The Full Throttle planes perform precision flying over the beach at the Ocean City air show.
From the ground, the tiny object hovering 6,000 feet above the Ocean City beach Sunday afternoon appeared to be nothing more than a speck in the sky.
But as the object descended closer and closer to the ground, it became clear that it was a skydiver attached to a billowing white parachute.
And tethered to the skydiver, Dimitrije Dadic, was a giant American flag flying majestically in the wind.
Thousands of spectators cheered and applauded when Dadic made a perfect landing on the 12th Street beach to kick off the Ocean City Boardwalk Aerobatic Show in grand style.
“It looks like an incredibly beautiful place to be. I’m honored to be here,” Dadic said in an interview while describing his view of the beach, ocean and Boardwalk after jumping out of the plane at an altitude of 6,000 feet.
“Looking at such a view is amazing. Looking at the spectators is amazing, too,” he continued. “But that’s why we’re here – to make the crowd happy.”
Shortly after Dadic completed his jump, five other members of the Fastrax professional precision skydiving team – Matt Harvey, Jon Forman, Kevin Engel, Brian Pangburn and Ben Johnis – landed on the beach after treating the spectators to a patriotic aerial show of red, white and blue streamers and smoke.
Their performance also honored U.S. military members killed in combat. They carried an "Honor and Remember" flag bearing the signatures of 600 family members who have lost loved ones serving in the military.
In addition to the Fastrax skydivers, the air show included the aerial choreography of top aerobatic pilots performing an array of gravity defying rolls, loops, twists and flips.
At one point, the crowd gasped as pilot Scott Francis’ single-engine plane zoomed skyward, then hung motionless in midair for a few seconds before swooping down at high speed perilously close to the ocean.
“Ladies and gentlemen, be prepared to be stunned, amazed and thrilled,” air show announcer “Fast” Eddie Leuter said as Francis began his performance.
Francis somehow maneuvered his plane sideways during an incredible display of precision flying. When Francis tumbled and rolled his plane, Leuter exclaimed, “Oh, that’s a wild ride!”
Other aerobatic pilots performing solo acts at the 90-minute show included Rick Volker and Kevin Russo. The Jersey Jerks team flew in close formation while executing a series of maneuvers in four vintage T-6 planes with roaring engines.
Full Throttle featured nine single-engine planes performing precision flying in tight formation.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter staged a search-and-rescue demonstration while hovering low over the water. Later, the orange helicopter did a high-speed pass just off the beach to the delight of spectators.
Friends and fellow air show buffs Ed Willis, of Egg Harbor Township, Dianne Printz, of Margate, Gary Driscoll, of Tuckerton, and Andrew Doherty, of Beesleys Point, marveled over the displays of precision flying.
“Everything – the weather, the people, the planes. It’s great,” Willis said when asked what he liked best about the air show.
Willis added that if there was a “wish list” for spectators, he would like to see more military aircraft perform in Ocean City in the future. But otherwise, he counts Ocean City’s air show as one of his favorites.
The air show Sunday capped off a weekend of family-friendly events in Ocean City, including a festival at the municipal airport on Saturday. Fastrax performed a patriotic-themed group skydive at the airport on Saturday afternoon and followed up with a spectacular nighttime jump that lit up the sky above the Boardwalk with pyrotechnics.
Resembling the massive crowds Ocean City attracts during a busy weekend day in the summer tourism season, the beaches and Boardwalk were packed with thousands of air show spectators Sunday afternoon.
“Visually, on the beach it looks like a healthy August day,” said Dan Kelchner, the city’s director of Community Services.
Kelchner estimated that the air show and related events drew about 30,000 visitors throughout the weekend – perhaps the largest crowd ever.
“The numbers are definitely up across the board,” Kelchner said in an interview.
He attributed the big crowds to the beautiful weekend weather, pent-up demand for air shows following the cancellation this summer of Atlantic City’s major air show and Ocean City’s strong relationship with its air show performers.
The air show is one of the centerpieces of Ocean City’s lineup of family-friendly fall events to continue attracting tourists to town after the summer tourism season is over.
“It does a lot for the Boardwalk. It seemed like July today and last night. It’s a really strong transition as we head into our shoulder season events,” Kelchner said.
Check out top pilots performing stunts in aerobatic planes, the famous T-6 formations and Team Fastrax skydivers jumping out of a plane over Ocean City's beach while carrying the American flag.
