Date: May 26-27, 2007
Story by: Scott Snorteland
Photography by: Scott Snorteland

Hundreds of thousands of people ventured out to the beach Memorial Day weekend, for the 4th Annual Bethpage Federal Credit Union Airshow at Jones Beach on Long Island. Given Long Island’s significant aviation history, several generations of aircraft took to the skies, as crowds paid tribute to the new, the old, and the current aircraft, as well as the men and women currently serving our nation. Though the hazy, hot and humid weather proved difficult for photography, conditions were perfect for a day at the beach with family and friends.

In only its fourth year, the show at Jones Beach has become a consistent treat for New Yorkers on the holiday weekend. Growing steadily bigger and better, it continues to draw more people with each year. “It’s one of my favorite shows,” stated Airboss Wayne Boggs who has been working the show since its start in 2004. “It’s an honor to be here in New York with my family and to be a part of something really great on Memorial Day weekend.”

The Jones Beach show is somewhat unique compared to other shows. Being that it is a remote show flown over the water,it gives fans several different opportunities and vantage points to enjoy the show. Although the show was held on Saturday and Sunday, 45,000 spectators made it out to Friday’s practice show alone.

In addition to the show at the beach, you will find thousands of people and aviation enthusiasts alike, standing on their cars packed along the perimeter fence line of Republic Airport, just a few miles away from the beach. Watching the show from Republic gives crowds the opportunity to see takeoffs and landings from a different perspective not normally seen at the standard airshow, as pilots fly several passes and breaks to land for the large crowds on hand. In addition to the excitement in the air, the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport was open the entire weekend, providing the opportunity to view participating and non participating aircraft on static display. On hand was the B-17 Yankee Lady, the RAF Avro Lancaster from CWHM, as well as the museum’s own warbirds. The East Coast demo team’s Super Hornets and A-10s were also on static display.

The show featured today’s top military performers headlined by the Thunderbirds, the East coast A-10 and Super Hornet teams, as well as some fly-bys from the B-1B Lancer. “It’s always great to fly in front of your home crowd at a show that I am so proud of,” stated Long Island’s own Mike Mancusso after he and Matt Chapman put on a spectacular performance. Soon after, parents and children ran to the water to watch New York’s 106th ANG’s SAR demo. The crowd cheered and clapped as they pulled divers out of the water, in a hands-on display of their search and rescue capabilities. Perhaps one of the highlights of the show for Memorial Day weekend was the warbird review, which included the RAF Avro Lancaster, the B-17 Yankee Lady, as well as a B-25, P-51, and two P-40 Warhawks. Sean D. Tucker, John Klatt, Ed Hamill and Long Island's own David Windmiller all wowed the crowds with some top notch aerobatic performances.

In only its fourth year, the show continues to grow in many ways. “It’s turned into everything we hoped it would be in the past four years in terms of crowds and performers within the airshow industry,” stated George Gorman, Regional Director for New York State Office of Parks. With all three days combined, the New York State Parks Department counted a whopping 441,000 spectators, beating out last years record setting number by 27,000 people. It has proved to be the perfect addition to the already festive and symbolic holiday weekend on Long Island.

Photo captions left to right: (1) New York’s 106th ANG’s SAR demo. (2) Avro Lancaster. (3) Warbird fly-by - B-25, two P-40s on the wings, and a P-51. (4) A thunderbird F-16 departs from Republic. (5) B-25. (6) F/A-18 Super Hornet landing at Republic. (7) Ed Hamill. (8) P-51 at night. (9) The Golden Knights salute the memory of LCdr Kevin Davis, Blue Angel #6. (10) Thunderbirds Diamond. (11) and (12) Michael Mancuso and Matt Chapman. (13) Avro lancaster. (14) and (15) B-1B. (16) Super Hornet. (17) GEICO Skytypers. (18) P-40 Warhawk. (19) B-17 Yankee Lady. (20) Thunderbird #3, Maj Nicole Malachowski comes in for a landing at Republic airport on Long Island.