We’ve been teasing you with updates on the OC Air Show for several weeks now and the wait is finally (almost) over! The OC Air Show is just one week away which means it won’t be long before we will be posting up on the Boardwalk in Ocean City to see the high-flying performances. In fact, you’ll probably start spotting planes flying overhead even earlier as planes start arriving at Wallops Island mid-week to perform test runs across the Eastern Shore. We look forward to the OC Air Show each year, but this year in particular because of the fantastic lineup of performances. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the Breitling Jet Team, F-22 Raptor Demo Team, and more are all headed our way! Let’s take a look at the scheduled events and performers for June 13 & 14:
Bacardi Welcome Party: It’s not an Ocean City event without a little pre-event celebrating. The fun kicks off on Thursday, June 11 at Blu Crabhouse at the Bacardi Welcome Party. The Bacardi Party marks the first chance for the public to get out and meet the pilots, jumpers and crews as they arrive to OCMD for the Air Show. The event starts at 6pm and is open to the public.
Jack Daniels Fire Takeoff Party: Cowboy Coast will host the Jack Daniels Fire Takeoff Party on Friday evening, giving the public another opportunity to meet the pilots and crew. The event is free and open to the public.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels: We are pretty excited about this addition to the Air Show; in fact, it’s the first time that the Blue Angels will be performing at the OC Air Show! What to expect? The Blue Angels’ C-130, a.k.a Fat Albert, will showcase its maximum performance capabilities during a ten-minute performance, followed by the six Blue Angels arriving to join in on the fun. The team will perform 65 shows in 34 different cities across the U.S. in 2015 so we feel pretty lucky to have them flying over our local beaches. Definitely a ‘must-see’ performance! What’s more, Captain Katie Higgins will be the first female pilot to ever fly with the Blue Angels! As a Maryland native, this will certainly be a memorable show for Captain Higgins as she maneuvers Fat Albert over the Maryland beaches.
Breitling Jet Team: Another milestone performance, the Breitling Jet Team will be the first international jet team to ever perform at the OC Air Show! The Jet Team is renowned for their aerobatic flight performances, which includes seven pilots flying custom modified L-39 jets, sometimes within 10-feet of each other at speeds of over 400 miles per hour. The rapid-fire succession of maneuvers is another ‘must-see’ event for next weekend!
F-22 Raptor: The most advanced fighter aircraft in the world today will be joining the 2015 OC Air Show, rounding out the triple headliner for the event. The F-22 Raptor is currently unmatched by any known or projected fighter aircraft, boasting a combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics. Its sophisticated sensor suite allow the pilot to track, identify, shoot and eliminate air-to-air threats before even being detected. The F-22 Raptor can also cruise at supersonic air speeds and produces more thrust than any current fighter engine. Yep, another ‘must-see’!
70th Anniversary VE-Day Celebration: This year, the OC Air Show will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of VE-Day and the end of World War II in Europe with a B-25 Tribute Flight and a P-51 Mustang Demo.
Saturday (June 13) Sequence of Flight:
- National Anthem – Flag Jump
- Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts
- L-39 Cold War Era Jet Demo
- B-25 Mitchell “Panchito” WWII Bomber
- Brietling Jet Team
- John Klatt
- Lucas Oil Jump Team
- P-51 Mustang Demo
- USAF F-22 Raptor Demo
- USAF Heritage Flight
- USCG Search and Rescue Demo
- Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts
- Fat Albert
- U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Sunday (June 14) Sequence of Flight:
- National Anthem – Flag Jump
- Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts
- L-39 Cold War Era Jet Demo
- Brietling Jet Team
- John Klatt
- Lucas Oil Jump Team
- B-25 Mitchell “Panchito” WWII Bomber
- P-51 Mustang Demo
- USAF F-22 Raptor Demo
- USAF Heritage Flight
- USCG Search and Rescue Demo
- Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts
- Fat Albert
- U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Note: On both days, OC Air Show performances begin at noon and are centered at 16th Street on the Boardwalk in OCMD. Performances will be visible up and down the Boardwalk.