2006 Atlantic City "Thunder over the Boardwalk" Airshow/title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0"> </head> <body bgcolor="#C0C0C0"> <p><a href="http://wwwa.accuweather.com/forecast.asp?zipcode=08401&partner=ptin" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.accuweather.com/wxpost/byzip/08401/31/wxport.png" border="1" alt="WXPort" align="right" width="200" height="125"></a><font size="4" face="Arial"><u><b>2006 Atlantic City "Thunder over the Boardwalk" Airshow<br> Atlantic City, NJ</b></u><br> </font><font face="Arial" size="2">23 August 2006<br> </font><font face="Arial" size="1"><i>(Photos courtesy of Stan Piet, David Schultz Airshows LLC)</i></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><br> </font><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><br> <img border="0" src="Blues4-acy06.jpg" width="438" height="293" align="left">The largest ever military flying event in New Jersey history was held on 23 August 2006 over the famed Atlantic City Coastline and Boardwalk as the Atlantic City Mainland Regional Chamber of Commerce, David Schultz Airshows LLC, the 177<sup>th</sup> Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, the Borgata, and the City of Atlantic City all teamed up to present the 2006 Atlantic City “Thunder over the Boardwalk” Airshow. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">This year’s event featured both the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and the United States Navy Blue Angels at their only joint appearance in the world for 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As part of their annual reunion, the teams arrived on the Sunday prior to the Wednesday show and enjoyed a down day of reunion activities and also participated in the flying activities on Tuesday and Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">The two major jet teams were joined at the event by the US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team as well as the single ship Air Force F-16 Falcon East Coast Demonstration Team and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">The morning started off with a lumbering flight of the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Blimp of New Jersey at 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Golden Knights then followed with the Flag Jump and Mass Exit demonstration under the best weather conditions in the event’s 4 year history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following the Knights, were flybys conducted by a 4-ship of F-16C Falcons from the 177<sup>th</sup> Fighter Wing, a single ship KC-135 Stratotanker flyby from the 108<sup>th</sup> ARW from McGuire AFB, a KC-10 Extender flyby from the 305<sup>th</sup> AMW from McGuire AFB and a C-17A Globemaster III flyby from the 514<sup>th</sup> AMW from McGuire AFB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was also a joint New Jersey Air National Guard with a single KC-135 with a pair of F-16s on the wing. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">With little to no downtime between the performances, as soon as the KC-10 exited the box to the south, Michael Hunter dove into the aerobatic box in his Lazer 230 for his Flight for Diabetes aerobatic demonstrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following this opening aerobatic performance, the FAA William J Hughes Technical Center showcased two of their aircraft with a low level flyby from their Boeing 727 and their new Bombardier Global 5000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The 727 is being retired from service within the next few months and the new Global 5000 will be picking up the mission of the 727.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The event was a great way for the FAA Technical Center to showcase both old and new in front of the over 600,000 airshow fans that packed the boardwalk and beach during the Wednesday event. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><img border="0" src="Heritage4-acy06.jpg" width="425" height="283" align="right">As the Global 5000 exited the airshow area, Jim Beasley Jr. entered the box from show right with a high speed pass and into his aerobatic routine in the North American P-51D Mustang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After showcasing the ability and the wonderful sounds of the aircraft, the USAF F-16C Falcon East Coast Demonstration team from Shaw AFB, SC gave the first true sounds of the thunder over the boardwalk throughout his 12 minute demonstration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the conclusion of the demonstration, the F-16 was joined in the air by Beasley in the P-51 for a USAF Heritage Flight. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">As the Heritage Flight aircraft finished, the New Jersey State Police with their two Sikorsky S-76A aircraft joined the airshow from behind the crowd to show the aerial abilities of the State Police Aviation Unit based in Trenton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Continuing with the presentation of aircraft, a United States Air Force B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber entered from behind the crowd as well to start its short flyby routine and its first appearance at the Atlantic City Airshow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">Following the B-2 demonstration, was Sean Tucker in the Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not originally intended for aerobatics, Sean showcased the aircraft for a short demonstration prior to the new USAF F-22 Raptor entered the airshow area once again from behind the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the next 6 minutes, over 600,000 airshow fans on the beach and boardwalk were awed by the maneuverability and noise of the Raptor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By far the most impressive maneuver of the 4 pass flyby was the vertical stall at full military power accomplished by Lt. Colonel Shower in the Langley AFB based aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">As the Raptor exited to the east to meet up with a McGuire AFB KC-10 tanker, the United States Blue Angels started their presentation with the low level flight demonstration of their C-130T Hercules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following the C-130 demonstration, the six F/A-18 Hornets from the Blue Angels appeared on the horizon from in front of the crowd to start their 35 minute performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With their first ever appearance at the Atlantic City Airshow, the Blue Angels did not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Along with fantastic formation flights and aerobatics, were some of the lowest solo maneuvers ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">Quickly after the conclusion of the Blue Angels performance, the United States Coast Guard demonstrated the abilities of their aircrews and their two HH-65C Dolphin and single HH-60J Jayhawk aircraft in a simulated search and rescue mission off the coastal waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>During the SAR demo, a single HU-25 Guardian aircraft did flybys of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The HH-65s were based from CGAS Atlantic City while the other two aircraft were from CGAS Cape Cod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>High above the SAR demo aircraft the Geico Skytypers spelled out “BORGATA” as a tribute to the wonderful title sponsor of the 2006 event. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2"><img border="0" src="TB-BA-06Reunion.jpg" align="left">As the Coast Guard exited the airshow, the USAF F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team started their demonstration in their first ever Atlantic City appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following their tactical demonstration, the F-15 was joined in the air by Jim Beasley Jr. in his P-51D Mustang, the F-22A Raptor, and Lt. Colonel Murphy in the Tyndall AFB based QF-4 Phantom II for another USAF Heritage Flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following high speed passes by all aircraft, the QF-4 Phantom II stayed in the airshow box for a few extra burner passes to the delight of the crowd. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">As the QF-4 departed, the Army Golden Knights passed overhead for their streamer drop followed by the Geico Skytypers in their 5-ship SNJ-2 vintage aircraft for their 15 minute formation and solo performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the conclusion of the Skytypers performance, the United States Navy from VX-1 Patuxent River conducted a flyby of their P-3C Orion aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Golden Knights then performed their full show under clear skies and with pinpoint accuracy on their beach landings. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">Following the Golden Knights, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 111<sup>th</sup> Fighter Wing from NASJRB Willow Grove conducted a 4-ship A-10A Thunderbolt II flyby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sean Tucker concluded the civilian aerobatic portion of the airshow with his 11 minute performance showcasing why he is still one of the best in the business today. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">As Sean Tucker concluded his demonstration of the Oracle Challenger, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds conducted a public swearing in, enlistment ceremony for over 30 new recruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Immediately following the ceremony, the six F-16C Fighting Falcons from the United States Air Force flew in from behind the crowd to start their 30 minute performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">The airshow concluded with flybys by the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Blimp of New Jersey along the beachfront. <o:p> </o:p> </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial Narrow" size="2">Believe it or not, plans are already underway for a BIGGER airshow in 2007.</font></p> </body> </html>