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| United States Navy Blue Angels, flying inverted (courtesy photo) |
By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
PORTSMOUTH – The sky will be filled with modern and historic
aircraft this weekend as Pease International Airport welcomes the Service
Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.
The annual aerial extravaganza will be headlined for the
second time in three years by the United States Navy Blue Angels and will also
feature some of the most renowned War Birds of World War II vintage. These
planes include a Navy F4U-5 Corsair, a P-51 Mustang, a B-25 Mitchell bomber,
and a TBM-3E Avenger.
The show is produced by the Daniel Webster Council, Boy
Scouts of America, and the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, which,
along with more than thirty other local not-for-profit groups, will benefit
from it. The show is scheduled at Pease Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1,
and will be a fitting start to Fourth of July week.
According to a show spokesperson, the F4U-5 Corsair was a
carrier-capable fighter primarily during WWII and Korea. Daniel McCue, who was
born in Maine and raised in New Hampshire, will be flying the aircraft. McCue
has been an air show performer for more than twenty-five years. The P-51 is an
American made long-range single-seat fighter aircraft. This plane celebrates
the nation’s armed forces. Each paint feature on it represents and honors those
who have served our country and who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Father
and son team Bill and Scott “Scooter” Yoak spent thirteen years working to make
this Mustang a reality.
The Disabled American Veterans Flight Team brings the
B-25 to this year’s show. The
B-25, probably remembered as the plane used in the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo,
Japan seventy years ago, shares a mission with DAV - reminding people of the
sacrifices veterans make for freedom. DAV representatives will be on hand
throughout the weekend to meet and greet veterans and answer questions about
DAV benefits.
The Avenger is a torpedo bomber that made its debut at the
Battle of Midway during World War II. These unique acts join the Blue Angels
and the show’s second jet demonstration team, the Black Diamond Jet Team.
Other performers include the U.S. Army Parachute Team
“Golden Knights”, air show legend Sean D. Tucker, aerobatic superstar Michael
Goulian, Wingwalker Jane Wicker and the KC-135 Stratotanker.
And while the United States Navy Blue Angels perform their
high-flying act in the sky, hundreds of participants will be on the ground
helping support our nation’s wounded warriors. The show will host the VW
Pull for Wounded Warriors July 1 at the Portsmouth International Airport at
Pease. The VW Pull for Wounded Warriors will raise funds to benefit the Brain
Injury Association of New Hampshire (BIANH).
The VW Pull for Wounded Warriors is a giant tug-of-war where
teams of up to twenty-five members pull an enormous aircraft weighing more than
130,000 pounds. Previous teams have consisted of co-workers, college
students, sports teams, military units, and other groups that wish to have fun
and support the BIANH. Teams need to register for the pull and must raise
$1,500 to participate. BIANH hopes to raise at least $50,000 at the
Service Credit Union Boston – Portsmouth Air Show.
These are but a few of the attractions coming to the show.
Fans can receive performer updates via social media on
Facebook.com/ServiceCreditUnionBostonPortsmouthAirShow and
Twitter.com/BostonPortAS.
Advanced general admission for the show is $20 for adults
and $15 for youth ages 6-11. Ticket prices will increase to $25 for adults and
$20 for youth the week of the event. There is a $10 fee for parking. There are
several premium seating options and private chalets that include VIP parking
passes available for purchase in advance. All tickets can be purchased at www.BostonPortsmouthAirShow.com.
