Are you ready for another year of high flying thrills and excitement? The 2015 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach—one of New York State’s largest public events—will feature some of the world’s best aerobatic pilots and top performing aircraft. It takes place on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 from noon until 5 p.m. (a new time for the show).
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be headlining this year’s show. This will be the legendary demonstration squadron’s fourth appearance and will include approximately 40 maneuvers, featuring formation flying and solo routines. The United States Air Force Thunderbirds last headlined the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in 2009 and were scheduled to appear again in 2013, but were forced to cancel due to government sequester budget cuts.
New to the show this year is the Breitling Jet Team, the world’s largest professional civilian flight team performing on jets. With its fast and powerful aircraft piloted by “flying aces,” this unique aerobatics team performs a meticulously coordinated ballet, sometimes flying within three meters of each other at speeds of more than 435 miles per hour.
The show will also feature veteran Bethpage Air Show performer Sean Tucker, one of the world’s best aerobatic pilots who was also named a Smithsonian Living Legend. Tucker takes audiences to the edges of their seats and limits of their imaginations with his custom-built Oracle Challenger II biplane, and will be performing his classic Sky Dance routine at the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach. Tucker reaches speeds up to 280 miles per hour and pulls up to 9.5 positive g-forces—9.5 times the weight of the pilot. He has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and has been named one of 25 Living Legends of Flight by the National Air and Space Museum.
Also performing at the Bethpage Air show is Lt. Col John Klatt, who is an active member of the Air National Guard and one of the top aerobatic pilots in the world. Klatt served his country in the Air National Guard, piloting the F-16 Fighting Falcon, including three combat deployments in the Middle East. He thrills air show crowds throughout the U.S. as they watch him fly his high performance MXS aerobatic aircraft through an amazing sequence of jaw-dropping aerial maneuvers.
Other returning performers include the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the John Klatt Air Shows, Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet Waco Aerobatic Team, the GEICO Skytypers, Miss GEICO Speedboat, American Airpower Warbirds and Long Island native David Windmiller.
The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is free of charge, but a standard $10 vehicle use fee will be collected. Bethpage Air Show announcers and Air Boss Wayne Boggs will lead air show activities from the Jones Beach State Park Central Mall Boardwalk area where food, beverages and ground activities will be available for fans.
“Memorial Day weekend is an important time to honor the men and women of our country’s military, which is exactly what the Thunderbirds demonstration squadron is all about, to honor and share the story of our nation’s military who have served and currently serve at locations around the world,” said Linda Armyn, senior vice president of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
For up-to-date information about this year’s show, visit www.bethpageairshow.com or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jonesbeachairshow. You can also contact the New York State office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, regional office, recreation department at 631-321-3510 for details.
