Community Corner

Lineup Switch, Last Minute Inspection for Air Show

Fighter jet change and inspection mark final hours before take-off.

A lineup switch and aircraft inspection have marked the final hours before takeoff of the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach.

Navy officials at the Pentagon have grounded the scheduled fleet of Raptor jet fighters over safety concerns and are dispatching an F-18 to perform instead. There were reported issues with pilot oxygen supply.

Meanwhile, the World War II B-29 bomber - the last one operational in the world-  scraped its tail when landing Thursday during a resulting in a last minute inspection.

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Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said that an inspector was sent over to look at the tail, but that no damage was found and that the plane will appear in the show as planned.

These issues add to the star power already lost this year, since the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds had to decline participation due to scheduling conflicts.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, the show will still feature a packed line-up that includes the GEICO Skytypers, the Army Golden Knights, the A-10 Thunderbold East Demo Team and a World War II bomber formation.

The performers take off from Farmingdale's from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.


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