NJ Air National Guard fighter and refueling units perform flyovers for the 2019 Atlantic City Airshow. (177th Fighter Wing – NJ Air National Guard/Visit Atlantic City)
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Visit Atlantic City has announced the initial slate of performers who will be taking to the skies for the upcoming Visit Atlantic City Soar & Shore Festival this summer.
The festival is set for July 15-16 over the beaches of Atlantic City. Flying will kick off around 12 p.m. each day and end around 2:30 p.m. But there's a weeklong slate of fun planned as well.
Among this year's initial slate of performers for the returning air show are a Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 fighter and the legendary WWII-era B-25 Mitchell Bomber. Crowds will also be treated to an array of additional top-tier performances, including a fly-by of four F-16s from the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard. The supersonic F-16 Fighting Falcon is known for its lightweight frame and powerful engine generating 31,000 pounds of thrust, propelling it to speeds in excess of Mach 2.
“The Soar and Shore Festival Air Show brings together the best of summer entertainment elements,” said Herb Gillen, president of Herb Gillen Airshows, which is producing the festival. “Crowds will be treated to top-tier air show performances by state-of-the-art aircraft in a festive atmosphere on a gorgeous beach and all free of charge. There is truly nothing like the Soar and Shore Festival Air Show, and we can’t wait for the fun to begin.”
The weeklong lineup of festivities includes:
Beachfront Fireworks Display by Grucci, Wednesday, July 16 at 9 p.m.: Take in a spectacular display of fireworks along the Atlantic City skyline. The viewing location will be on the beach and Boardwalk at Missouri Avenue in front of Tropicana Atlantic City.
Second Annual Car Show and Silent Movie, July 16 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, 2 - 7:30 p.m.: Immediately following the air show, guests are invited to a free classic car show on the arena floor from 2 - 5 p.m., with live demonstrations of the World’s Largest Pipe Organ, organ tours and on-site food trucks. At 6 p.m., organist Brett Miller will accompany Buster Keaton’s silent film “Sherlock, Jr.,” followed by the Laurel and Hardy short “Two Tars.” This event is presented by the Historic Organ Restoration Committee in partnership with the Ducktown Community Development Corporation and Visit Atlantic City.
Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week (JJFISHWEEKAC), July 13 - 19: Returning to the Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina, this high-stakes tournament welcomes anglers from across the country and is hosted and organized in partnership with Visit Atlantic and the Atlantic City Sports Commission. Catch the action at the nightly weigh-ins from 5 – 9 p.m.
“Audiences will be thrilled by the diverse lineup of performing acts and talent we have assembled for this summer,” said Gary Musich, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. “Atlantic City is built on top-quality entertainment, and the Soar & Shore Festival is guaranteed to deliver the fun and thrills people have come to expect from our seaside destination.”
Featured Aircraft Highlights:
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 Fighter: The Soviet MiG-17, with a top speed of 711 mph and a ceiling of 54,450 feet, was a formidable Cold War-era fighter known for its durability. Operational since 1952, the aircraft is still in use in some parts of the world today.
B-25 Mitchell Bomber: The World War II-era B-25 Mitchell is best remembered for its role in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in 1942. Used across all major theaters of the war, it was renowned for both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Additional Soar & Shore Festival fly-bys and demonstrations include:
Four F-16s from 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard will perform fly-bys
Nathan Hammond’s Super Chipmunk and his intense aerobatic routines
Third Strike Wingwalking, home of the highly sought Double Barrel dual wingwalking act and aerobatic solo act
Misty Blues Parachute Team, the remarkably talented all-women thrill-seekers who have amazed audiences across the globe for more than forty years
UH-1H Huey with Smokey Bear, known for its air mobility and medical evacuation missions in Vietnam, the Huey became an indelible symbol of that conflict
Skip Stewart, the award-winning, high-energy, fearless aerobatic wonder