OC Air show 2019
The OC Air Show was held in Ocean City, Maryland June 15-16, 2019
I attended the Saturday session, and I bought a pass for the Drop Zone which was a fenced in area that is at Show Center. The main advantage besides a clear view of the show was there was on-site porta potties and there was adult beverages available.
Would I recommend the Drop Zone? Seriously it depends on your needs. I though being able to use a bathroom and shoot the aircraft at show center was worth it to me. Your mileage may vary, so know it is an option than just sitting anywhere on the beach.
The key to the Drop Zone was to get there early. After parking at a municipal lot on 5th St and walking a mile up to the event, I was in line to get in at 8:45 AM. I got a nice spot along the fence with a clear view of the Coast Guard Cutter that was the true Show Center for the aircraft. Over the next couple of hours the Zone filled with beach blankets and umbrellas so that a virtual maze was between myself and the food , beverage, and potty facilities.
By noon the beach was crowded for the OC Air Show.
2019 OC Air Show
The OC Air Show started at noon. The National Anthems of both the United States and Canada were played. The first act was supposed to be the SOCOM Para-Commandos performing the Flag Jump; unfortunately the wind speeds and direction were unsafe and their performance was scrubbed for the Saturday show.
I did snag a picture of their UH72A helicopter as it was deploying the test streamers that are used to determine local wind speed and direction.
Also shortly after that an AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopter belonging to the Maryland State Police flew over the beach.
U.S.C.G MH-65 Dolphin
The United States Coast Guard performed a Search and Rescue demonstration at the OC Air Show.
The bright orange Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City arrived from the north and situated itself in front of the USCG cutter Lawrence Lawson. They displayed rescue diver evolution’s with the rescue basket and diver.
U.S.A.F C-5M Super Galaxy
C-5M Super Galaxy from the 436th Airlift Wing based at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware made a pass in review above the beach of the OC Air Show. The C-5 is the largest transport aircraft in the Air Force’s fleet.
B-25J “Panchito”
Model B-25J “Panchito” was manufactured in February of 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas. Her active duty life was mainly as a trainer. After her military life she bounced around in agriculture and forestry work before eventually being restored and now resides at the Delaware Aviation Museum in Georgetown, Delaware. Panchito can be found at many airshows in the Northeast performing and giving paid rides throughout the summer.
The performance at the OC Air Show included a simulated bomb run with inert dummy object being dropped in to the Atlantic Ocean.
Matt Chapman Xtra 330
Next up at the OC Air Show was a demonstration with pilot Matt Chapman and his Embry-Riddle Xtra 330 aircraft. Matt is a master of aircraft energy and he pushes the envelope on his Xtra 330.
Canadian Forces Snowbirds
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds hail from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The 431st Air Demonstration Squadron fly the red and white Canadair CT-114 Tutors; which were a basic pilot training aircraft first deployed in the 60’s. The team fly’s nine jets and puts a great show in the skies of the OC Air Show.
North American P-51D Mustang “Quick Silver”
Pilot Scott “Scooter” Yoak performed for the masses at the OC Air Show in his North American P-51D Mustang “Quick Silver”. His 1944 P51-D S/N 45-11439 and it’s V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine zoomed across the beach to the delight of the crowd.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III (04-4134) from the 305th AMW Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey performed a pass in review in front of the crowds at the OC Air Show.
F-16 VIPER
The Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base located in South Carolina wowed the crowd of the OC Air Show with the the unique capabilities of the F-16 aircraft.
Heritage Flight
The crowd had the privilege of seeing a heritage flight with the F-16 from the VIPER Demo team and the P-51D Mustang “Bald Eagle” piloted by Jim Beasley Jr. Both aircraft made multiple passes together in a show of unity between old school and new school military hardware.
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
Two A-10’s from the 104th fighter squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard performed a pass in review doing a simulated strafing attack complete with the Brrrrrt soundtrack over the PA address. The A-10 is such an impressive aircraft, it is slow but essentially a flying tank with the hardware to back it up.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team
The headliner for the OC Air Show 2019 was the United States Nave Blue Angels Demonstration Team. The Blue Angels arrived in their blue and gold Boeing F/A-18 Hornets coming directly in towards show center passing over the U.S.C.G. cutter Lawrence Lawson and the show was on. They performed approximately 45 minutes wowing the OC Air Show crowd with feats of extreme aerial aerobatics and showmanship. Simply put….. They were awesome.
