For one day, the seagulls had to move over.
The skies over Ocean City were filled Saturday with antique planes, historic “war birds” contemporary planes, ultra-lites, even model planes and paper planes.
Ocean City Boy Scout Troop 32 did an outstanding job welcoming all the attendees of the 2017 Air Festival
The Ocean City Air Festival’s 21
st Annual edition started off with fog, which temporarily prevented some of the larger planes from landing. But the fog burned off, skies cleared and thousands of spectators packed Municipal Airport for the festivities.
There were planes for every taste. Young and old had a great time at this annual family friendly event.
Ginger Mumman (Little Miss Ocean City), Todd Dwyer, and Mike DeVlieger had the honors of presenting the aircraft and antique auto awards.
A panel of judges awarded prizes for crafts in a variety of categories:
Rich Wallin,
Antique Aircraft; Scott Griffith,
Best in Show; Scott Clark,
Classic; Jon Ginter,
Contemporary; Dave Cresenzo, Custom Built; Deighton Hobbs,
Outstanding Aircraft; Greg Stringer,
War Bird; and Nelson Baker,
People’s Choice.
These unusual and rare crafts drew many “ooh’s” and “aah’s” as they made their way down the runways of the OC Municipal Airport.
Due to the morning fog, the appearance of a rare World War II B-25 Mitchell Bomber, one of the most versatile planes of that conflict and the B-25 had to be cancelled. The B-25 was used in the famous “Dolittle Raid,” considered one of the turning points of World War II. The raid, although it caused minimal damage, was a psychological blow to the Japanese since it was the first air raid on mainland Japan during the war. That did not bring this crowd down because there was still plenty more to do and see.
Brennan Corcoran (4 years old) and Kendall Tannehill (5 years old), from Margate, had a ball playing in the fire truck.
Paul Casalese and Terri Pierce of the Coast Guard Auxiliary were busy educating the public on boating safety.
Colby Pickering (9 years old) from Levittown, PA came in for the air show with his family. Pictured here with Ptl. Patrick Walsh of the OCPD Traffic Safety unit.
Following the afternoon show, a second event drew eyes skyward once more as Team Fastrax blew over the ocean and beach and a five-person team of parachute jumpers landed on the beach.
The four men and one woman descended in illuminated jumpsuits to the delight of hundreds of spectators lining the boardwalk and spilling out onto the beach.
Once on the ground the team of Larry Compton, Ron Condrey, John Hart, John Garrido and Shannon Garrido accepted the cheers from the crowd and were greeted by well-wishers on the beach.
The Fastrax Team completed a night jump that included pyrotechnics just after 8pm. They landed on the beach between 7th & 8th streets to the delight of the droves of people on the boardwalk. Photo Credit: Ian Crowley
All in all, it was a very successful day at the airport and in the skies over Ocean City.
