The four-hour show lineup, with 11 headlining acts, will also include the Fighter Jets Inc. MIG-17PF Jet Team, and many more exciting performances
The Wildwoods, NJ – August 7, 2025 – The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) is proud to present the highly anticipated ‘Thunder Over the Waves Airshow’, produced by David Schultz Airshows. Taking place in the Wildwoods on September 5 (practice day) and September 6 (main event), the spectacular event is expected to attract more than 200,000 spectators. This year’s lineup features 11 thrilling headliners, including Jerry Conley, Greg Colyer, The Jersey Jerks, and Kevin Russo.
Jerry Conley
Air Force veteran and author Jerry Conley of Vampire Airshows will be among the headliners at the Airshow, flying his DeHavilland Vampire, which was developed as the world’s first single-engine jet fighter. Having more than 42 years’ experience, Jerry’s flying experience includes aircraft such as Beechcraft Bonanza, Cessna 172, Citabria, Super Decathlon, SAI Marchetti, Bell Helicopters, HA-200 Casa Jet, DeHavilland DH-115 Vampire, DeHavilland DH-112 Swiss Venom, L-39 Albatross, AVL-29, and the BAC Strikemaster. Jerry has performed at Airshows across the country flying high performance jet aircraft for more than 15 years. Jerry holds a Surface Level Aerobatic card with Solo Jet certification and dogfight.
Greg Colyer
Greg “Wired” Colyer, a native Californian and Army vet who spent 27 years as an Air Traffic Controller in the Oakland, CA area, will be piloting the Ace Maker T-33 Shooting Star. When he’s not flying Airshows, he is teaching at either Edwards AFB or at NAS Patuxent River in the respective service’s Test Pilots School or flying corporate aircraft.
The Jersey Jerks
The Jersey Jerks are a group of aviators who reside throughout New Jersey and own various models of the North American T-6 and SNJ Texan. The Jerks pay tribute and honor Maj. Gen. Donald Strait, an East Orange, New Jersey native who flew P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighters, which were frequently painted with nicknames such as “Big Ass Bird” or “The Hun Hunter.” Each member of the Jersey Jerks is FAST formation qualified. They all share the same passion for aviation as well as telling the stories of the men who fought in World War II.
The four pilots that make up the Jersey Jerks are Buzz Cortese, a women’s’ health professional; Kevin Russo, an Air Force Reserve veteran and corporate pilot; Gavin Nagle, a recent college graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick; and John “Pico” Mazure, an owner and operator of a popular South Jersey Jump Zone.
Kevin Russo
Air Force veteran and New Jersey resident Kevin Russo will be flying his solo aerobatic routine in the North American SNJ-6 Texan during the 2025 airshow. Today, Kevin is a corporate pilot with many thousands of hours in jet aircraft including the C-141B Starlifter and the C-17 Globemaster III and owns the Texan to be featured in the Airshow, alongside his Beechcraft Bonanza.
Airshow Schedule
Spectators can witness Jerry Conley, Greg Colyer, The Jersey Jerks, and Kevin Russo in action during their respective timeslots, as well as the show’s other headlining acts. Below is the schedule of current acts in the lineup for the Airshow (subject to change):
11:30 Airspace Closes. TFR in effect. Radio Remote Broadcast Starts
11:50 Opening Ceremonies
12:00 National Anthem with Army Golden Knights Flag Jump
12:06 Army Golden Knights Mass Exit Show
12:14 Military Flyovers Window
12:24 Mark Meredith DHC-1 Chipmunk Aerobatics
12:34 Scott Francis MXS Aerobatics
12:49 Jerry Conley DH-115 Vampire Jet Aerobatics
1:04 USCG MH-65E Search & Rescue Demo
1:14 Jersey Jerks 4-ship SNJ Formation Demonstration
1:24 Kevin Russo SNJ-6 Aerobatics
1:39 Patrick McAlee Pitts Aerobatics
1:54 Full Throttle Formation Team
2:10 Army Golden Knights Mass Exit Show
2:30 ACEMAKER T-33 Jet Aerobatics
2:45 P-5D Mustang Demonstration
2:58 Fighter Jets MiG-17 Jet Aerobatics
4:00 Airspace Re-Opens, Airshow Ends
After the excitement of the Airshow, visitors are welcome to join the unofficial afterparty, The Wildwoods Food and Music Festival, at Byrne Plaza in Downtown Wildwood from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Food and Music Festival will feature food vendors serving up delectable sweets, classic boardwalk eats and more, in addition to craft vendors, a beer garden, and live bands providing excitement following the epic performances at the Airshow. For more information on the Wildwoods Food and Music Festival, click here.
Funding for the Wildwoods ‘Thunder Over the Waves’ Airshow comes from a combination of sources, including the GWTIDA, the Title Sponsor, the SJTA, and local and corporate sponsorships. The Airshow will be a free event for the public to attend. Sponsorship packages are available by contacting the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority at 609-846-2657 or email at [email protected].
While the Airshow is free to attend there are prime VIP viewing areas available for purchase, putting you in the center of all the action. For the ultimate in viewing comfort there are a limited number of exclusive Airshow Chalets available. The Chalets are 20’ x 30’ high ceiling tents with tables and chairs, unlimited soda, water and ice and 60 viewing chairs outside the tent at show center, Also available at show center are Show Center VIP seating and Beach Club seating. Visit WildwoodsAirshow.com or call 609-846-2659 for all VIP seating options.
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