with a fresnel lens optical landing system (FLOLS) at each approach end, as well as lit aircraft carrier flight deck landing areas at both ends, so pilots can simulate carrier landings. Apart from touch-and-go landings and take-offs, aircrews use the many ranges at NAF El Centro to develop their skills. A remote-controlled target area allows naval aviators and naval flight officers to practice ordnance delivery. The desert range is used for air-to-ground bombing, rocket firing, strafing, dummy drops and mobile land target training. The target complex uses the Weapons Impact Scoring System that microwaves target images to a range master control building for immediate verification of weapons delivery accuracy. The addition of the Display and Debriefing Subsystem, known as DDS, expanded the role of NAF El Centro to include air combat training by utilizing remote television, acoustical and laser scoring systems. The DDS is linked with the Tactical Air Crew Training System (TACTS) to provide a computerized record of the tactics employed by individual aircrews to employ and to evaluate the effectiveness of each maneuver. The facility is also home to the British Joint Helicopter Force (US) which is part of Joint Helicopter Command. Air show NAF El Centro is the winter home of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels. NAF El Centro historically kicks off the Blue Angels' season with their first air show. Demographics The United States Census Bureau has designated the Naval Air Facility, under the name El Centro Naval Air Facility, as a separate census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, covering the residential population. It first appeared as a CDP in the 2020 Census with a population of 280. 2020 census Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. In popular culture Much of the movie Jarhead was filmed around El Centro, and many of the extras from the movie were from NAF El Centro. In the beginning of the 1990 movie Revenge, Kevin Costner plays an F-14 Tomcat pilot stationed at El Centro. See also Fleet Air Gunnery Unit Pacific List of United States Navy airfields Notes References Books Websites Naval Air Facility El Centro (official site) Retrieved 2022-01-07. Naval Air Facility El Centro GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2022-01-07. History of Naval Air Facility El Centro (California State Military Museum) Retrieved