Thunder over the Boardwalk

About

The airshow itself primarily showcases military aviation, with demonstrations from the USAF Thunderbirds, United States Navy Blue Angels, US Army Golden Knights, as well as demonstrations from current Air Force and Navy aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Military flybys over the four years of the airshow have included the B-2 Spirit, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, F-22 Raptor, KC-10 Extender, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the P-3 Orion. Helicopters that have showed up over the years include the MH-60S Knighthawk, the HH-60 Jayhawk, the CH-146 Griffon, and the HH-65 Dauphin (the HH-60 and HH-65 - usually two HH-65s - perform a simultaneous search and rescue demonstration over the water).

Aerobatic performers over the years have included Kirby Chambliss, Doug Dodge, Michael Hunter, John Klatt, and Sean Tucker. The Horseman Mustang Demonstration by Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley have also appeared along with the Skytypers and the Vultures Formation Team. The FAA's William J Hughes Technical Center at Atlantic City International Airport has showcased itsConvair 440, Boeing 727-100, and Gulfstream in the show as well. The New Jersey State Police have also shown its Bell 206 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters in the airshows.

Show center is marked in front of Boardwalk Hall (Florida Avenue) and the beach. Aircraft staging for the airshow is done at Atlantic City International Airport and at McGuire AFB, both of which are off-limits to the public.

The USAF Heritage Flight and the US Navy Legacy Flight have also been performed at the show.

Announcers

The announcers for the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Airshow have included Gordon Bowman-Jones (2003 and 2005), Howdy McCann (2004 and 2006) and Pinky Kravitz (2003-2014).

2003

The first show took place on August 27, 2003, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Headlining the show were the Thunderbirds and the Golden Knights. The show also featured demonstrations from the A-10, F-14, F-15, and F-16, all jam packed into a five and a half hour flying display. The weather was not very favorable, as it was very hazy for the entire day.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (Four-Ship formation) 111th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Four-Ship formation) 118th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Two-Ship Demonstration/Flybys) A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team C-17 Globemaster III 2-Ship Flybys C-141B Starlifter Flyby EC-130E Command Solo Flyby F-14 Tomcat Demonstration F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team HC-130J Hercules Flyby HH-65 Dauphin 2-Ship demonstration HU-25 Guardian Flyby KC-10 Extender Flybys KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E and 4x F-16 NJ ANG Refueling demonstration The Horsemen-Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley Ed Shipley F-86 Sabre Demonstration Collings Foundation B-17G Flying Fortress flyby USAF Heritage Flight

2004

The 2004 show was held on August 18, and featured the same four demonstrations, as it would be the last time an F-14 Tomcat would fly over Atlantic City, along with the last airshow appearance of a C-141B Starlifter from McGuire AFB, as the type was being withdrawn from active duty service. The skies were about the same as they were in 2003, and all of the performers were able to put on their best shows for over 350,000 airshow fans and beach-goers.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team C-17 Globemaster III Demonstration F-14 Tomcat Demonstration F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration HH-65B Dauphin SAR Demonstration MH-60S Knighthawk Demonstration C-5 Galaxy Flyby C-130E Hercules Flyby (two-ship) C-141B Starlifter Flyby 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (four-ship formation) HC-130 Hercules Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass P-3C Orion Flyby S-3 Viking Flyby The Starfighters Vulture Flight Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang FAA Tech Center Aircraft Flyby Horizon Blue Cross Blimp Yellow Book Pitts USAF Heritage Flight

2005

The 2005 show was held on August 31, and featured the Thunderbirds once again, but the show was threatened by bad weather inland (caused by the remnants of Hurricane Katrina), which kept many of the performers from showing up, including Dale Snodgrass. High winds curtailed the Golden Knights and Black Daggers from jumping and caused sea spray coming off the ocean to ruin any chances for photographers to get decent pictures. The show was still a success, with over 200,000 people attending.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights US Army SOC Black Daggers 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team AETC Flyby-Two T-1A Jayhawks and T-38 Talon AV-8B Harrier Demonstration C-5B Galaxy Flyby C-130 Hercules Flyby CH-146 Griffon Demonstration Connecticuit ANG A-10 Warthog Flyby F-15 Eagle West Coast Demo Team HC-130H Hercules Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass USCG Search and Rescue Demonstration (two HH-65s) Dale Snodgrass Kirby Chambliss Michael Hunter John Klatt NJSP S-76+ Demonstration/Flybys Horizon Blue Cross Blimp FAA Technical Center- (Convair 580 & Boeing 727-25C Flybys) Missing Man Formation (The Vultures)

2006

In December 2005, the Thunderbirds announced they were returning to Atlantic City for the fourth installment of the show. In February 2006, the Blue Angels announced they had a show site listed as "TBA" for August 23 - the same date as the Atlantic City show. In March, it was formally announced that the Blue Angels would be joining the Thunderbirds for the 2006 show.

Joining the Blues and Birds were a slew of performers making their Atlantic City debut, including Sean Tucker, the new F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team, the B-2 Spirit, the F-4 Phantom, and the F-22 Raptor. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 600,000 people attending the airshow, making the 2006 airshow one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City up until that time. All of the pieces of the puzzle had fit together nicely and both jet teams held their annual reunion at Atlantic City.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Navy Blue Angels US Army Golden Knights 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcon B-2 Spirit Flyby C-17 Globemaster III Flyby F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F-22 Raptor Flybys HH-65 Dauphin & HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration HU-25 Guardian Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby P-3C Orion Flyby QF-4E Phantom II Demonstration/Flybys Sean Tucker Michael Hunter Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang GEICO Sktypers USAF Heritage Flight FAA Tech Center (Global 5000 and Boeing 727 Flybys) New Jersey State Police (S-76 SWAT Demo) Flybys

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights A-10 Thunderbolt II Flyby AV-8B Harrier Demonstration B-2 Spirit Flyby C-5 Galaxy Flyby C-17 Globemaster III Flyby Ch-46 Sea Knight Flyby EC-130J Command Solo Flyby F-16 Fighting Falcon (Four Ship Formation) F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demonstration Team F/A-18C Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106 KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration Matt Chapman Michael Mancuso Rob Holland Horsemen Mustang Demonstration GEICO Skytypers Red Stars Formation Team USAF Heritage Flight FAA William J Hughes Tech Center (Global 5000 Flyby) New Jersey State Police (S-76 and Bell 206 SWAT Demonstration) Flybys Horizon Blue Cross Blimp

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 106th Rescue Wing-HC-130P & HH-60G 177th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcons C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-Dover AFB C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-McGuire AFB CH-46 Sea Knight Flyby EC-130J Command Solo Flyby F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106 HH-65 Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135 Stratotanker Flyby MH-53E Sea Dragon Fly Matt Chapman Tim Weber Greg Poe Ed Hamill Red Eagles Josh Wilson-Yak-50 Jim Beasley Jr. (P-51 Demo) Lee Lauderback (P-51 in HF) Northeast Raiders Formation NJ State Police Bell 206 & S-76 Flybys FAA Tech Center DC-3, Global Express Flybys USAF Heritage Flight US Navy Legacy Flight

2009

The show was held on Wednesday, August 19. It debuted the Flightline Club which provided public seating on the beach and also featured a la carte food and beverage service. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 750,000 people attending the airshow, making it one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City. The schedule included the USAF Heritage Flight featuring the F-16, A-10 and 2 P-51s and the US Navy Legacy Flight featuring F/A-18F and F4U Corsair.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 1st Fighter Wing-F-22 Raptors (Four Ship) 106th Rescue Wing Combat Search & Rescue Demonstration 108th Air Refueling Wing-KC-135R Stratotanker 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons NJ ANG Refueling Pass- KC-135R & F-16s 514th Air Mobility Wing-C-17 Globemaster III 514th Air Mobility Wing-KC-10 Extender 914th Airlift Wing-C-130 Hercules (two) A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team CH-46 Sea Knight (HMM-774) E-2C Hawkeye Flyby (VAW-120) F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106 USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration Rob Holland Tim Weber Josh Wilson KYW-3 Chopper 3 Red Eagle Aerobatic Team New Jersey State Police Flybys The Horsemen FAA Tech Center Flybys-Global Express US Navy Legacy Flight USAF Heritage Flight

2010

The 2010 show was held on Wednesday, August 25 – 100 years after Atlantic City and Asbury Park hosted New Jersey’s very first airshows. According to the New Jersey State Police there were over 750,000 people in attendance.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights Brazilian Smoke Squadron Rob Holland MX2 USMC Harrier Jump Jet Tom Duffy's B-25 Flybys U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Jim Beasley Jr. P-51 USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II Demo Team USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team USCG Search & Rescue demonstration Military Flybys (KC-135, F-16, C-17, KC-10, and many more) FAA William J Hughes Technical Center aircraft flybys USN E-2C Hawkeye demonstration

2011

The show was held on Wednesday, August 17.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team (Flag Jump w/US National Anthem followed by Mass Show) Canadian Skyhawks Parachute Team (Full Show w/ Canadian National Anthem) USAF-ANG 177th FW F-16 Fighting Falcon (4-ship flyby) USAF-ANG 108th ARW KC-135 Stratotanker New Jersey Air National Guard (KC-135 & F-16s composite flyby) Heavy Metal Jet Team L-39C USAF-ANG 166th AW, C-130H Hercules (2-ship flyby) NJ State Police Aviation Unit MedEVAC 5 Helicopter flybys Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire MK18 GEICO Skytypers USCG MH-65C Search & Rescue USAF 514th AMW, C-17A Globemaster III US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Tom Duffy F4U Corsair USMC HMM-774 CH-46E Seaknight USAF-ANG 103rd RQS (HC-130 & HH-60G para-rescue demonstration) USAF-ANG 106th RQS HC-130H Hercules Jim Beasley P-51D Mustang USAF A-10C Thunderbolt II USAF Heritage Flight GEICO SNJ-2 vs. GEICO SpeedBoat race Heavy Metal Jet Team Kendal Simpson Pitts Model 12

2012

The 2012 show was held on Friday, August 17. This was the first year for the show to be held on a weekend. Early attendance estimates were for 1 million people.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 7th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer Flyby 106th Rescue Wing-HC-130H 143rd Airlift Wing-C-130J-30 Hercules 166th Airlift Wing-C-130H Hercules 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons 305th AMW/514th AMW-C-17 Globemaster III 2 QF-4E Phantom SH-60B Seahawk USCG Search & Rescue Demonstrations (MH-65s) USCG HC-130J Hercules Black Diamond Jet Team Hawker Beechcraft Texan II GEICO Skytypers Northeast Raiders Red Eagle Airsports Andrew McKenna (T-6) Jim Beasley Jr. (Spitfire & P-51) USAF Heritage Flight FAA William J Hughes Tech Center (Convair 580 & Global 5000) New Jersey State Police (AW139, Bell 206,S-76)

2013

In 2013, the show returned to a Wednesday but it was held in June instead of its traditional month of August. This year, spending cuts by the United States federal government due to budget sequestration forced the US military to cancel all appearances at airshows, including this show. As a result there were no US military flybys, jet demonstration teams, parachute teams, or solo demonstrations by select fighters. While many airshows elsewhere were canceled due to the absence of US military support, Atlantic City organizers decided the show was going to be held regardless. At the same time, they had a challenge: more commercial acts meant that organizers were looking for more donations to cover the costs of this airshow. Overall, they still managed to put on a good show even without the US military to provide the "thunder" that gave this airshow its name.

2014

The show returned to its traditional month of August. It was held on Wednesday, August 13. With the end of sequestration, US military participants returned to the show.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights USMC Harrier demonstration Andrew McKenna P-51 USCG Search & Rescue Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire Jason Flood Pitts S1S Jack Kelly 1951 Bell 47 Helicopter Model D1 AtlantiCare Medical Helo MidAtlantic MedEvac Helo 6ABC News Chopper USMC AV-8B Harrier II Geico Skytypers (6-ship) & Geico Speedboat race Warrior Aviation L-39 Raiders Demonstration Team FAA Flybys Andrew McKenna P-51 & Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire (2-ship routine) Rob Holland MX-2 Aerobatics (World Unlimited Aerobatic Champion)

2015

The show was held on Wednesday, September 2. The Blue Angels were the first announced participant. The Star-Spangled Banner was delivered by Lee Greenwood.

Performers

USN Blue Angels Jim Beasley III – J3 Cub LUCAS Oil Skydivers Flag Jump Mike Wiskus – LUCAS Oil Pitts GEICO Skytypers Jim Beasley Jr. – SNJ Texan Jack Kelly – Bell 47D1 Helicopter AtlantiCare Medical Helicopter MidAtlantic MedEvac Helicopter Chopper 6 (WPVI – Channel 6 ABC) New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit Raiders Aerobatic Demonstration Team Jim Beasley – P-51D Mustang USAF F-22 Raptor USAF Heritage Flight (F-22 & P-51) GEICO Skytypers vs. Miss GEICO Speedboat Race Matt Chapman Embry Riddle CAP580 USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration Mike Wiskus – LUCAS Oil Pitts USN Blue Angels – C-130T Hercules

Photographic challenges

For a photographer, Thunder Over the Boardwalk presents a very challenging set of circumstances to get the best shot. The show takes place over the Atlantic Ocean, which means that you will be facing the sun all morning and into the afternoon. Getting decent pictures of the aircraft as they pass by the casinos is not difficult at all, as well as getting pictures of the Golden Knights as they land, with the casinos in the background. Photographers on the beach at show center cannot get that many pictures of aircraft when they are at show left because the Pier at Caesars juts out into the ocean about 1,000 feet (300 m) and is a virtual obstruction either way. Because of the Pier, aircraft are forced to fly almost half a mile away from the shore line for safety reasons.