OCEAN CITY — With three major headline acts, including the first-time performance in Ocean City of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, this weekend’s Ocean City Air Show is expected to be a major draw.
Along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels making their inaugural performance at the event, the Breitling Jet Team will be the first international performer to fly at the event and the F-22 Raptor, the most advanced fighter in the world, will showcase its full capabilities in the skies of Ocean City.
The 2015 event will commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE-Day and the end of World War II in Europe with a B-25 Bomber tribute flight and a demo of the P-51 Mustang, the super fighter of its time.
The Heritage Flight program presents the evolution of U.S. Air Force air power by flying America’s newest super fighter, the F-22 Raptor, in formation with a vintage World War II era P-51 Mustang.
“There could not be a better way for the OC Air Show to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of VE Day and the end of World War II in Europe than to have a P-51 Mustang join the F-22 Raptor in the Heritage Flight,” said OC Air Show President Bryan Lilley. “The P-51 was the F-22 Raptor of its day and was key in the allies achieving air superiority in the skies over Europe.”
On Saturday and Sunday, flight performances will begin at noon centered at 16th Street on the Boardwalk.
The F-22 Raptor will be featured in the Heritage Flight program this year along with the vintage World War II era P-51 Mustang.
The sequence of performers is the National Anthem – Flag Jump; Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts; L-39 Cold War Era Jet Demo; B-25 Mitchell “Panchito” WWII Bomber; Brietling Jet Team; John Klatt; Lucas Oil Jump Team; P-51 Mustang Demo; USAF F-22 Raptor Demo; USAF Heritage Flight; USCG Search and Rescue Demo; Mike Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Pitts; Fat Albert; and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
Parking in the downtown area is expected to be limited this weekend, with residents and visitors flocking to the beach for the annual OC Air Show. The Town of Ocean City’s transportation department strongly recommends that event-goers utilize public transit services to make their commute more convenient.
The “Beach Bus” on Coastal Highway operates between downtown Ocean City and 144th Street, from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
Located in West Ocean City, the Park N’ Ride offers free first-come, first-serve parking at the West Ocean City location. The West Ocean City Park N Ride “Beach Bus” operates between downtown Ocean City and West Ocean City, from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily.
Additionally, Ocean City transportation will offer an Express Shuttle on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. The OC Air Show Express Shuttle will operate between the West Ocean City Park N Ride and 17th Street (show center), from 10 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m. each day.
Residents and visitors can utilize all three transportation services for only $3 (exact cash fare is required), per person. In exchange, transit patrons will receive a Ride-All-Day pass, which is valid on all Ocean City buses until 6 a.m. the next day.