NEW YORK Air Show 2024
Story by Daniel O. Myers, photos by Bob Finch, Kevin Burke, Alice Leong and Scott Zeno
With Hurricane Debbie moving north and morphing into a tropical storm, lots of rain was predicted leading up to and for the weekend of August 10th and 11th. Surrounded by bucolic rolling green hills, the air show takes place at Orange County Airport in rural Montgomery, NY. Exclusive of closed runways and taxiways, the entire airfield is grass covered and presented a concern to all about parked vehicles getting stuck in the mud! However, Saturday and Sunday mornings woke to a county-fair atmosphere with clear skies, warm brilliant sunshine and a welcoming gentle breeze.
The show opened with an Invocation and Prayer followed by the Italian and U.S. National Anthems. First up was the West Point, NY USMA Parachute Jump Team. From their Lakota Helicopter (EPIC), they descended the American flag to show center.
The flying started out big with the USAF’s second largest cargo plane, a C-17 Globemaster III- call sign GOTHAM. Making its way from nearby Stewart International Airport (KSWF), the huge 105th Airlift Wing craft impressed the audience with slow and high-speed passes. Next, the jets got sleeker and faster. Two all black T-38 trainers, from Whiteman AFB 509th Bomb Wing, executed three slick high-speed flybys.
Halfway through the show, the crowd gave a warm welcome to the Italian Air Force’s national aerobatic team- The Frecce Tricolori. For 2024, the Frecce Tricolori will have crossed the ocean to America for the third time in thirty-eight years; adding to their 1986 debut and their 1992 excursion.
It was in 1992, when the “Columbus Mission” saw their MB.339 jets fly to Canada and the United States five-hundred years after the Italian, Christopher Columbus, discovered the Americas.
The team’s 2024 North American Tour consists of participation in ten air shows; three in Canada, marking the centennial celebration of the Canadian Air Force and seven in the United States, along with sixteen flyovers. In 2024, the Italian Air Force also participated in air combat training at Red-Flag Alaska with U.S. Forces.
The Frecce Tricolori aerial display consists of eighteen maneuvers. At the New York air show, the team handed out their yearbook. Inside, show attendees could find and follow along with the team’s maneuvers during their twenty-five minute flying program.
Opening with red, white and green trailing smoke; all ten jets in single formation broke into two sections, crossed and rejoined. In between, the solo jet flew around the main formation and individually. The main formation and solo were constantly alternating so that the audience’s visual focus was always at show center.
To the sound of illustratively Italian music that underscored each maneuver; the team’s red, white and green smoke trails painted various figures in the sky. Every time the Frecce Tricolori Pony (pilots) display, their aim is to create a sensual experience that pays tribute to the art of flying. During their entire performance, the ten aircraft never left sight of the crowd.
History then came alive with a thrilling demonstration by Thom Richard in the P-40 Warhawk from The American Airpower Museum located at Republic Field in Farmingdale, NY. When World War II began, the P-40 was the United States’ best fighter available in large numbers. The Warhawk engaged Japanese aircraft at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines, December 1941. It also served with the famed “Flying Tigers,” flying the ‘Hump’ in Burma-China in 1942 and in North Africa in 1943.
Not to be out done, Quick Silver P-51D Mustang, a resurrected veteran, provided more excitement. Demonstration Pilot Scott “Scooter” Yoak states, “commanding the P-51D with its water-cooled engine is not just flying but rather a systems management.” Quick Silver was the dream of father and son team Bill and Scooter Yoak. Built from over 200 original and remanufactured handmade Mustang parts, the plane stands as a tribute to our military veterans.
Michael Goulian is one of the most decorated multi-disciplined, aerial-aerobatic demonstration pilots in North America. In his Extra 330SC, Mike performed his renowned routine to the perfectly timed recorded-narration by legendary announcer Rob Reider. With his aggressive approach, Goulian doesn’t just fly an air show, he attacks it! At the age of 27, Goulian earned the distinction of becoming one of the youngest pilots ever to win the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Championship. Straining against punishing G-forces, Mike executed a perfectly precise heart-stopping tumbling, pulling, rolling performance.
Headlining the show were the USAF Thunderbirds. 5,000 foot ceilings with white puffy clouds forced a low-show both days. But, that didn’t dampen the excitement of the crowd or enthusiasm of the team. Saturday’s show opened in front of the crowd while Sunday was from behind.
The Solos executed two precise Sneak Passes with the Diamond Sneak pass coming from behind, low overhead. #5’s High Alpha covered the runway and infield with smoke before the team’s celebrated Bomb Burst and Delta Burst closed out their performance.
The next New York Air Show is scheduled for August 2025.