2023 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach - May 27th and 28th

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is only a month away, so it's time to fire up the thread for it again!

Here's the official website link to find out the latest show info:
Bethpage Air Show | at Jones Beach State Park

The 2023 Bethpage Air Show will take place Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, from 10AM-3PM.


2023 Confirmed Performers:

• US Air Force Thunderbirds
• US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Demo
• US Navy EA-18G Growler Legacy Team
• US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
• USCG MH-60T Jayhawk Search and Rescue Demo
• Michael Goulian (Extra 330SC)
• David Windmiller (Edge 540)
• Ed Hamill (Pitts S2C)
• American Airpower Museum (Various Warbirds)
• Skytypers - SNJ Texan (5 - ship)
• Warbird Thunder Airshows - Chris Thomas and Mike Eberhardt (SNJ Texan 2 - ship)
• Farmingdale State College Flying Rams

Looking forward! Always nice when the show is packed with jets. On a jet note, heard a few circle over Republic just now. Wonder what it could be?

Excited to hear and see them again. It's gonna be a great show. I do wish they could sign a few different military acts, maybe get a few military aircraft that have never participated before.

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Originally Posted by RepublicAviation

Looking forward! Always nice when the show is packed with jets. On a jet note, heard a few circle over Republic just now. Wonder what it could be?

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FYI - 2 - F-18E Super Hornets from VFA-211 Checkmates landed at FRG on Friday afternoon, but I'm not sure exactly when they'll be departing?

I think they are here just for regular training flights, definitely not involved with the show.

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Originally Posted by Chris S

FYI - 2 - F-18E Super Hornets from VFA-211 Checkmates landed at FRG on Friday afternoon, but I'm not sure exactly when they'll be departing?

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I just happen to see them at FRG yesterday also. I heard they are leaving today (Sunday) something. If anyone gets a time frame let me know :)

i got some info that the hornets are leaving around 2 today

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Originally Posted by bgny61

i got some info that the hornets are leaving around 2 today

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Yeah, the F-18 pilots arrived around 1:45 and they finally took off at 3:20 on RWY 14.

FYI - I saw the FAA posted the TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) for the Jones Beach Show
and the air space over the beach will be closed on Thurs., May 25th from 5:00PM - 5:45PM
and then daily on Fri., Sat. & Sun (May 26th - 28th) from 10AM to 3PM.
Sounds like the Thunderbirds will be arriving on Thurs., May 25th sometime in the afternnoon
from Colorado Springs and if they arrive in time they might be doing their circles around
Jones Beach on Thursday from 5:00 to 5:45PM

BTW, when I was over at FRG over the weekend I asked some of the ramp guys at the AAM
and Modern Aviation (formerly Sheltair) if they knew if any of the Miltary Jets flying in the
show would be using FRG, and they all said they heard the Thunderbirds, F-35B Demo team
and the EA-18G Growlers would all be using ISP this year unfortunately.
Some good news is that warbirdnews.com just posted a press release from the AAM that they're
expecting to have some Growlers again this year for static display, like they've done the past 2 years!

Here's the press release link on Warbird News from May 10th:
American Airpower Museum's WWII Aircraft Joining Jones Beach Air Show (warbirdsnews.com)

Shame that the jets are all staging from ISP this year, but kind have come to expect it during Thunderbird years. Surprised the Growler Legacy Team is going there as well.

I can imagine at least in part that they are staying at ISP due to the construction that is happening on Taxiway A at FRG which is next to Runway 14/32.

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Originally Posted by RCFLYER86

I can imagine at least in part that they are staying at ISP due to the construction that is happening on Taxiway A at FRG which is next to Runway 14/32.

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More about runway length.

Shame the Thunderbirds are coming in late Thursday. Was hoping to head to the beach for circles

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Originally Posted by dekdawg21

More about runway length.

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Was thinking the Growler Team at least could stay at FRG cause they can use 14/32 but who knows the real reason.

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Originally Posted by RCFLYER86

Was thinking the Growler Team at least could stay at FRG cause they can use 14/32 but who knows the real reason.

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My bad, thought you meant the other demo teams. That is odd though that the Growler demo is using Islip but AMM is having Growlers come in to Republic for static display

Show seems kinda light on performers this year? I miss the old days when we had at least a dozen different teams come in for the show :(

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Originally Posted by Billbo1970

Show seems kinda light on performers this year? I miss the old days when we had at least a dozen different teams come in for the show :(

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Yeah, sadly, the good old days of Air Shows getting many military demo teams and a bunch of warbirds
too are pretty much gone forever unfortunately, except for maybe at Oshkosh and Sun N Fun!
I'm looking forward to seeing the USMC F-35B Demo for the first time in person tearing it up and
hovering over the Atlantic Ocean cause I've always wanted to see the Harrier Demo at Jones Beach!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0mIRCUrk3w
:cool:

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Originally Posted by Chris S

Yeah, sadly, the good old days of Air Shows getting many military demo teams and a bunch of warbirds
too are pretty much gone forever unfortunately.:cool:

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Yeah, but WHY?! We don't even get the snowbirds coming down anymore... :( I'll never forget that Jones Beach show SEVERAL years ago when we had a TON of military jets, even a B-1 Lancer! That was the best show ever! I have never seen a B2 in person, I hope we get one some day.

There was a time in the early 2000s the Thunderbirds use to come to FRG. Then (forgot what year) they switch to ISP and been there ever since. Sad we were spoiled when both Thunders AND Blues at FRG.

Looking at the latest weather forecasts, it's looking more and more that Memorial Day weekend might be a washout. Friday looks like it's going to be the only decent day. :frown::frown:Bummer.

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Originally Posted by PhoenixOne

There was a time in the early 2000s the Thunderbirds use to come to FRG. Then (forgot what year) they switch to ISP and been there ever since. Sad we were spoiled when both Thunders AND Blues at FRG.

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Yes, they did! Their last show where they used FRG was 2009, if I'm not mistaken. More discouraging is that while they are over at ISP, they keep their distance from the public. That's in contrast to the Blue Angels who are very engaging with the public at FRG and park their aircraft front and center for everyone to see up close.

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Originally Posted by Speedbagel_001

More discouraging is that while they are over at ISP, they keep their distance from the public..

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Sad, but true.

Hello everyone it's been awhile. Is there a ETA for the Thunderbird's at ISP? Thank you.

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Originally Posted by Billbo1970

Yeah, but WHY?! We don't even get the snowbirds coming down anymore... :( I'll never forget that Jones Beach show SEVERAL years ago when we had a TON of military jets, even a B-1 Lancer! That was the best show ever! I have never seen a B2 in person, I hope we get one some day.

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I'm sure the biggest reason comes down to MONEY of course and military budgets also. Look what happened to Air Shows back in 2013 with the US Budget Sequestration
when the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels and all the other US Military Demo teams couldn't fly at any shows that year after March 1st when the budget cuts kicked in!
As far as the Snowbirds goes, they've had their own problems over the past 4 years with I think 3 crashes and they haven't even been able to fly a full schedule in Canada,
since before the pandemic! Looks like their CF-18 Demo budget has been cut also cause they're only flying their Hornet in about 10 shows up in Canada only.

I wish Jones Beach could get more Miltary flybys like the B-1 too. Unfortunately, it looks like shows like the Hyundai Miami Air & Water Show this weekend have better military contacts
than Jones Beach does cause even though that show didn't get the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, they still have B-1, B-2, B-52, C-5, C-17, F-15 and F-16 flybys planned along
with the F-35A and F-18 Super Hornet Demo teams also!! They're also charging about $65 a person for general admission down in Miami, and we only have to pay $10 for parking
and we can pack as many people as we want into our cars at Jones Beach, so I guess you get what you pay for! $$

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Originally Posted by Chris S

I wish Jones Beach could get more Miltary flybys like the B-1 too. Unfortunately, it looks like shows like the Hyundai Miami Air & Water Show this weekend have better military contacts
than Jones Beach does cause even though that show didn't get the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, they still have B-1, B-2, B-52, C-5, C-17, F-15 and F-16 flybys planned along
with the F-35A and F-18 Super Hornet Demo teams also!! They're also charging about $65 a person for general admission down in Miami, and we only have to pay $10 for parking
and we can pack as many people as we want into our cars at Jones Beach, so I guess you get what you pay for! $$

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Well, that's partly true... the airshow at Stewart Airport upstate charges for shows, but they are only marginally better than what we get at Jones. If money is the only issue, then they can charge more on that weekend to cover the expense... it will still get packed out! It's such a shame, Long Island has such rich a rich history in military aviation... now it's all gone and we get no love. Actually, in civil aviation as well... the Spirit of St Louis took off from Roosevelt Field on LI for it's historic flight. Where is it now? The Smithsonian, instead of The Cradle...

Anyone have information on arrival time on Thursday of the thunderbirds
also does anyone know if #8 is coming in early

The TFR for Thursday is from 5:00pm to 5:45pm so I presume around those times, but things can always change, and they have been late in past years.

Yeah two years ago they didn't use the Thursday TFR. And four years ago they did their circle and arrivals on Friday morning at 9am before the practice (although the solos may have went up Thursday afternoon/evening that year). Fingers crossed for this year.

I wonder if the F-35 or the Growlers will use the Thursday TFR, I kinda want to head by the beach to see them if they do. Also any word on when the Growlers will be coming in at the Airpower Museum?

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Originally Posted by PhoenixOne

There was a time in the early 2000s the Thunderbirds use to come to FRG. Then (forgot what year) they switch to ISP and been there ever since. Sad we were spoiled when both Thunders AND Blues at FRG.

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Thunderbirds only used Republic in 2009, before that they used JFK.

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Originally Posted by dekdawg21

Thunderbirds only used Republic in 2009, before that they used JFK.

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The Thunderbirds also used Republic in 2007, and I'll never forget the flybys over FRG with the B-1s that year also !!
The good old days at Republic in 2007 on Air Show weekend >>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN_HhH0F_fY

According to Flightradar24, Tbird 8 will be arriving around 4pm today..

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Originally Posted by bgny61

According to Flightradar24, Tbird 8 will be arriving around 4pm today..

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Good catch!
Hopefully the rest of the team arrives around the sametime on Thurs. inorder to make the 5:00 TFR at Jones Beach also!

Thunderbird 8 is currently up on flight radar 24, but it is showing as a stratotanker, and it appears it left from March Air Force Base near Anaheim. It does have ISP as it's destination though

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Originally Posted by Chris S

The Thunderbirds also used Republic in 2007, and I'll never forget the flybys over FRG with the B-1s that year also !!
The good old days at Republic in 2007 on Air Show weekend >>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN_HhH0F_fY

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Oh wow, I swore it was just the one year. And I'm still pissed I missed the B-1. That's something different we need back in the show

Just talked to the AAM and they're expecting 2 Growlers into FRG on Thurs. between 4:00 - 6:00PM at FRG.
Remember they're traveling cross country from WA state with probably 2 fuel stop overs so there could be a delay.

https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?ur...w9h42V72wg--~D

I believe T-Bird#8 has arrived over Long Island cause I just heard a very loud jet on the south shore in the direction of Jones Beach !!

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Originally Posted by Chris S

I believe T-Bird#8 has arrived over Long Island cause I just heard a very loud jet on the south shore in the direction of Jones Beach !!

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Came here to post this, hearing it in Seaford

Hi since the Thunderbirds aren't sleeping at FRG this year, then what channel/frequency on LiveATC would be best to hear what's going on? I'm planning to take a drive to the beach tomorrow in case they have a short practice. Worst case if they don't show up...I get some time at the beach :-)

Thanks for any ideas. -Dave-

FYI - Heard the USMC F-35B Demo team is due into ISP around 2:30 today.