This Thunderbirds Appearance Extra Special

Would they still come? It looked doubtful two weeks ago after a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds was forced to crash his F-16 into a field in Colorado, launching an internal investigation and two Air Show appearances elsewhere having to be cancelled.

Fortunately, the pilot was able to eject and will be in Ocean City this weekend. The same cannot be said for a member of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels who died in a crash on that same day, June 2. Captain Jeff Kuss was in Ocean City last year for the OC Air Show and had a high profile role in last year’s event with the angels headlining it. Although it’s the Thunderbirds’ turn this year to headline the event, the loss to the aviation industry will be marked several times this weekend. In fact, on each of the Thunderbirds jets a message of remembrance has been affixed. It reads, “In Memory Of Marine Capt Jeff Kuss Blue Angel #6 Opposing Solo.”

June 2 was indeed a dark day for the aviation industry. For the next 10 days, the Thunderbirds’ appearance in the OC Air Show was in question. Without the Thunderbirds, it’s no secret the Air Show would have been taken a major hit. Attendance would have suffered and the “wow” factor would have been diminished considerably without its headliner. Everyone knows that.

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