By Jeff Sovelove
Soaring over the Orange County Airport, The New York International Air Show had something for every aviation enthusiast: Amazing pilots, and aircraft ranging from biplanes to classic warbirds and the latest military technology.
The West Point Black Knights started last weekend’s show accompanied by Mike Wikus in his Lucas Oil Pitts Pitts Special.
Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove. Click/hover on image for captions:
Wikus’ flying career began at age 14, when he begged the local airport owner for a job washing planes and cleaning hangers. Three years later he had his pilot’s license. Wikus has has logged more than 24,000 hours flying 40 different planes. He started the “I Can” program to support youth with a dream.
Airshow favorites included the “Class of ’45,” comprising a P-561 D Mustang and an F4U Corsair, along with the B-25 Mitchell bomber “Panchito.”
The Corsair flew in close formation with the Rhino Demonstration Team in a Navy Legacy flight, thrilling the crowd with a display of Navy air power, yesterday and today.
With Major Paul “Loco” Lopez II at the controls, an F-22 Demo Team showed off the Raptor’s ability to execute minimum radius turns while using its vectoring jet nozzles to perform maneuvers impossible in any other aircraft.
The Air Force Thunderbirds closed out the show with their usual breathtaking display of close formation- and precision stunt flying. Arriving in their signature “double delta” formation, they did a series of knife edge passes and aerobatics, all while remaining as little as 18 inches apart.
Attendance was limited by the pandemic. But those who made the trip were rewarded with a stunning show.
