Kids & Family

Long Island Has Sign of Spring: Blue Angels in Town

A missing piece from last spring's Bethpage Federal Air Show at Jones Beach flew into Republic Airport with an early Christmas gift.

Lt. Commander Michael Cheng, Blue Angels events coordinator, and Lt. Ryan Chamberlain arrived at Farmingdale for an initial planning session with airport
officials for the show set for Memorial Day, 2014.

The visit of the precision flying squadron heralds the return to Long Island of the Blue Angels next Memorial Day weekend. American flying teams could not participate in last year's show because of the federal government's "sequester." Certain federal expenditures deemed "non-essential" were scrapped due to the political flap. Among them were the military demonstration teams.

The Air Force Thunderbirds were scheduled to fly last year.

“We are delighted that not only have the Blues agreed to return to Long Island next year but they seem to be as enthusiastic as we are," said Gary Lewi, a spokesman for the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport.

The airshow at Jones Beach has become one of the largest in the nation and annually includes the “Blues” along with a collection of storied World War II "warbirds," a collection housed, in part, at the American Airpower Museum on the grounds of Republic Airport.

The combination of old and new is a stunning reminder of American military prowess in the air and draws hundreds of thousands of people to Long Island's oceanfront on Memorial Day weekend.

"For those of us who remember 9/11 quite well, nothing sends a message to friend and foe alike than hearing, then seeing, these incredible fighters over Long Island on Memorial Day,” Lewi said.

The air show is broadcast by WABC-7 and also includes an array of civilian aerobatic acts.






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