Thunder over the Boardwalk

Thunder Over the Boardwalk (also known as the Atlantic City Airshow) is an annual airshow held over the Atlantic City boardwalk every summer. It has occurred since 2003 and is currently one of the largest airshows in North America. What sets it apart, aside from being a beach show, is the fact that it usually occurs on a Wednesday. It takes place along the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in front of the boardwalk, with the casinos in the background. Flybys and demonstrations as high as 15,000 feet (4,600 m) and as low as 50 feet (15 m) over the water in front of the Atlantic City skyline.

Thunder over the Boardwalk
The Thunderbirds Diamond Formation pilots perform the Trail to Diamond Bottom Up Pass during the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Air Show in Atlantic City, N.J., Aug. 13, 2014.
Status	Active
Genre	Air show
Dates	Varies
Frequency	Annual
Location(s)	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Country	United States
Established	2003
Attendance	750,000+ (2009)
Activity	Aerobatic displays
Website	Official site

It is produced by a joint venture of the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing, The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, David Schultz Airshows, The Press of Atlantic City and WOND-AM. In 2020, the airshow had its first cancellation in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, due to circumstances outside of the organizers control, the air show had its second cancellation in its history.

About

The airshow itself primarily showcases military aviation, with demonstrations from the USAF Thunderbirds, United States Navy Blue Angels, US Army Golden Knights, as well as demonstrations from current Air Force and Navy aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Military flybys over the four years of the airshow have included the B-2 Spirit, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, F-22 Raptor, KC-10 Extender, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the P-3 Orion. Helicopters that have showed up over the years include the MH-60S Knighthawk, the HH-60 Jayhawk, the CH-146 Griffon, and the HH-65 Dauphin (the HH-60 and HH-65 - usually two HH-65s - perform a simultaneous search and rescue demonstration over the water).

Aerobatic performers over the years have included Kirby Chambliss, Doug Dodge, Michael Hunter, John Klatt, and Sean Tucker. The Horseman Mustang Demonstration by Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley have also appeared along with the Skytypers and the Vultures Formation Team. The FAA's William J Hughes Technical Center at Atlantic City International Airport has showcased itsConvair 440, Boeing 727-100, and Gulfstream in the show as well. The New Jersey State Police have also shown its Bell 206 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters in the airshows.

Show center is marked in front of Boardwalk Hall (Florida Avenue) and the beach. Aircraft staging for the airshow is done at Atlantic City International Airport and at McGuire AFB, both of which are off-limits to the public.

The USAF Heritage Flight and the US Navy Legacy Flight have also performed at the show.

Announcers

The announcers for the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Airshow have included Gordon Bowman-Jones (2003 and 2005), Howdy McCann (2004 and 2006) and Pinky Kravitz (2003-2014).

Shows

2003

The first show took place on August 27, 2003, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Headlining the show were the Thunderbirds and the Golden Knights. The show also featured demonstrations from the A-10, F-14, F-15, and F-16, all jam packed into a five and a half hour flying display. The weather was not very favorable, as it was hazy for the entire day.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (Four-Ship formation)

111th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Four-Ship formation)

118th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Two-Ship Demonstration/Flybys)

A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team

C-17 Globemaster III 2-Ship Flybys

C-141B Starlifter Flyby

EC-130E Command Solo Flyby

F-14 Tomcat Demonstration

F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team

HC-130J Hercules Flyby

HH-65 Dauphin 2-Ship demonstration

HU-25 Guardian Flyby

KC-10 Extender Flybys

KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby

KC-135E and 4x F-16 NJ ANG Refueling demonstration

The Horsemen - Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley

Ed Shipley F-86 Sabre Demonstration

Collings Foundation B-17G Flying Fortress flyby

USAF Heritage Flight

2004

The 2004 show was held on August 18, and featured the same four demonstrations, as it would be the last time an F-14 Tomcat would fly over Atlantic City, along with the last airshow appearance of a C-141B Starlifter from McGuire AFB, as the type was being withdrawn from active duty service. The skies were about the same as they were in 2003, and all of the performers were able to put on their best shows for over 350,000 airshow fans and beach-goers.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team

C-17 Globemaster III Demonstration

F-14 Tomcat Demonstration

F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team

HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration

HH-65B Dauphin SAR Demonstration

MH-60S Knighthawk Demonstration

C-5 Galaxy Flyby

C-130E Hercules Flyby (two-ship)

C-141B Starlifter Flyby

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (four-ship formation)

HC-130 Hercules Flyby

KC-10 Extender Flyby

KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby

KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass

P-3C Orion Flyby

S-3 Viking Flyby

The Starfighters

Vulture Formation Team

Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang

FAA Tech Center Aircraft Flyby

Horizon Blue Cross Blimp

Yellow Book Pitts

USAF Heritage Flight

2005

The 2005 show was held on August 31, and featured the Thunderbirds once again, but the show was threatened by bad weather inland (caused by the remnants of Hurricane Katrina), which kept many of the performers from showing up, including Dale Snodgrass. High winds curtailed the Golden Knights and Black Daggers from jumping and caused sea spray coming off the ocean to ruin any chances of photographers getting decent pictures. The show was still a success, with over 200,000 people attending.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

US Army SOC Black Daggers

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons

A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team

AETC Flyby-Two T-1A Jayhawks and T-38 Talon

AV-8B Harrier Demonstration

C-5B Galaxy Flyby

C-130 Hercules Flyby

CH-146 Griffon Demonstration

Connecticut ANG A-10 Warthog Flyby

F-15 Eagle West Coast Demo Team

HC-130H Hercules Flyby

KC-10 Extender Flyby

KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby

KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass

USCG Search and Rescue Demonstration (two HH-65s)

Dale Snodgrass

Kirby Chambliss

Michael Hunter

John Klatt

NJSP S-76+ Demonstration/Flybys

Horizon Blue Cross Blimp

FAA Technical Center (Convair 580 & Boeing 727-25C Flybys)

Missing Man Formation (The Vultures)

2006

In December 2005, the Thunderbirds announced they were returning to Atlantic City for the fourth installment of the show. In February 2006, the Blue Angels announced they had a show site listed as "TBA" for August 23 - the same date as the Atlantic City show. In March, it was formally announced that the Blue Angels would be joining the Thunderbirds for the 2006 show.

Joining the Blues and Birds were a slew of performers making their Atlantic City debut, including Sean Tucker, the new F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team, the B-2 Spirit, the F-4 Phantom, and the F-22 Raptor. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 600,000 people attending the airshow, making the 2006 airshow one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City up until that time. All of the pieces of the puzzle had fit together nicely and both jet teams held their annual reunion at Atlantic City.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Navy Blue Angels

US Army Golden Knights

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcon

B-2 Spirit Flyby

C-17 Globemaster III Flyby

F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team

F-22 Raptor Flybys

HH-65 Dauphin & HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration

HU-25 Guardian Flyby

KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby

KC-10 Extender Flyby

P-3C Orion Flyby

QF-4E Phantom II Demonstration/Flybys

Sean Tucker

Michael Hunter

Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang

GEICO Sktypers

USAF Heritage Flight

FAA Tech Center (Global 5000 and Boeing 727 Flybys)

New Jersey State Police (S-76 SWAT Demo) Flybys

2007

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

A-10 Thunderbolt II Flyby

AV-8B Harrier Demonstration

B-2 Spirit Flyby

C-5 Galaxy Flyby

C-17 Globemaster III Flyby

Ch-46 Sea Knight Flyby

EC-130J Command Solo Flyby

F-16 Fighting Falcon (Four Ship Formation)

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demonstration Team

F/A-18C Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106

KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby

USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration

Matt Chapman

Michael Mancuso

Rob Holland

Horsemen Mustang Demonstration

GEICO Skytypers

Red Stars Formation Team

USAF Heritage Flight

FAA William J Hughes Tech Center (Global 5000 Flyby)

New Jersey State Police (S-76 and Bell 206 SWAT Demonstration) Flybys

Horizon Blue Cross Blimp

2008

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

106th Rescue Wing-HC-130P & HH-60G

177th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcons

C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-Dover AFB

C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-McGuire AFB

CH-46 Sea Knight Flyby

EC-130J Command Solo Flyby

F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team

F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106

HH-65 Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo

KC-10 Extender Flyby

KC-135 Stratotanker Flyby

MH-53E Sea Dragon Fly

Matt Chapman

Tim Weber

Greg Poe

Ed Hamill

Red Eagles

Josh Wilson-Yak-50

Jim Beasley Jr. (P-51 Demo)

Lee Lauderback (P-51 in HF)

Northeast Raiders Formation

NJ State Police Bell 206 & S-76 Flybys

FAA Tech Center DC-3, Global Express Flybys

USAF Heritage Flight

US Navy Legacy Flight

2009

The show was held on Wednesday, August 19. It debuted the Flightline Club which provided public seating on the beach and also featured a la carte food and beverage service. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 750,000 people attending the airshow, making it one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City. The schedule included the USAF Heritage Flight featuring the F-16, A-10 and 2 P-51s and the US Navy Legacy Flight featuring F/A-18F and F4U Corsair.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

1st Fighter Wing-F-22 Raptors (Four Ship)

106th Rescue Wing Combat Search & Rescue Demonstration

108th Air Refueling Wing-KC-135R Stratotanker

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons

NJ ANG Refueling Pass- KC-135R & F-16s

514th Air Mobility Wing-C-17 Globemaster III

514th Air Mobility Wing-KC-10 Extender

914th Airlift Wing-C-130 Hercules (two)

A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team

CH-46 Sea Knight (HMM-774)

E-2C Hawkeye Flyby (VAW-120)

F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team

F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration - VFA-106

USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration

Rob Holland

Tim Weber

Josh Wilson

KYW-3 Chopper 3

Red Eagle Aerobatic Team

New Jersey State Police Flybys

The Horsemen

FAA Tech Center Flybys - Global Express

US Navy Legacy Flight

USAF Heritage Flight

2010

The 2010 show was held on Wednesday, August 25 – 100 years after Atlantic City and Asbury Park hosted New Jersey's very first airshows. According to the New Jersey State Police there were over 750,000 people in attendance.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

Brazilian Smoke Squadron

Rob Holland MX2

USMC Harrier jump jet

Tom Duffy's B-25 Flybys

U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet

Jim Beasley Jr. P-51

USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II Demo Team

USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team

USCG Search & Rescue demonstration

Military Flybys (KC-135, F-16, C-17, KC-10, and many more)

FAA William J Hughes Technical Center aircraft flybys

USN E-2C Hawkeye demonstration

2011

The show was held on Wednesday, August 17.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team (Flag Jump w/US National Anthem followed by Mass Show)

Canadian Skyhawks Parachute Team (Full Show w/ Canadian National Anthem)

USAF-ANG 177th FW F-16 Fighting Falcon (4-ship flyby)

USAF-ANG 108th ARW KC-135 Stratotanker

New Jersey Air National Guard (KC-135 & F-16s composite flyby)

Heavy Metal Jet Team L-39C

USAF-ANG 166th AW, C-130H Hercules (2-ship flyby)

NJ State Police Aviation Unit

MedEVAC 5 Helicopter flybys

Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire MK18

GEICO Skytypers

USCG MH-65C Search & Rescue

USAF 514th AMW, C-17A Globemaster III

US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet

Tom Duffy F4U Corsair

USMC HMM-774 CH-46E Seaknight

USAF-ANG 103rd RQS (HC-130 & HH-60G para-rescue demonstration)

USAF-ANG 106th RQS HC-130H Hercules

Jim Beasley P-51D Mustang

USAF A-10C Thunderbolt II

USAF Heritage Flight

GEICO SNJ-2 vs. GEICO SpeedBoat race

Heavy Metal Jet Team

Kendal Simpson Pitts Model 12

2012

The 2012 show was held on Friday, August 17. This was the first year the show was held on a weekend. Early attendance estimates were for 1 million people.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

7th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer Flyby

106th Rescue Wing-HC-130H

143rd Airlift Wing-C-130J-30 Hercules

166th Airlift Wing-C-130H Hercules

177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons

305th AMW/514th AMW-C-17 Globemaster III

2 QF-4E Phantom

SH-60B Seahawk

USCG Search & Rescue Demonstrations (MH-65s)

USCG HC-130J Hercules

Black Diamond Jet Team

Hawker Beechcraft Texan II

GEICO Skytypers

Northeast Raiders

Red Eagle Airsports

Andrew McKenna (T-6)

Jim Beasley Jr. (Spitfire & P-51)

USAF Heritage Flight

FAA William J Hughes Tech Center (Convair 580 & Global 5000)

New Jersey State Police (AW139, Bell 206, S-76)

2013

In 2013, the show returned to a Wednesday but it was held in June instead of its traditional month of August. This year, spending cuts by the United States federal government due to budget sequestration forced the US military to cancel all appearances at airshows, including this show. As a result, there were no US military flybys, jet demonstration teams, parachute teams, or solo demonstrations by select fighters. While many airshows elsewhere were canceled due to the absence of US military support, Atlantic City organizers decided the show was going to be held regardless. At the same time, they had a challenge: more commercial acts meant that organizers were looking for more donations to cover the costs of this airshow. Overall, they still managed to put on a good show even without the US military to provide the "thunder" that gave this airshow its name.

2014

The show returned to its traditional month of August. It was held on Wednesday, August 13. With the end of sequestration, US military participants returned to the show.

Performers

USAF Thunderbirds

US Army Golden Knights

USMC Harrier demonstration

Andrew McKenna P-51

USCG Search & Rescue

Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire

Jason Flood Pitts S1S

Jack Kelly 1951 Bell 47 Helicopter Model D1

AtlantiCare Medical Helo

MidAtlantic MedEvac Helo

6ABC News Chopper

USMC AV-8B Harrier II

Geico Skytypers (6-ship) & Geico Speedboat race

Warrior Aviation L-39

Raiders Demonstration Team

FAA Flybys

Andrew McKenna P-51 & Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire (2-ship routine)

Rob Holland MX-2 Aerobatics (World Unlimited Aerobatic Champion)

2015

The show was held on Wednesday, September 2. The Blue Angels were the first announced participant. The Star-Spangled Banner was delivered by Lee Greenwood.

Performers

USN Blue Angels

Jim Beasley III – J3 Cub

LUCAS Oil Skydivers Flag Jump

Mike Wiskus – LUCAS Oil Pitts

GEICO Skytypers

Jim Beasley Jr. – SNJ Texan

Jack Kelly – Bell 47D1 Helicopter

AtlantiCare Medical Helicopter

MidAtlantic MedEvac Helicopter

Chopper 6 (WPVI – Channel 6 ABC)

New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit

Raiders Aerobatic Demonstration Team

Jim Beasley – P-51D Mustang

USAF F-22 Raptor

USAF Heritage Flight (F-22 & P-51)

GEICO Skytypers vs. Miss GEICO Speedboat Race

Matt Chapman Embry Riddle CAP580

USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration

Mike Wiskus – LUCAS Oil Pitts

USN Blue Angels – C-130T Hercules

2020

The airshow was canceled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022

The show was held on Wednesday, August 24.

Performers

U.S. Army Golden Knights Flag Jump with National Anthem

U.S. Army Golden Knights Mass Exit Show

N.J. Air National Guard 177th FW F-16 Flyby

N.J. Air National Guard 108th WG KC-135 Flyby

NBC 10 Helicopter Flybys

N.J. Air National Guard Composite Wing Flyby (KC-135 & 2 F-16s)

Chris Thomas SNJ-2 Aerobatics

U.S. Navy MH-53 Super Stallions Flyover

U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III Demonstration

Medical Helicopter Flybys

N.J. State Police Flybys

552nd Air Control Wing E-3C Sentry Flyby

N.J. Air National Guard UH-60 SPIES/FRIES Demonstration

552nd Air Command Wing E-3C Sentry Flyby

1st HS, UH-1N Twin Huey (2-ship) Flyby

FAA William J. Hughes Aircraft Flybys (2-passes)

Jim Beasley Jr./Ed Shipley Ti-6 (2-ship) Demo

U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration

Paul Dougherty Eagle Aerobatics

Full Throttle Formation Team

Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration

Jim Beasley Jr. P-51 Mustang Demonstration

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Demonstration

U.S. Navy Legacy Flight F/A-18 & FG-1D Corsair

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Enlistment Ceremony

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

2024

For the second time in its history, the Atlantic City Airshow was canceled for 2024 due to circumstances outside of the organizers control. First, in the spring of 2024, there had been some skepticism regarding sources of funding to make the air show possible. When the air show's future was up in the air, Gov. Phil Murphy's office said the South Jersey Transportation Authority would give $300,000 to fund the event. Then, came word that the US Air Force Thunderbirds would no longer be supporting weekday air shows due to logistical challenges of having to squeeze in a midweek airshow with an airshow either the previous weekend or a week or so afterwards: along with the Blue Angels announcing they didn't even have Atlantic City on their schedule. The tipping point came on July 10th, when the act that was supposed to fill the shoes of the Thunderbirds announced they couldn't make it. Thus, with no other options available to organizers at the time, they announced the 2024 edition of the airshow was cancelled.

Photographic challenges

For a photographer, Thunder Over the Boardwalk presents a challenging set of circumstances to get the best shot. The show takes place over the Atlantic Ocean, which means that one is facing the sun all morning and into the afternoon. Getting decent pictures of the aircraft as they pass by the casinos is not difficult at all, as well as getting pictures of the Golden Knights as they land, with the casinos in the background. Photographers on the beach at show center cannot get that many pictures of aircraft when they are at show left because the Pier at Caesars juts out into the ocean about 1,000 feet (300 m) and is a virtual obstruction either way. Because of the pier, aircraft are forced to fly almost half a mile away from the shore line for safety reasons.

See also

• List of air shows

External links

• Official website