Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach presents a look at the most modern aircraft jetting into the skies and landing on Naval grounds. One of the four master jet stations owned by the U.S. Navy, Oceana offers a chance to explore many aspects of base operations and aircrafts via Oceana Naval Air Station tours. Nearly twenty aviation fleets are owned by Oceana, including the medium-sized A-6 Intruder attack bombers and F-14 Tomcat fighter planes. Visitors can enjoy many things to do at the base such as watching the Oceana Air Show, enjoying base tours, and visiting the Observation Park and Aviation Historical Park.

Oceana Naval Air Station tours offer a closer look at NAS Oceana, the Master Jet Base of the U.S. Navy and home to the NAS Oceana for over six decades. Anyone with even the slightest interest in specialty aircrafts will enjoy the tour and welcome the opportunity to explore many different aircraft, including Banshees, Tomcats, Panthers, and many more. Strikefighter jets like the Super Hornet and F/A 18 Hornet are also part of the tour. Tour guides relay the history behind many of the aircrafts, explain a little behind the base’s day-to-day operations, and guide visitors through the base and into the Aviation Historical Park.

Tours are only offered during the summer. They depart from the NAS Oceana kiosk at Atlantic Avenue and 24th Street at 9:30 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. for a total of two daily Oceana Naval Air Station tours. The tour proceeds to the base and stops to explore the more than dozen aircrafts within the Aviation Park. There is an option included for lunch at The Officer's Club for a reasonable fee. The tour returns to the kiosk roughly three hours after departure.

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The Observation Park at the Oceana Naval Air Station is situated at Oceana Boulevard at Flame of Hope Memorial Park, a Virginia Beach attraction open to the public. The location, only fifteen minutes from the Virginia Beach Convention Center, is close to the base’s runways, creating the perfect viewing platform for take offs and landings. The Aviation Historical Park is easily the most fascinating stop during tours. It is located at 1750 Tomcat Boulevard inside the base’s Main Gate and is only open to those on an official base tour, to the military, and to base employees. Some of the most popular aircraft within the park include the A-1 Skyraider and the F9F-2 Panther, FJ-3M Fury, F4D Skyray, F-11F Tiger, A4E Skyhawk, and the A-7E Corsair II.

For one of the best events in Virginia Beach, plan to visit when the Oceana Air Show kicks off in September each year over three days. The opening day on Friday is generally celebrated with a twilight air show with main events happening on Saturday and Sunday. Past events have included aerobatics flight teams, precision shows, Bob Carlton’s Jet Powered Glider, and a Pyrotechnics show. Tactical demonstrations, the famous Blue Angels, and parachute jumps along with food, music, and other entertainment make this show one of the best events in the area to attend during vacations. The Oceana Air Show offers several seating areas for those who want seats for the show. Seats offered by the Oceana Naval Air Station include bleacher, general, and reserved seats along with VIP seating in the Executive Squadron Chalet.