Ocean City Welcomes Aviation All-Stars for Sunday’s Boardwalk Air Show

Ocean City’s annual Air Show Weekend will culminate in a spectacular finale on Sunday, September 14, as some of the nation’s best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions take to the skies for the Boardwalk Aerobatic Air Show. Starting at 1 p.m., the show promises to be a thrilling display of aerial skill and power, with thousands of spectators expected to line the beach and boardwalk to witness the high-flying spectacle.

This year’s lineup features a diverse mix of performers, from decorated military veterans to world-class aerobatic competitors, all ready to showcase their unique routines. The show is best viewed from the area between Fifth and 14th Streets. Swift’s Beach Services will offer free face painting for kids at their 12th Street location.

Featured Performers:

• Team Fastrax: Known for their daring and patriotic skydiving demonstrations, the team will transition from their Saturday night pyrotechnic show to a daytime performance. The team is the largest professional skydiving team in the world, with over 40 active members, many of whom are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. They are also known for their support of the Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals Warrior Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to assisting combat-injured warriors and Gold Star families.
• Kevin Russo: A fan favorite and a native of South Jersey, Kevin Russo will perform his solo aerobatic routine in his meticulously restored SNJ-6 Texan, a legendary WWII-era aircraft. Russo has a distinguished background, having flown for the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 24 years, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and flew over 100 missions in Desert Storm. He is a highly experienced pilot who has logged over 23,000 hours in various military, airline, and corporate aircraft.
• The Jersey Jerks: This team of highly experienced formation pilots, which includes Kevin Russo, is a fixture in the Warbird community. The “Jerks” fly a formation routine with their vintage SNJ/Texan aircraft. Their team name is a tribute to Major General Donald J. Strait, a New Jersey native and decorated WWII pilot who flew a P-51 Mustang named “Jersey Jerk.”
• Rick Volker: An internationally recognized aerobatic pilot, Rick Volker will deliver a high-energy show that pushes the limits of human endurance. Volker is an International Aerobatic Club pilot who has won numerous regional competitions and is one of the few pilots in the world qualified to fly rare warbirds like the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and the Supermarine Spitfire. A former competitive athlete, Volker’s background in sports like swimming and speed skating has prepared him for the physical demands of flying, which can involve alternating between plus-11 and minus-9 Gs.
• The NextGen Eagles: This aerobatic team consists of lead pilot Leland Kracher and wingman Tom Braymer. They are the world’s only Christen Eagle aerobatic team, bringing a unique and nostalgic two-ship formation to the air show circuit. Both pilots soloed at a young age and were mentored by the legendary Iron Eagle aerobatic team, carrying on a tradition of precision flying.
• Robert “Rooster” Schmidle: A highly decorated and retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General, Robert “Rooster” Schmidle will fly his Pitts Special S-1D. A graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Schmidle has over 6,000 hours of flight time in more than 25 different military aircraft. He planned and led the largest Marine Corps strike on the first night of Operation Desert Storm, for which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.
• U.S. Coast Guard and KC-46A Pegasus: The air show will also feature a demonstration from the U.S. Coast Guard, showcasing their vital role in search and rescue operations. Additionally, a powerful KC-46A Pegasus from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will perform a flyover. The KC-46A is the newest air refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force, providing crucial aerial refueling, cargo, and medical evacuation capabilities.

With a lineup of such experienced and accomplished pilots, the Ocean City Boardwalk Aerobatic Air Show is poised to be an unforgettable afternoon of aviation excellence.