Air & Sea Show
The Air & Sea Show was an annual air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in which military and civilian performances took place on the four mile stretch of beach from Oakland Park to Las Olas Boulevard. From 2001 to 2007 the Air and Sea Show occurred as an extension of Fleet Week, with appearances by many military aircraft and ships, such as the U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in 2006, the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor in 2007. Aerial teams such as the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds and parachute teams such as the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, the U.S. Army Golden Knights, and the Air Force STARS were also featured. Notable performances were search and rescue demonstrations from the United States Air Force Reserve 920th Rescue Wing and the United States Coast Guard. Since its inception in 1995, it featured many unique aircraft and display teams like the Brazilian Air Force Smoke Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds, the ShowCopters, the Northern Lights, an L-39 Albatros and a replica of the Fokker Dr.I painted as the Red Baron. Civilian performers included Kirby Chambliss, Ian Groom, Jim LeRoy, Wayne Handley, Freddie Cabanas, Gene Soucy, the Red Baron Pizza Squadron, the Lima Lima Flight Team, and a South African Airways Boeing 747-400 flyby. The Air & Sea Show, which was produced and promoted by Mickey Markoff, last ran in 2007 after enjoying a 13 year run on the beaches.[1]
Notes
From 1995 to 1998, Shell Oil Company was the show's sponsor with McDonald's owning sponsorship from 2002 to 2007.
Accidents and incidents
On April 30, 2004, while practicing for the Air & Sea Show, featured performer Ian Groom died of blunt force trauma when his Sukhoi Su-31 dove into the Atlantic Ocean. Witnesses said the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude and spun into the ocean after performing a flat spin. A spokesperson for Groom said he may have blacked out during this maneuver.