The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced that the United States Air Force Thunderbirds will headline next year’s Bethpage Air show at Jones Beach.
The May 27-28 event will mark the fifth time the famed demonstration squad will soar over the skies of Long Island to celebrate the unofficial start to summer. The Thunderbirds’ last appearance was in 2015, before an audience of more than 439,000 people over the course of two days.
“We are confident that their return to Long Island in 2017 will draw an equally large crowd as well,” Linda Armyn, Bethpage Federal Credit Union’s Senior VP of Corporate Affair, said in a statement.
This past air show, which for the first time in the event’s history featured a trio of jet teams, including the US Navy Blue Angels, set an attendance record with more than 453,000 spectators.
The 14th annual air show will also mean the return of Levittown native Major Kevin Walsh, who will be flying high in Thunderbird No. 7.
Officials announced that the US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will also be on hand for the show, which is still five months away.
As they look toward the future, state officials said the Blue Angels have already committed to return in 2018.
