With the cancellation of this summer’s Atlantic City Airshow, originally planned for mid-August, Ocean City’s Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow (Sunday, September 15) stands as the only game in town for air stunts, aerobatics, and military demonstrations.
“We were deeply disappointed that the Atlantic City Airshow was cancelled,” said David Schultz, president and owner of David Schultz Airshows, which manages and oversees both the A.C. and O.C. shows.
Schultz has been conducting airshow coordination, planning and operations around the world since 1994. Back then, he and his small team started out coordinating four or five airshows per year. Today, his team and the company’s capabilities have grown immensely, and can handle around 30 airshows in a year.
“It was an economic shot in the arm (for Atlantic City). The budget for this year’s airshow would have been very small compared to the economic impact of the millions of dollars that are brought in that week. We’ll see some of that impact come to Ocean City because people are hungry to see an airshow on the coast,” he said.
Love at First Flight
Schultz’s fondness for aviation began as a child when his dad took him to his first airshow. He went on to obtain a degree in aeronautical engineering, and has made airplanes and airshows his life’s work.
More than just putting on a show, Schultz is acutely aware of how airshows can help a region’s economy. He takes that very seriously. Like most events that occur after Labor Day down the shore, the Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow was formed to increase traffic during the shoulder season, or as Schultz put it, “to put heads in beds and help boardwalk merchants.” To that end, Schultz is thrilled for Ocean City this time around.
“I think we will have even larger audiences this year due to the fact of what happened with A.C.’s,” he said. “And we’re happy to give entertainment value to people who come to Ocean City for an airshow on the coast.”
Flight Schedule
The Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow takes place throughout the afternoon on Sept. 15, and Schultz suggests grabbing lunch and staking out a good spot on the beach or boardwalk for viewing. The best spots will be between 6th and 14th streets, although you’ll see it from just about anywhere on the beach.
“Part of what’s nice is seeing the beach and boardwalk full. It’s a great family-oriented event.”
At least eight acts will participate in the event, including civilian formation teams and solo acts—some debuting planes that have not been in the O.C. show before—along with a military parachute team, stunt pilots, and more.
Seemingly more important to Schultz, however, is his goal to inspire the next generation, much like he was inspired as a kid attending an airshow with his dad.
“It’s nice to close out the summer season with an inspirational event. Our mission at David Schultz Airshows is to get kids off couches and inspire them to volunteer at aviation museums, increase their interest in the sciences and military and aviation careers,” he said. “You can see the reactions on the kids’ faces when they see these shows and a lot of times that enthusiasm and excitement does stick. Everyone participating in this event … they all got inspired by aviation, most likely from an airshow.”
‘You Can Tell Me, I’m a Doctor.’
Rick Volker, who will fly in the Boardwalk Aerobatic Show, is a dentist by day and an airshow pilot when time permits. Usually, he can be found practicing during his lunch hour or whenever he gets a break from patients. American by birth, Volker now resides in Ontario with his Canadian wife, Trish Volker, also a pilot.
Volker affirms that piloting and dentistry have something in common: both require exceptional spatial visualization skills.
Taking it even further, general personality traits for a dentist include a passion for their work, being a leader, strong attention to detail, and artistic tendencies. Additionally, dentists aren’t known for being risk takers.
Each of those can be checked off for Volker the Pilot, as well.
“I like having to make my mind up fast,” admitted Volker, who also enjoys free-style skiing. “I don’t see (flying) as danger or risk–I minimize that. It’s very well practiced and choreographed to take risk down to an acceptable level.
“I certainly can’t worry about doing my income taxes when I’m up there. You have to have 100% concentration,” Volker continued. “You can’t be worrying about arguing with a friend or that your right toe is sore. I’ve been told that I’m excessively focused—well, you have to be to do this.”
Ciao, Ocean City!
Volker has flown several different aircraft in various airshows. Last year in Ocean City he flew a pink Russian stunt plane. This time around he’s flying his SIAI Marchetti SF260C, a 260 horsepower Italian military trainer which Volker explained flies like a “little jet.” It will be the first visit to Ocean City for this particular plane, and Volker said he’s excited to show the audience just what this plane can do.
“This plane is different. It’s challenging to keep the speed going the way I want–it’s difficult to make it do what I want it to do,” he said. “It doesn’t have the horsepower of the modern competition air flyer.
“It has different limitations. My former plane had no limits–nothing you could do could hurt it. This has limits all over–it can’t go too fast, too slow, you can’t pull too many Gs. It’s my new challenge and I like it. I get bored otherwise.”
Though this plane may have its limits, gracefulness isn’t one of them. In fact, Volker says that those who observe him fly have commented on just how graceful and beautiful it is to see. And though it may not be as proficient as other airplanes, that doesn’t stop Volker from trying new tricks.
“I like to break the mold and enjoy the challenge of making it do things it wasn’t intended for, like snap rolls and hammerheads,” he said. “It’s not as capable as many. It doesn’t tumble, but it is graceful and fun.”
Love is in the Air
Volker met his wife Trish at an airshow. A pilot herself, she was running the Canadian International Airshow and wound up hiring him as a performer. Today, she travels with him to airshows and acts as his ground crew, public relations representative, emotional support and more. Volker says they are “stuck like glue” and that it’s all “very romantic.”
One thing pilots should not romanticize, according to Volker, is their plane. Unlike a boat, Volker is not fond of calling a plane “she” or “her.”
“Your plane does not love you, it doesn’t care what you do,” he laughed. “People will lavish their plane with affection, they’ll kiss it—I’m not kidding.
Pamela Dollak is a freelance writer for the Cape May County Herald who has years of experience as an entertainment editor, Philly boutique owner, and actress. She writes from Ocean City.
