OCEAN CITY, Maryland 鈥� The sand and surf are usually why people go to the beach, but this weekend thousands will be focused on the sky during the Ocean City Air Show.
鈥淭he air show has become one of our signature events,鈥� says Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a two-day event, [but] actually there鈥檚 a practice day so it stretches into three.”
And the Ocean City Air Show isn’t like most, Meehan said:聽鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of air shows throughout the country, and many of them take place at airports over the tarmac. There鈥檚 something special about watching the different types of planes right out over the ocean, watching them from the beach, the boardwalk.鈥�
It鈥檚 the ninth year in a row for the air show, something Meehan calls 鈥渁 showcase of America,鈥� and this year鈥檚 event will be highlighted by the U.S.聽Air Force’s Thunderbirds.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a very elite precision team,鈥� says air show spokeswoman Cathy Bassett.聽 鈥淲hat they can do is pretty extraordinary — just inches apart, wingtip to wingtip.鈥�
鈥淲hen聽the Thunderbirds all of a sudden come flying through and across the beach, it makes the hair stand up on your arms,鈥� said Meehan.聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 something you just have to see.鈥�
It鈥檒l be the Thunderbirds’ first performance since a plane crashed during the Air Force Academy鈥檚 Commencement in May.聽 But that鈥檚 not the only first for聽this weekend’s show:聽Bassett says the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter will also make its debut.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 even been approved for combat yet, so a lot of folks haven鈥檛 even seen this aircraft,” said Bassett.
鈥淭he pilots wear a helmet so all of the screens, all of the displays, are actually displayed right in front of them in their helmet so when they turn to the left they no longer have to look in front of them anymore, everything goes with them.聽 It鈥檚 super-advanced, exciting, it鈥檚 the next-generation aircraft fighter jet,” she said.
This new F-35 will take part in what鈥檚 called 鈥渁 heritage flight,鈥� streaking across the sky paired up with a P-51 Mustang, which dates back to World War II, in what Bassett calls a showcasing of 鈥渢he past and future of Air Force technology.鈥�
The Drop Zone, as they call the show鈥檚 center point, is at 16th聽Street and the boardwalk, though if you want to see the show from there you鈥檒l have to buy tickets. The Air Show says in the Drop Zone you’ll get a 50-yard line view of the show, with concert-quality sound and narration of the show.聽 It鈥檚 also where paratroopers will land during the show.
But with planes soaring up and down several blocks of the beach in each direction, you鈥檒l have lots of room to get a free view of some of the American military鈥檚 best fliers. 聽You鈥檒l want to make sure you鈥檙e south of the Route 90 bridge at 62nd Street, though, if not even closer to 16th聽Street.
鈥淭here will be people in boats in the bay, people in boats in the ocean watching it,鈥� said Bassett.
You’ll want to show up early if you plan to get a seat at聽any of the bars and restaurants offering outdoor seating on the boardwalk.
鈥淭he crowd on the boardwalk probably exceeds the crowd on the Fourth of July,鈥� Meehan said.
Bassett said photos taken from up above last year’s show “more people on the beach than there鈥檚 ever been before.聽There were people lined up from the Inlet up. 鈥�
And this year鈥檚 show figures to be even better.
鈥淭he great thing about the Thunderbirds is their reach,鈥� says Bassett.聽 鈥淥nce they arrive in town, there鈥檚 no excuse: You will know that they鈥檙e in town.鈥�
The show runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the Thunderbirds flying through around 3 p.m.聽 But you shouldn鈥檛 be surprised if you see some planes in the air on Friday, since the pilots fly through to get familiar with the surroundings.
And if you can鈥檛 make it this weekend, start planning for next year, when the Blue Angels are scheduled to perform.
