The weather was perfect at the Jersey shore with bright sunshine, clear skies, low humidity and temperatures in the low to mid 80’s as the “Thunder Over The Boardwalk” Airshow took to the skies on August 15. This is the 5^th consecutive year for this popular event headlined by the U S Air Force Thunderbirds and a crowd in excess of 500,000 lined the beach and packed the boardwalk for blocks.

Here are a few of the highlights from the show: 

  The Horsemen, 2 P-51 Mustangs with Jim Beasley in Princess Elizabeth and Ed Shipley in Bald Eagle performing a 2 ship aerial ballet in the sky, at times flying so close together that it looked as though one aircraft was flying instead of two. 

  A four ship Heritage Flight consisting of the F-16C flying lead, two P-51’s on left and right wing and the F-15E in the slot.

  The F/A -18C Demo and Lt. Jason “PADI” Naidyhorski.  This was “PADI”’s last performance as the ECHDT pilot and he really put the F/A-18C through its paces as he entered from behind the crowd and took everyone by surprise.  As he concluded his routine with a high speed pass a big cloud of vapor popped all around the aircraft.  Everyone was waiting for the KABOOM! but he kept it just under the speed of sound.

  The B-2A Spirit from Whiteman AFB, Missouri (call sign appropriately named DEATH One One) with a fly-by consisting of three passes done in a figure eight pattern.  It was interesting to note that when the B-2A arrived overhead everyone walking on the boardwalk stopped in their tracks to watch.

  The AV-8B Harrier II East Coast Demo Team with Maj. Sean Patak from VMA-223, MCAS Cherry Point, NC with a full Harrier Demo out over the water.

  Rob Holland in his brand new MX-2.  Rob is a very talented up and coming airshow performer and flew an extremely high energy aerobatic routine.  He never flew straight and level for more than 3 seconds throughout his entire demo. 

  Mike Mancuso in the Extra 300 and Matt Chapman in the CAP 580 flew solo routines and then joined up later in the afternoon for a very nice choreographed 2 ship aerobatic routine.

  The U S Air Force Thunderbirds.  The beach at Atlantic City is a great setting to watch the Thunderbirds perform.  They always start their show coming in from behind the crowd and because of the casino buildings on the boardwalk you cannot see them until they are right on top of you.  

  Airshow operations, coordination and production services were provided by David Schultz Airshows LLC.  The DSA Team consisted of three airbosses, two of them coordinating the flying activities from a total of nine different airports and military bases and a third airboss used as spotter up on top of the Trump Casino.  There was a total of over six hours of non-stop flying activities.  Announcers for the event were Howdy McCann from David Schultz Airshows and “Pinky” Kravitz from AM radio station WOND.