3 Navy Aircraft Set To Visit LI's American Airpower Museum

FARMINGDALE, NY — Three Boeing EA-18G Growlers, a specialized carrier-based electronic warfare adaption of the two-seater F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft, are set to visit the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale (AAM) from May 27 through May 30, the museum announced.

The three advanced Navy aircraft are scheduled to arrive at the museum late May 27 afternoon and will remain on display until late May 30 afternoon on AAM’s ramp.

"Can’t get to Jones Beach Air Show during Memorial Day Weekend?" the museum stated. "Don’t want to watch aircraft wiz by from a distance, anyway? The solution? Visit AAM and get up close and personal with these Growlers, ask questions of their crews, grab photo ops with pilots, etc. Please be advised these Growlers are exclusive to AAM and are not performing at the Jones Beach Air Show. In addition to the Growlers, AAM is also flying its own iconic bombers and fighters at the air show this year!"

The American Airpower Museum is set to open at 10 a.m. each day of the Memorial Day Weekend. There is no additional charge to see the aircraft on practice days or on show days. Guests can arrive early and stay all day. Museum admission for adults is $20, $15 for seniors and veterans, and $10 for children 5-12. Tickets and pre-registration are not required, and admission is on a first come first serve basis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for each day.

According to AAM President Jeff Clyman, the goal for the weekend is two-fold.

“To honor the men and women of the ‘Greatest Generation’ who built, maintained and piloted the iconic warbirds of yesteryear, in a bold defense of freedom during World War II, as well as active-duty military, reservists and national guard who continue this mission to our present day," Clyman said.

The museum is once again fielding its fabled “Arsenal of Democracy” Warbirds squadron as part of the Jones Beach Air Show. But, for those who can’t make it to Jones Beach, they can go to AAM on May 27 and watch the AAM Warbirds perform practice flybys at Republic Airport all day long.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, fans can hang with museum staff at Hangar 3 to watch the aircraft take off, one after the other, and head south to perform over Jones Beach.

"They will thrill as our Warbirds return, touch down and taxi back to Hangar 3," the museum stated. "You can even applaud as pilots and crew disembark from their steeds!"

AAM Warbirds set to fly in the air show on Saturday and Sunday include a B-25 Mitchell Bomber; Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop transport; Grumman TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber; P-51D Mustang Fighter; Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Fighter; and two AT-6 Texan trainers.

“California Tom Cruise,” a Tom Cruise impersonator, is set to spend May 29 at the Museum to meet and greet fans for photo ops, just two days after the long-awaited "Top Gun: Maverick" movie launch.

Every paying museum guest 18 and over during Memorial Day Weekend will be entered to win the new Cockpit USA Movie Hero Top Gun CWU, a replica of the special flight jacket Tom Cruise wears in his latest blockbuster movie. Cockpit USA is AAM’s sponsor and official supplier of flight jackets to the U.S. Air Force.

Cockpit USA, the official supplier to the USAF of the A-2 leather jacket and sponsor of the American Airpower Museum, is set to host a group of Cockpit USA pilot brand ambassadors wearing their Cockpit USA jackets throughout the Memorial Day weekend: Annie Vogel (@pilotannie), Tory Crosby (@torpilot), Mark Brown @worldofmark and Bruno (@flywithbruno).

Last year’s AAM programming during the 2021 Jones Beach Air Show can be viewed here and here. Last year, two EA-18G Growlers visited the museum’s ramp for the show’s duration