFSW) and its TOPGUN training program, which inspired the popular movie of the same name. In 1996, the NFSW was relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada, where it merged with the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). Today, MCAS Miramar continues to be an active military base, hosting various events such as the annual Miramar Airshow, and it is also home to a National Cemetery dedicated to deceased veterans and their spouses.
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The airport is located in San Diego, California
The airport with the IATA code NKX is located in San Diego, California. The full name of the airport is Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, or MCAS Miramar for short. The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, who commanded Task Force 58 during World War II. The air station is about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego.
MCAS Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The base covers 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) and is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15. The area east of Kearny Villa Road, known as "East Miramar", remains undeveloped and is used for military training.
The history of the land where MCAS Miramar now stands dates back to the 16th century, when Spain claimed the San Diego area in 1542. The Spanish began colonising the region in 1769. After the American Civil War, the land was divided and sold, with newspaper publisher Edward Scripps from the eastern United States purchasing a portion of it to develop a ranch. Scripps named the area Miramar, meaning "view of the sea".
MCAS Miramar became known during its use by the United States Navy in the 20th century. It was the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) and its TOPGUN training program, which inspired the movie of the same name. In 1996, the NFWS was relocated to Nevada and merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC). Today, MCAS Miramar hosts the annual Miramar Airshow, a major airshow held each year on the last weekend of September.
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The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Miramar, a community of San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego. The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M. A. Mitscher, who was the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II.
MCAS Miramar is recognised as the world's largest Master Jet Air Station. The base contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) and is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15. The area east of Kearny Villa Road, known as "East Miramar", remains undeveloped and is primarily used for military training. The airfield's IATA code is NKX, and its ICAO code is KNKX.
The history of the land on which MCAS Miramar now sits dates back to the 16th century when, in 1542, Spain claimed the San Diego area. The Spanish began colonising the region in 1769. After the American Civil War, the land was divided and sold, with newspaper publisher Edward Scripps purchasing a portion of it. Scripps established a ranch on the land and named the area Miramar, meaning "view of the sea". The land remained predominantly used for grazing and farming into the early 20th century.
In 1947, the Marines relocated to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). It became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar) on 1 March 1952. During the Vietnam War, the base came into its own. Today, MCAS Miramar is best known as the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) and its TOPGUN training program, which inspired the popular movie of the same name.
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$151.81 $159.8
The base is recognised as the world's largest Master Jet Air Station
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, also known as MCAS Miramar and Miramar Mcas Airport (IATA: NKX, ICAO: KNKX, FAA LID: NKX), is a United States Marine Corps installation recognised as the world's largest Master Jet Air Station. The base, which contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km2), is located in Miramar, a community of San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego.
The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II. In 1947, the Marines moved to MCAS El Toro in Orange County, California, and Miramar was redesignated as NAAS Miramar (Naval Auxiliary Air Station Miramar). It became NAS Miramar (Naval Air Station Miramar) on 1 March 1952. In 1954, the Navy offered NAS Miramar to the city of San Diego for $1, but the offer was declined as it was deemed too far away from most residents. Only the western half of Miramar's facilities were put to use, while the old east station, or "East Miramar", began to deteriorate.
Miramar found new life as a Navy Master Jet Station in the 1950s. The eastern half, formerly Camp Elliot, was used by the United States Air Force for Project Orion and later by NASA for several launches. The base played a significant role during the Vietnam War and was the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS), its TOPGUN training program, and the movie of the same name. In 1996, NFWS relocated to Naval Air Station Fallon in western Nevada, where it merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC).
MCAS Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The base is also the site of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, which closed in 2021, and the Miramar Airshow, a major annual airshow held the last weekend of September. The nearby Miramar National Cemetery, an extension of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, will accommodate approximately 235,000 deceased veterans and spouses when complete.
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The Miramar Airshow is held annually at the Marine Corps Air Station
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Miramar, a community of San Diego, California, about 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown San Diego. The airfield has been named Mitscher Field since 1955, after Admiral M.A. Mitscher, the commander of Task Force 58 during World War II. The base covers 23,116 acres (93.55 km2) and is bisected by Kearny Villa Road and Interstate 15.
The history of the airshow goes back to 1950 when the Marine Corps aircraft squadrons based in the region at that time, which were located at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin and Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Orange County, began producing their own annual air show. In 1993, it was announced that MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin would be closed, and the Miramar facility would be transferred to the Marine Corps. The final Navy-produced Miramar Air Show was held in 1997, and since 1998, the Marine Corps has taken over the production of the show.
The Miramar Airshow usually takes place during the last weekend of September. The daily performance schedule is largely the same for all three days, with an extra "twilight show" on Saturday night, which includes a fireworks display and the detonation of the "Great Wall of Fire" pyrotechnic display. The show also attracts a number of civilian performers from the U.S. air show circuit, flying prop planes, jet aircraft, and gliders. The Saturday twilight show is particularly notable for its inclusion of military and civilian performers, as well as its impressive pyrotechnic displays.
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Frequently asked questions
NKX is the IATA, ICAO, and FAA LID code for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, a United States Marine Corps installation located in Miramar, San Diego, California.
The official name of the airport is Miramar Mcas Airport.
The base contains 23,116 acres (93.55 km2).
The base is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. It is also the former location of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) and its TOPGUN training program.
The land on which the base is located was first inhabited by Kumeyaay Native Americans. In 1542, Spain claimed the San Diego area and began colonizing it in 1769. After the American Civil War, the land was divided and sold, with newspaper publisher Edward Scripps developing a ranch on the site and naming it Miramar, meaning "view of the sea". The base came into its own during the Vietnam War.
