Thunder Over the Boardwalk (also known as the Atlantic City Airshow) is an annual airshow held over the Atlantic City boardwalk every summer. It has occurred since 2003 and is one of the largest airshows in North America. It usually occurs on a Wednesday above the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in front of the boardwalk, with the casinos in the background. Flybys and demonstrations as high as and as low as over the water in front of the Atlantic City skyline.

It is produced by a joint venture of the Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing, The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, David Schultz Airshows, The Press of Atlantic City and WOND-AM. In 2020, the airshow had its first cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the air show had its second cancellation.

Description The airshow itself primarily showcases military aviation, with demonstrations from the USAF Thunderbirds, United States Navy Blue Angels, US Army Golden Knights, as well as demonstrations from current Air Force and Navy aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Military flybys over the four years of the airshow have included the B-2 Spirit, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, F-22 Raptor, KC-10 Extender, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the P-3 Orion. Helicopters that have shown up over the years include the MH-60S Knighthawk, the HH-60 Jayhawk, the CH-146 Griffon, and the HH-65 Dauphin (the HH-60 and HH-65 - usually two HH-65s - perform a simultaneous search and rescue demonstration over the water).

Aerobatic performers over the years have included Kirby Chambliss, Doug Dodge, Michael Hunter, John Klatt, and Sean Tucker. The Horseman Mustang Demonstration by Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley have also appeared along with the Skytypers and the Vultures Formation Team. The FAA's William J Hughes Technical Center at Atlantic City International Airport has showcased itsConvair 440, Boeing 727-100, and Gulfstream in the show as well. The New Jersey State Police have also shown its Bell 206 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters in the airshows.

Show center is marked in front of Boardwalk Hall (Florida Avenue) and the beach. Aircraft staging for the airshow is done at Atlantic City International Airport and at McGuire AFB, both of which are off-limits to the public.

The USAF Heritage Flight and the US Navy Legacy Flight have also performed at the show.

Announcers The announcers for the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Airshow have included Gordon Bowman-Jones (2003 and 2005), Howdy McCann (2004 and 2006) and Pinky Kravitz (2003-2014).

Shows

2003 The first show took place on August 27, 2003, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Headlining the show were the Thunderbirds and the Golden Knights. The show also featured demonstrations from the A-10, F-14, F-15, and F-16, all jam packed into a five and a half hour flying display. The weather was not very favorable, as it was hazy for the entire day.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (Four-Ship formation) 111th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Four-Ship formation) 118th Fighter Wing-A-10 Thunderbolt II (Two-Ship Demonstration/Flybys) A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team C-17 Globemaster III 2-Ship Flybys C-141B Starlifter Flyby EC-130E Command Solo Flyby F-14 Tomcat Demonstration F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team HC-130J Hercules Flyby HH-65 Dauphin 2-Ship demonstration HU-25 Guardian Flyby KC-10 Extender Flybys KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E and 4x F-16 NJ ANG Refueling demonstration The Horsemen - Jim Beasley and Ed Shipley Ed Shipley F-86 Sabre Demonstration Collings Foundation B-17G Flying Fortress flyby USAF Heritage Flight

2004 The 2004 show was held on August 18, and featured the same four demonstrations, as it would be the last time an F-14 Tomcat would fly over Atlantic City, along with the last airshow appearance of a C-141B Starlifter from McGuire AFB, as the type was being withdrawn from active duty service. The skies were about the same as they were in 2003, and all of the performers were able to put on their best shows for over 350,000 airshow fans and beach-goers.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team C-17 Globemaster III Demonstration F-14 Tomcat Demonstration F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration HH-65B Dauphin SAR Demonstration MH-60S Knighthawk Demonstration C-5 Galaxy Flyby C-130E Hercules Flyby (two-ship) C-141B Starlifter Flyby 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons (four-ship formation) HC-130 Hercules Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass P-3C Orion Flyby S-3 Viking Flyby The Starfighters Vulture Formation Team Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang FAA Tech Center Aircraft Flyby Horizon Blue Cross Blimp Yellow Book Pitts USAF Heritage Flight

2005 The 2005 show was held on August 31, and featured the Thunderbirds once again, but the show was threatened by bad weather inland (caused by the remnants of Hurricane Katrina), which kept many of the performers from showing up, including Dale Snodgrass. High winds curtailed the Golden Knights and Black Daggers from jumping and caused sea spray coming off the ocean to ruin any chances of photographers getting decent pictures. The show was still a success, with over 200,000 people attending.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights US Army SOC Black Daggers 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team AETC Flyby-Two T-1A Jayhawks and T-38 Talon AV-8B Harrier Demonstration C-5B Galaxy Flyby C-130 Hercules Flyby CH-146 Griffon Demonstration Connecticut ANG A-10 Warthog Flyby F-15 Eagle West Coast Demo Team HC-130H Hercules Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-135E & F-16 Refueling Pass USCG Search and Rescue Demonstration (two HH-65s) Dale Snodgrass Kirby Chambliss Michael Hunter John Klatt NJSP S-76+ Demonstration/Flybys Horizon Blue Cross Blimp FAA Technical Center (Convair 580 & Boeing 727-25C Flybys) Missing Man Formation (The Vultures)

2006 In December 2005, the Thunderbirds announced they were returning to Atlantic City for the fourth installment of the show. In February 2006, the Blue Angels announced they had a show site listed as "TBA" for August 23 - the same date as the Atlantic City show. In March, it was formally announced that the Blue Angels would be joining the Thunderbirds for the 2006 show.

Joining the Blues and Birds were a slew of performers making their Atlantic City debut, including Sean Tucker, the new F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration Team, the B-2 Spirit, the F-4 Phantom, and the F-22 Raptor. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 600,000 people attending the airshow, making the 2006 airshow one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City up until that time. All of the pieces of the puzzle had fit together nicely and both jet teams held their annual reunion at Atlantic City.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Navy Blue Angels US Army Golden Knights 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcon B-2 Spirit Flyby C-17 Globemaster III Flyby F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F-22 Raptor Flybys HH-65 Dauphin & HH-60 Jayhawk SAR Demonstration HU-25 Guardian Flyby KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby KC-10 Extender Flyby P-3C Orion Flyby QF-4E Phantom II Demonstration/Flybys Sean Tucker Michael Hunter Jim Beasley Jr.-P-51 Mustang GEICO Sktypers USAF Heritage Flight FAA Tech Center (Global 5000 and Boeing 727 Flybys) New Jersey State Police (S-76 SWAT Demo) Flybys

2007

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights A-10 Thunderbolt II Flyby AV-8B Harrier Demonstration B-2 Spirit Flyby C-5 Galaxy Flyby C-17 Globemaster III Flyby Ch-46 Sea Knight Flyby EC-130J Command Solo Flyby F-16 Fighting Falcon (Four Ship Formation) F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demonstration Team F/A-18C Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106 KC-135E Stratotanker Flyby USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration Matt Chapman Michael Mancuso Rob Holland Horsemen Mustang Demonstration GEICO Skytypers Red Stars Formation Team USAF Heritage Flight FAA William J Hughes Tech Center (Global 5000 Flyby) New Jersey State Police (S-76 and Bell 206 SWAT Demonstration) Flybys Horizon Blue Cross Blimp

2008

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 106th Rescue Wing-HC-130P & HH-60G 177th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcons C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-Dover AFB C-17 Globemaster III Flyby-McGuire AFB CH-46 Sea Knight Flyby EC-130J Command Solo Flyby F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration-VFA-106 HH-65 Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo KC-10 Extender Flyby KC-135 Stratotanker Flyby MH-53E Sea Dragon Fly Matt Chapman Tim Weber Greg Poe Ed Hamill Red Eagles Josh Wilson-Yak-50 Jim Beasley Jr. (P-51 Demo) Lee Lauderback (P-51 in HF) Northeast Raiders Formation NJ State Police Bell 206 & S-76 Flybys FAA Tech Center DC-3, Global Express Flybys USAF Heritage Flight US Navy Legacy Flight

2009 The show was held on Wednesday, August 19. It debuted the Flightline Club which provided public seating on the beach and also featured a la carte food and beverage service. The weather had turned out to be fantastic, with over 750,000 people attending the airshow, making it one of the largest events ever held in Atlantic City. The schedule included the USAF Heritage Flight featuring the F-16, A-10 and 2 P-51s and the US Navy Legacy Flight featuring F/A-18F and F4U Corsair.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights 1st Fighter Wing-F-22 Raptors (Four Ship) 106th Rescue Wing Combat Search & Rescue Demonstration 108th Air Refueling Wing-KC-135R Stratotanker 177th Fighter Wing-F-16 Fighting Falcons NJ ANG Refueling Pass- KC-135R & F-16s 514th Air Mobility Wing-C-17 Globemaster III 514th Air Mobility Wing-KC-10 Extender 914th Airlift Wing-C-130 Hercules (two) A-10 Thunderbolt II East Coast Demo Team CH-46 Sea Knight (HMM-774) E-2C Hawkeye Flyby (VAW-120) F-16 Fighting Falcon East Coast Demo Team F/A-18F Super Hornet Demonstration - VFA-106 USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration Rob Holland Tim Weber Josh Wilson KYW-3 Chopper 3 Red Eagle Aerobatic Team New Jersey State Police Flybys The Horsemen FAA Tech Center Flybys - Global Express US Navy Legacy Flight USAF Heritage Flight

2010 The 2010 show was held on Wednesday, August 25 – 100 years after Atlantic City and Asbury Park hosted New Jersey's very first airshows. According to the New Jersey State Police there were over 750,000 people in attendance.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights Brazilian Smoke Squadron Rob Holland MX2 USMC Harrier jump jet Tom Duffy's B-25 Flybys U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Jim Beasley Jr. P-51 USAF A-10A Thunderbolt II Demo Team USAF F-16 Viper Demonstration Team USCG Search & Rescue demonstration Military Flybys (KC-135, F-16, C-17, KC-10, and many more) FAA William J Hughes Technical Center aircraft flybys USN E-2C Hawkeye demonstration

2011 The show was held on Wednesday, August 17.

Performers USAF Thunderbirds US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team (Flag Jump w/US National Anthem followed by Mass Show) Canadian Skyhawks Parachute Team (Full Show w/ Canadian National Anthem) USAF-ANG 177th FW F-16 Fighting Falcon (4-ship flyby) USAF-ANG 108th ARW KC-135 Stratotanker New Jersey Air National Guard (KC-135 & F-16s composite flyby) Heavy Metal Jet Team L-39C USAF-ANG 166th AW, C-130H Hercules (2-ship flyby) NJ State Police Aviation Unit MedEVAC 5 Helicopter flybys Jim Beasley Jr. Spitfire MK18 GEICO Skytypers USCG MH-65C Search & Rescue USAF 514th AMW, C-17A Globemaster III US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet