Photo Gallery: 'Parade of Flight' Navy Aviation 100th Anniversary

More than 3,500 people boarded the USS Midway on a postcard-perfect Saturday afternoon to look skyward in a showcase of the history of naval aviation at the Parade of Flight.

The celebration featured more than 50 different kinds of planes, jets and helicopters, and more than 200 total aircraft, in what was billed as the largest formation of military aircraft since World War II.

The aircraft began the parade from the South Bay, flying over the Coronado Bridge at about 1,000 feet elevation, and dropping to 500 feet above San Diego Bay, crossing overhead of the Midway, and banking around to North Island past Harbor Island, Shelter Island, and Point Loma.

On the flight deck, families were able to hear discussions about the ship's aircraft from museum docents, and were able to take photos next to the static aircraft.