August means wrapping up the summer with what has become one of the most popular annual spectacles in the East. It's time once again for Atlantic City's Airshow, the free display of military air might and civilian airborne acrobatics that soars over the beach and sea in front of Boardwalk Hall every year. The Airshow, titled "Thunder Over the Boardwalk," has grown over the past few years into the second-largest spectacle of its kind on the East Coast. This year's show takes place all day on Wednesday, August 31, but it is really a three-day event, as military and civilian aircraft spend two days practicing their thunderous fly-overs. The August 31 show, sponsored by the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard and the Atlantic City Regional Chamber of Commerce, promises to draw unprecedented numbers of spectators to the Boardwalk, the beach, and even the sea, as a flotilla of private boats forms a massive water-borne audience. While last year's event drew some 400,000 spectators over the three days, this year, the event's sponsors estimate crowds at well over half a million, with some estimates going as high as 750,000. "This show has consistently gained in popularity," says Dave Schultz, the show's "airboss," whose company Dave Shultz Airshows LLC is coordinating all the activities. "This is something people are looking forward to all along the coastline every year. In addition to the crowds on the Boardwalk and beach, we expect to have a massive flotilla of boats carrying folks watching the show from the water. Last year, we had around 250 boats a day, with almost 300 on the Wednesday of the show. It is probably the smallest private navy in the world!" [New for 2005] This year's Airshow will include the now-familiar military demonstrations of flying formations by the F-16s and other aircraft of the 177th Fighter Wing, the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Golden Knights, as well as displays of flying feats by the Air Force F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team and a search-and-rescue demonstration by the U.S. Coast Guard in a multi-ship operation. Other military acts returning to this year's airshow in popular demonstrations include the 108th Air Refueling Wing with its KC-135E Stratotanker, Dover's C-5B Galaxy, and McGuire's KC-10A Extender and C-17A Globemaster III. Civilian performers will include the Vultures Formation Team and John Klatt Airshows' Air National Guard-sponsored Staudacher S-300D. However, this year also features several new military and civilian acts as part of the show. Most prominent among these will be a demonstration by the U.S. Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier jet. That's the jet that takes off and lands vertically, and is capable of hovering in place. "We're very fortunate to have the Harrier jet this year, because this unit does very few shows," says Elisa Monroe, director of member events at the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber liaison with the show's coordinators. "It is probably the most exciting development this year." Schultz agrees, adding that the Marines' Harrier group has not made an appearance anywhere in New Jersey for at least the past decade. "Having the Marine Corps' Harrier is a great addition," he says. "Seeing it hovering out there, blowing water up… It's not only loud, but exciting to see this technology in action." National Guard Maj. Neil Snetsky, who heads up the 177th's airshow operations, calls it an "awesome display," noting that the public may remember the Harrier jet from Arnold Schwartzenegger's film True Lies. Also new this year is a demonstration jump by the U.S. Army's Black Daggers, an elite paratrooper team that is part of the U.S. Special Forces. The group will conduct a fully combat-equipped parachute jump onto the Atlantic City beach. "These are guys who literally have just gotten back from Iraq and Afghanistan," says Shultz. "They could get called back up to be in Iraq on 48 hours notice." Also on the military side, this year will feature a demonstration of the F-86 Super Saber jet from the Korean War, piloted by legendary military ace Capt. Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, one of the most decorated military pilots of the Gulf War, where he commanded all U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats. Snodgrass has flown the vintage F-86, capable of reaching speeds of 700 m.p.h., in death-defying aerobatic feats at airshows across the country. Snodgrass will also pilot the F-86 to join the U.S. Air Force demonstration aircraft in the Heritage Flight formation during the event. Several new acts will be featured on the civilian side of the airshow this year as well. Kirby Chambliss, one of the top civilian aerobatics performers in the country, will be the featured pilot in a demonstration sponsored by Red Bull. Also, Michael Hunter will perform aerobatics in a Laser 230 airplane in a new feature called the "Flight for Diabetes." [Raising Awareness] Fight for Diabetes is a nonprofit group that conducts motivational programs for diabetic children. The aerobatics demonstrations by Hunter, who is an insulin-dependent diabetic, are meant to not only raise awareness about the disease, but to offer hope to children afflicted by it. "This group does a lot for kids in the community," says Snetsky. "Hunter's demonstrations are meant to say to kids with diabetes, ‘Your life is not over—I'm a diabetic, and look what I can do.' It's really great." The special demonstrations combine with the multitude of fly-overs in tight formation to create an unforgettable spectacle that is still growing in popularity. Other than viewing the show on a private boat in the water, a beachfront chalet in the center of the action in front of Kennedy Plaza is the best spot. According to Monroe, the Chamber sets up a corporate chalet with tents on the beach at show-center for sponsors and their invited guests. The Airshow still has sponsorships and beachfront chalets available, and is still seeking volunteers to help out with the show. Anyone who is interested should contact Elisa Monroe at the Chamber, 609-345-4524, ext. 12. "Preparation for this year's show has been a good collaborative effort," says Shultz, whose company is already well into planning for the 2006 event. "The city has been very cooperative, with police and rescue officials ready. The U.S. Coast Guard is on board to handle the massive flotilla of boats we expect. Everything is on queue for a fantastic show." All the Boardwalk casino hotels are ready as well, to handle what is expected to be the largest three-day influx of visitors of the summer—and an early start to one of the busiest weekends of the season; Labor Day is the following Monday. So plan to get there early to stake out a good spot. Half a million people plan to wrap up the summer season with a thunderous celebration.

By Frank Legato

Frank Legato is editor of Casino Connection and also editor of Global Gaming Business magazine. He has been writing on gaming topics since 1984, when he launched and served as editor of Casino Gaming magazine. Legato, a nationally recognized expert on slot machines, has served as editor and reporter for a variety of gaming publications, including Public Gaming, IGWB, Casino Journal, Casino Player, Strictly Slots and Atlantic City Insider. He has an B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the author of the recently published book on gaming, How To Win Millions Playing Slot Machines... Or Lose Trying.

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