Today, the Visit Atlantic City Airshow announced a stellar line-up of civilian acts for its 2023 show, which will soar across the skies above Atlantic City’s beaches and Boardwalk on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
“Each year, the Visit Atlantic City Airshow relies on the talents and aviation expertise of both military and civilian performers alike,” said Greater Atlantic City Chamber President Michael Chait. “This year’s civilian performers are second to none and perfectly complement the performances from our military teams. From the Boardwalk to the beaches, spectators are sure to be dazzled by their aerobatics and piloting skills, and equally awed by their visually stunning aircrafts.”
Civilian performers for the 2023 Visit Atlantic City Airshow include:
- Claire Aviation – Flown by Tom Duffy and Ryan Parenti, the North American B-25 “Take Off Time” was used as an instrument trainer during WWII. Duffy is an avid warbird pilot with type ratings in the B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, FG-1D Corsair, TBM Avenger and Supermarine Spitfire. B-25 “Take Off Time” was originally mothballed in the Arizona desert until it was rescued and restored by Aero Trader of Chino, California. In August of 1995, it was launched off the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which is something only a few B-25s have ever done. Although the aircraft did not drop bombs during WWII, Duffy, Parenti and the rest of the team have dropped a fair amount of watermelons from Take Off Time in the last 20 years.
- Classic Air Shows – Super Chipmunk – Mark S. Meredith is a retired Navy Captain who didn’t learn to fly as a pilot until he was 47. He began his career at the US Naval Academy then progressed to flying as a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6E Intruder attack jet aboard aircraft carriers. Meredith dreamed of building or restoring his own airplane and in 2009, began working on “Chippy” – a 1951 British-built de Havilland Chipmunk which served in the Royal Air Force. After five years and 5,000 hours, Mark now flies as a tribute to the Golden Age pioneers who knew how to design beautiful, art-deco styled airplanes using paper and slide rules, then fly them with heart-pounding excitement and graceful elegance.
- Extreme Flight, LLC – Patrick McAlee is a captain on the Embraer-170/175 Regional Jets since 2013 and Pilot with Republic Airways for the past 18 years. He desired to go into aviation at the young age of 12 and obtained his pilot’s license at age 17. McAlee enrolled in the Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety and started competing in aerobatics in 2006 by borrowing airplanes until he purchased his current aircraft in 2008 – a modified Pitts S1 Biplane named “The Blue Demon.” The color scheme on the aircraft was completely customized by McAlee, comic book Artist Jim Mehsling and McAlee’s wife, Natalia McAlee. The chrome colors are provided by Vinyl Images and Design in St. Louis, MO.
- Scott Francis Airshows – For more than 38 years, Scott Francis has been a licensed pilot. In 2004, he purchased a Pitts Special, the most recognized aerobatic airplane in the world, and began competing at the Sportsman Level in International Aerobatic Club sanctioned aerobatic contests. A year later, he moved up to Intermediate Level aerobatic competition, flying in five to six contests each year. He began performing in airshows in 2006 by flying aerobatic demonstrations with the Flying Circus in Bealeton, VA, where he still performs throughout the year. Since 2013, Francis has been performing in more than 20 airshows throughout the Midwest and eastern U.S. in a 355 hp, all carbon fiber MXS aerobatic aircraft, arguably the top performing aerobatic airplane in the world today.
- GO EZ Aerobatics – Pilot Kyle Fowler will fly his unique 1986 Long EZ in this year’s Visit Atlantic City Airshow, hitting speeds of 200 knots and keeping it fast the whole time! The Long EZ flies an impressively safe, thrilling routine with some of the best smoke and energetic music. At the age of 21, Fowler obtained his Private Pilot’s License, with Eric Hansen of Team Rocket as his flight instructor. He began his journey toward his airshow career by wowing audiences across North America while flying his plane beyond what it was designed for. Fowler dedicated his time to evolving as a pilot and completed his Commercial Pilot’s License in 2015. He successfully manages his aviation time between flying a PA-31 Navajo Chieftain, a Kodiak and his unique 1986 Long EZ.
- Jim Beasley is a Philadelphia attorney by day and pilot when time allows. Longtime Atlantic City Airshow performer and fan favorite, Beasley will fly back into Atlantic City in 2023 in his P-51 Mustang, a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft originally designed and produced by North American Aviation for the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Later adopted by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), today the P-51 is widely regarded as the finest all-around piston-engine fighter of World War II.
These incredible civilian performers will bring excitement to the Airshow’s already star-studded lineup, which includes the return of crowd-favorite military acts like the U.S. Army Golden Knights and the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, along with the long-awaited reappearance of the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Demo Team and our local 177th Fighter Wing of the N.J. Air National Guard.
To date, flyover aircraft confirmed to participate in the 2023 Visit Atlantic City Airshow includes: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst KC-46A Pegasus and C-17A Globemaster III aircraft; Dover AFB C-5M Super Galaxy; Delaware Air National Guard C-130H Hercules; New Jersey Air National Guard 177th FW F-16s and 108th Wing KC-135R Stratotanker; SkyForce10 from NBC Philadelphia; the 80th Flight Training Wing’s T-38C Talons from Sheppard AFB (TX); the FAA William J Hughes Technical Center aircraft; New Jersey Army National Guard UH-60L Blackhawks; Atlantic City’s Coast Guard Air Station’s new MH-65E Dauphin helicopters; Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s helicopter; several medical helicopters; and more. Additional aircraft and performance teams are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, rounding out the Show Day schedule for the largest midweek beachfront airshow in the nation!
For those who cannot attend the Airshow on Show Day (Wednesday, Aug. 16) – the Airshow’s Practice Day is set for Tuesday, Aug. 15 beginning at 11 a.m. and will feature many of the Airshow performers as they take to the skies to “practice” for the big day.
For those planning to attend Show Day, remember that the 2023 Visit Atlantic City Airshow is a FREE event – with spectacular views of the show from the free public beaches in Atlantic City. While there is no official livestreaming available for this event, the commentary for the show will be aired on WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM and 1450 AM on Show Day (Wednesday) only.
The Visit Atlantic City Airshow is a community partnership between the Greater Atlantic City Chamber; Visit Atlantic City; the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority; the City of Atlantic City; the 177th Fighter Wing of the N.J. Air National Guard; South Jersey Transportation Authority; FAA William J. Hughes Tech Center; The Atlantic City International Airport; the U.S. Coast Guard; David Schultz Airshows; and the New Jersey State Police.
For more information on the Visit Atlantic City Airshow, visit: AtlanticCityAirshow.com.
Photos of select 2023 Visit Atlantic City Airshow performers, including some of our civilian acts, can be accessed/downloaded via this DropBox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d4h72vz03nfy7q9/AADLrBpT9IqBRTB2zjgSCKQxa?dl=0
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About The Greater Atlantic City Chamber
Since 1914, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber is dedicated in creating a favorable economic climate with meaningful services for the business community. Together we work to foster growth in the region’s economy by creating a better business climate and a higher quality of life. Learn more: https://acchamber.com/.
About Visit Atlantic City
Visit Atlantic City is a 501(c)(6) organization formed and funded as a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create economic development through conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism. Visit Atlantic City focuses on three primary objectives: sales, marketing and services. For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.visitatlanticcity.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
