By Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com, news-photos-features.com
Hundreds of thousands turned out for a very special Four Leaf Airshow at Jones Beach, this year honoring America’s 250th anniversary, so moved from the traditional Memorial Day Weekend to July 5 and 6. The headliner, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, also led the flyover at the July 4th Sail4th 250 event, leading some 200 aircraft.
The Jones Beach event was special in other ways, as well, featuring more international participants than ever, including the first-ever visit to the United States by the United Arab Emirates aerobatic team, Fursan Al Emarat. The United Kingdom sent its Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, and its British Army Parachute Display Team, the Red Devils, and Canada sent the Canadian Forces Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron).
In a stunning and spectacular and surprising move, the Canadian Snowbirds joined the British Red Arrows to pay special honor for America’s 250th.
The event also featured Aaron Deliu, an Australian professional aerobatic pilot who is becoming a U.S. citizen, as well as local favorites, Farmingdale State College Flying Rams, historic “warbirds” from the American Airpower Museum, and the 106th Rescue Wing of the NY Air National Guard.
The 268,000 spectators who crammed the beach and boardwalk for the FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach State Park on Sunday, July 5, was the second-highest attended air show in the park’s history. Unfortunately, Monday’s show was rained out.
Here are highlights of what you saw or what you missed:
