From the editor
One of the most exciting — and honestly terrifying — experiences of my life happened in 2019 when I had the opportunity to fly in a stunt plane ahead of the former Thunder Over the Boardwalk airshow in Atlantic City. Even now, years later, I can still remember the sound of the engines, the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of looking down at the Jersey Shore from thousands of feet in the air.
It all began during Media Day at the 177th Fighter Wing in Egg Harbor Township. Reporters and photographers had gathered to watch the arrival of the Thunderbirds arrive and interview pilots before the annual airshow.
I was completely fascinated by planes, especially fighter jets that can travel at speeds of 1500 mph with precision. Pilots climbed from the aircraft calm and composed.
Meanwhile, the rest of us stood there in awe. After the interviews wrapped up, members of the media were told there would be an opportunity the following morning for a limited number of people to ride in stunt planes.
I do not think they even finished the sentence before I volunteered.
The next morning, I climbed into a tiny open-air, two-person stunt plane. I remember being strapped in tightly and thinking, “What exactly did I sign up for?”
Within moments, we were airborne.
The ride was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
We shot almost straight upward into the sky before suddenly diving back down. Then came sharp turns, rolls and sideways maneuvers that made it nearly impossible to tell which end was up. Five other planes flew shockingly close to us as part of the formation.
It was thrilling and frightening all at once. There were moments I squeezed my eyes shut. There were also moments I could not stop smiling.
We flew over the mainland and then north along the coastline. Looking down from above at places I knew so well felt surreal. It was a complete shift in my perspective.
It also gave me a completely new appreciation for the skill and precision involved in aviation demonstrations and airshows. What spectators see from the beach for a few seconds takes an incredible amount of training, focus and coordination.
This weekend, Atlantic City’s skies will once again fill with the sounds of military jets and aerial demonstrations as the Soar & Shore Airshow presented by Visit Atlantic City returns for three days of performances along the beachfront. The event is free to the public and is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors to the beach, boardwalk and surrounding areas.
And while I will happily keep both feet planted firmly on the ground this year, every time I hear the roar of those engines overhead, I know I will think back to that unforgettable day in 2019 when I had the ride of a lifetime.
For more information on this weekend’s three-day airshow, go to page 22. As always, thank you for welcoming Shore Local into your homes and community. We appreciate you, the readers and our sponsors who make this publication possible.
Peace & Love, Cindy
