Look, up in the sky, it's the air show

WEST MILFORD — Excitement is building as the 5th annual Greenwood Lake Air Show prepares to take flight for three days, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 16 through Aug. 18.

"This year's air show promises to be the most thrilling show to date," according to a release by the air show team.

In the spotlight this year is Kirby Chambliss, a five-time U.S. National Aerobatic champion. Named one of the top 15 aerobatic pilots in the country, Chambliss was invited to compete in the first Red Bull Air Race event held in the early 2000s. He is a two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

Appearing for the first at the Greenwood Lake Air Show time is a jet powered funny car driven by Jerry McCart. Powered by a jet engine commonly used on the F-5 Fighter, the jet car can produce over 12,000 horse power and produces 4.6 Gs of acceleration force. It burns fuel at a rate of three gallons per second. It has been clocked at over 284 miles per hour in the quarter mile.

There will also be a demonstration of the FLS Microjet flown by Justin Lewis. The Microjet is listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world's smallest jet. At a weight of only 860 pounds and a folded width of only four feet, it's no wonder it holds that record. The Microjet is best known for its use in the classic James Bond 007 film, "Octopussy."

Joining the lineup this year will be the Alabama Boys Comedy Team, flown by Greg Koontz. The performance will feature a truck-top landing in his Piper J3 Cub. In addition, Koontz will perform aerobatics in his Super Decathlon.

Crowd-pleasers return
Returning to the air show this year is the crowd-pleasing Iron Eagle Aerobatics team, flown by Bill Gordon and Billy Segalla. The Iron Eagle Aerobatic Team flies two high performance biplanes in perfect unison. Currently, they fly the tightest aerobatic formations in the air show industry.

A very rare P51-C model Mustang flown by the Commemorative Air Force will perform fly bys on Saturday and Sunday.

Rounding out the lineup are air show great Gary Ward, Northeast Raiders Russian Warbird team and Kevin Russo and his vintage SNJ warbird trainer.

There will be many displays and exhibits on the field, including the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron "Rise Above" exhibit, spotlighting its mission of educating young people about the amazing history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

There is also a car show and live music on the field as well.

Each of the three days from 12 until 5 p.m., the aircraft will fill the skies, from formation flying to thrilling stunts, at an airfield that has its own share of unique history.

Greenwood Lake Airport is home to one of the last remaining examples of the Lockheed Constellation, a four-engine mainstay of passenger airline service in the 1940s and 1950s. Nicknamed "Connie," the aircraft is part of a flying legacy that was the forerunner of today's jetliner passenger service.

During the heyday of neighboring Jungle Habitat, a Warner Brothers theme park of the 1970s, the airfield was known as Nairobi Airport and sported aircraft in zebra stripes. Today it serves as a key general aviation airport for the region.

The details
Daily admission to the air show is $25 for adults, $15 for veterans and seniors 65 and older, $10 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under 4 are admitted free of charge. Gates open at 10 a.m.

Parking is ample and food vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend.

Greenwood Lake Airport is located at 126 Airport Road in West Milford.

For more information on the air show and airport, visit www.greenwoodlakeairport.com or call 973-728-7721.