The USAF Thunderbirds are back to headline the 2019 Atlantic City Airshow, but this years show provided a special treat. In addition to the Thunderbirds, fans at the 17th annual airshow in Atlantic City would get to see the Red Arrows, Great Britain’s Royal Air Force aerobatics display team. Having attended several airshows headlined by the Thunderbirds, I was excited to see a “new” show.
The show was held on August 21st; however, I attended the day before to watch the practice routine. This is a great way to see the show. You will pretty much see the whole routine, with the luxury of no crowds. Despite being 95-degrees, it was a great day!
T-33 Shooting Star
A subsonic jet trainer used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force
- First flight: March 22, 1948
- Maximum speed: 600 mph
- Cruise speed: 455 mph
- Range: 1,275 miles
USCG Search and Rescue Demonstration
GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team
Click Here: To read about the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team and their planes, or to see more pics, check out my post from the 2017 Atlantic City Airshow 2017 Atlantic City Airshow!
USAF Thunderbirds
If you clicked on the post from the 2017 AC Airshow to read about the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, you may have read about the thunderbirds as well. If you would like to know more about the Thunderbirds and their planes, click here.
Royal Air Force Red Arrows
The Thunderbirds may have been the headliner, but the Red Arrows were the highlight of the day. By no means am I implying the Thunderbird demonstration was anything less than impressive. But I have seen the Thunderbirds on several occasions, and it was nice to get a new perspective.
The Red Arrows demonstration was slightly different than that of the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are a very “in your face” style display team. Their show constantly showcases their ability to push limitations. Quick maneuvers, blistering speed, and thundering sound. One second they’re there, then next second they’re not. And then, they come out of nowhere, but you don’t hear them coming. You become aware of this the moment the roar of the afterburners make you wish you had hearing protection, and . . . if really caught off guard, a diaper.
The Red Arrows have a different, softer touch. Their show is more aerobatic. They fly in tight formations, shift their formations with finesse, and paint the sky with red, white, and blue smoke. Unlike the Thunderbirds, they are rarely out of view. They are constantly showcasing a maneuver.
The Red Arrows Team:
- Formed in 1964
- Their motto is Éclat, French for “brilliance,” or “excellence.”
- Initially consisting of seven members, the team was increased to nine members in 1966
- Nickname: The Reds
Aircraft: BAE Hawk T1
- First flight: August 21, 1974
- Introduced: 1976
- Maximum speed: 638 mph
- Range: 1,565 nautical miles
With the Red Arrows coming to Atlantic City, and not knowing much about them, I went on YouTube to get a glimpse into their show. I found a clip filmed in Chicago, promoting their North American Tour. One of the pilots spoke about their tour and showcased one of their planes, explaining how they are equipped and the functionality of the display smoke.
The next day I arrived in Atlantic City, but the demonstrations had already begun. Being the practice day, they were not flying according to schedule. I had no idea if the Red Arrows had gone or not. I asked a few people on the beach, but nobody seemed to know. One person said there were planes out earlier, painting colored smoke across the sky. It sure sounded like the Red Arrows to me. If I missed them, I certainly would have been disappointed.
As I stood on the beach, a gentleman in a red flight suit walking the beach came upon us. I immediately realized he was part of the team. What better person to ask? I stopped him and asked if they had flown yet. He responded, in military time, “at 15:10, right after the Thunderbirds.” Great, I thought. I didn’t miss it!
He took a few steps beyond us and took a some pictures before turning back. It dawned on me that this was the guy I had seen on the promotional video just the night before. What are the odds? We literally stood in a place where we saw only a handful of people all day, but it was the guy I had just seen on TV that walked past us. Pretty cool!
As he approached us again, I mentioned I had just seen him in the clip. He said, “yes, the documentary.” It kinda threw me off. It was a promotional video, I wouldn’t call it a documentary. I figured he was talking about something else, so I looked into it. As it turns out, there is a six part documentary on the Red Arrows, and if you have even the slightest interest in any of this, you MUST watch it. It is absolutely fascinating!
