Organizers of the 20th annual Bethpage Air Show are watching the skies and counting on the first full weekend of performances in four years without rain and pandemic restrictions.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are set to headline the show above Jones Beach on Saturday and Sunday.
With sunny skies forecast and highs in the mid-60s to low-70s, state park officials are anticipating capacity crowds of more than 250,000 over the two days.
George Gorman, regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said he began watching weather patterns weeks ago, hoping for clear skies this weekend.
“The forecast has been going up and down with a chance of rain and I know I drive myself crazy,” Gorman said. “It’s a great feeling that the forecast looks like we will have perfect weather for the air show with more balanced attendance.”
“I have the sense of a great weekend,” he added.
Along with the Thunderbirds, this year’s show will bring the return of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, the Navy’s F-18 Growler, the Marine Corps’ F-35 demo team, stunt pilots, including Long Islander David Windmiller, the Long Island-based Skytypers, the East Farmingdale American Airpower Museum Warbirds and the Farmingdale State College Civil Air Patrol.
Windmiller, of Melville, is a perennial performer in the air show, known for his acrobatic performances in his Zivko Edge stunt plane.
This year, Windmiller said, he will fly his routine of upside loops to 70s and 80s disco and rock and match his stunts to the music.
“This plane’s built stronger than any airliner and flies at forces of 25G and is able to make maneuvers it’s designed for. It’s basically a Formula-1 car in the sky,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve flown to that music. I think people are drifting back toward it and old time rock is coming back. I always enjoyed it and I’ve never seen anyone fly to it.”
Organizers are…
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