Now in its seventh year, the event, put together by B. Lilley Productions, will bring thousands to the resort town, eager to see what will fly through the air over the course of the weekend. It has emerged over the years as one of the top air shows in the nation, according to Bryan Lilley, president of B. Lilley Productions.
2014 is a unique year for the show, he said. In addition to the event being held on Flag Day and Father's Day, the Ocean City show is the only one on the docket for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in the mid-Atlantic — the 2014 Andrews Air Show in Maryland was canceled — and one of six shows nationwide that will feature an AV-8B Harrier II jet from the U.S. Marines.
The U.S. Navy Seals Leap Frogs parachute team and several civilian acts for the show will also be participating.
Website traffic to OCAirShow.com nearly doubled in comparison to 2012, the last year the military groups were involved, Lilley said.
"Last year was a great show with an all-star all-civilian lineup, but the absence of that feeling of patriotism, the absence of the red, white and blue flags and red, white and blue jets, it was missing something," he said. "When you have the military there and the patriotism there, it has that goosebump factor, it has the hair stand up on the back of your neck."
The show serves as a family friendly event and a way for curious minds to learn more about aviation and the military, Lilley said.
U.S. Air Force planes fly in formation as members of the United States Navy Seals Leap Frogs parachute onto the beach at the Ocean City Air Show 2011. The show includes teams showing off acrobatics and formations by civilian and military aircraft, a U.S. Navy Seals Flag Jump, a C5M Super Galaxy flyby and an A-10 Warthog demo. The Ocean City Air Show continues Sunday at noon, with show center at 16th Street oceanside.(Photo: Laura Emmons photo)
There will be several opportunities to meet and talk with the pilots over the course of the weekend, Lilley said. The best ways to do so are during evening hospitality events which will be held throughout the weekend, or staying at host hotels where the crews will be, which can be found on the event's website.
"To walk around with one of the Thunderbird pilots in uniform and watch them meet a 6-year-old kid and talk to him for 30 seconds, it can have an impact on his life," he said. "Meeting a pilot to a 6-year-old, you watch that, it's so cool. It's really hard to do the air show, it's a major challenge. The few moments like that make it all worth the effort."
OCEAN CITY AIR SHOW SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, JUNE 12
• 7 p.m. Bacardi Welcome Party — Blu Crabhouse, 24th Street
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
• 8 a.m. Breakfast with the Performers — Layton's Family Restaurant, 16th Street
• 12:30 p.m. OC Air Show Preview — Show Center between 15th & 16th Streets
• 7 p.m. Air Show Take Off Party — Cowboy Coast, 17th Street
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
• 8 a.m. Breakfast with the Performers — Layton's Family Restaurant, 16th Street
• 9 a.m. Display Village and Premium Viewing opens — 13th to 19th streets on the Boardwalk
• 11 a.m. Flight Line Club VIP and Hospitality Chalets open — 14th to 17th streets
• 12:30 p.m. OC Air Show — Show Center at 16th Street
• 3 p.m. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performance
• 4 p.m. Air Show Happy Hour — Surfin' Betty's Pool Bar, 16th Street
• 7 p.m. Air Show Performer Event, Ocean Downs — Route 589, Berlin
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
• 8 a.m. Breakfast with the Performers — Layton's Family Restaurant, 16th Street
• 9 a.m. Display Village and Premium Viewing opens — 13th to 19th Streets on the Boardwalk
• 11 a.m. Flight Line Club VIP and Hospitality Chalets open — Show Center Beach, 14th to 17th Streets
• 12:30 p.m. OC Air Show — Show Center at 16th Street
• 3 p.m. U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performance
• 4 p.m. Air Show Happy Hour — Surfin' Betty's Pool Bar, 16th Street
• 7 p.m. Air Show Afterburner Party — Captain's Table, Marriott Courtyard 15th Street
In association with the Ocean City Air Show; June 12 to June 15, eight (8) yellow buoys will be established to mark the restricted/event area offshore of the beach viewing area which spans approximately from TALBOT Street thru 33RD Street.
- Ocean City Air Show Buoy: Chart 12211
- North West Corner 38 21 37 71N—75 04 03.86W
- North Center 38 21 32.06N—75 03 46.35W
- North East Corner 38 21 26.72N—75 03 28.71W
- East Center 38 20 30.82N—75 03 53.56W
- South East Corner 38 19 34.77N—75 04 18.82W
- South Center 38 19 39.89N—75 04 36.22W
- South West Corner 38 19 45.21N—75 04 54.16W
- West Center 38 20 41.69N—75 04 28.72W
Two additional Air show event buoys will be established:
- Center Marker 38 20 36.25N—75 04 11.16
- Bomb Burst 38 20 17.23N—75 04 19.96
The U.S. military will return to the skies over Ocean City, Maryland in 2014 as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds return to headline the OC Air Show! The 7th annual event will take place June 14-15, 2014 over the beach and boardwalk of Ocean City, Maryland.
The OC Air Show will feature some of the nations top military and civilian performers including military jet demos, aerobatic demos, formation flight and parachute teams, and will be one of only six airshows in the nation to feature a demo by the USMC AV-8B Harrier!
General viewing is free from the beach starting three blocks to the North/South of Show Center. The New VIP Skybox reserved seating terrace and the Flight Line VIP Clubhouse are available for purchase online or by phone. Both include reserved parking at or near show center.
