By MADDY VITALE
Jumps, loops, rolls and a lot of G-forces went into Ocean City’s Air Show on Sunday, with expert skydivers and aerobatic pilots showcasing their talents for the thousands of spectators who marveled at the stunts.
Families packed the beaches and lined up along the Boardwalk from Sixth to 14th streets for the Aerobatic Air Show.
The crowd also got to see a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter demonstration of a water rescue, planes built in the 1940s and even a T-33, the U.S. Air Force’s first operational jet and a piece of U.S. aviation history.
Team Fastrax, a professional skydiving outfit that dedicates every performance to a fallen service member or first responder, has appeared in the air show for three years.
The skydivers floated to the crowd displaying the American flag.
Sunday’s performance was dedicated to Army Specialist Alyssa Peterson from Flagstaff, Ariz., who died on Sept 15, 2003, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fastrax team leader Matt Harvey explained.
Harvey said in an interview shortly after the jump that the team enjoys performing in Ocean City.
“Ocean City is one our favorite places to jump. We’re happy to be a part of it and have been doing it in Ocean City for three years. We hope to come back each year. It is one of the most beautiful places to perform.”
When it came to aerobatics, pilot Scott Francis and his high-performance aerobatic plane wowed the crowd with his stunts in his MXS aircraft, for yet another year in Ocean City.
He hovered above the ocean and did loops and twists that seemed to defy gravity.
And he seemed to do it with ease. He even spoke to the crowds below.
“Hope everybody is having a great time down there,” Francis said from his aircraft. “I’m having a great time up here.”
Crowds flocked to the beach to view the Coast Guard helicopter rescue mission demonstration.
The helicopter hovered over the ocean. Bright colored smoke displayed where the “swimmer” was.
After a few moments, the swimmer was brought up to safety. The onlookers clapped at the mock mission.
Mike Mangos, of Havertown, Pa., and his wife, Kay, and their sons, Tai, 8, and 5-year-old Ken, came down especially for the air show.
The boys looked to the skies in wonderment when Team Fastrax floated down with the flag banners.
“The jumps are definitely the boys’ favorites,” Mike Mangos said. “I grew up coming down to Ocean City. Now, I like bringing my family down.”
Kay Mangos said the air show was a special treat for the family.
“We’re having fun,” she said.
Paula Moore, of West Chester, Pa., and her daughter, Genevieve, came down to enjoy their summer home in Ocean City for one last hoorah before her daughter heads back to the school.
“We found out this was happening and had to come check it out,” Paula Moore said.
The air show followed a festival at the Ocean City Municipal Airport on Saturday that included airplane displays, demonstrations and family-friendly entertainment.
Some of the other performers included:
Mark Meredith Air Shows: Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Meredith performed award-winning spins and aerobatics.
Ace Maker 33: Gregory “Wired” Colyer showed off the capabilities of the T-33, the U.S. Air Force’s first operational jet.
Tucano Air Shows: The MK1 Tucano and its 1,100-horsepower turboprop “not only roars, it whines,” according to its pilot. The Tucano executed loops and other maneuvers at all speeds.
Kevin Russo Air Shows: Russo is in his 22nd year flying air shows with his restored SNJ-6, which was built in 1944 and delivered to the Navy during World War II.
