Jets are set to roar over Wildwood's beach again this weekend, as Thunder Over the Waves returns for its second year on Saturday and Sunday with performances running from noon to 3 p.m. both days. General admission remains free for anyone willing to grab a spot on the sand or boardwalk, and the show unfolds over the ocean between Morey's Mariner's Pier and Adventure Pier, giving spectators a long stretch of shoreline to watch from.
The event, officially called Thunder Over the Waves, was produced by flight management firm David Schultz Airshows for its inaugural edition, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. As NBC10 Philadelphia reports, gates open at 9 a.m. both mornings, guests can bring lawn chairs, blankets, and beach umbrellas, and the show goes on rain or shine, though organizers may modify or cancel individual performances due to weather.
Friday marks a practice day for participating pilots, according to In Flight USA. Practice flights take place ahead of the weekend show.
Fighter Jets, a Cold War MiG, and a WWII Mustang
This year's roster leans heavily on military muscle. The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor demo team is scheduled to perform, per the NBC10 report, and New Jersey's own Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing, based at Atlantic City International Airport, will fly a dedicated F-16 Fighting Falcon pass over the beachfront, according to event details published by The Wildwoods Air Show.
Vintage aviation gets its moment too. The lineup includes Randy Ball's Cold War-era MiG-17F and the WWII-era P-51D Mustang known as Jacqueline, flown on behalf of the American Airpower Museum, the same event listing notes. The pairing traces combat aviation from propeller-driven WWII fighters to today's fifth-generation jets in a single afternoon over the water.
Rescue crews get airtime as well. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City will send MH-65E Dolphin helicopter crews to demonstrate live ocean search-and-rescue maneuvers, per the same performer specifications, alongside the RE/MAX skydiving team, NBC10 reports.
Free Beach Viewing, With VIP Upsides for a Price
While the core show costs nothing to watch from the sand or boardwalk, pop-up tents, canopies, and large inflatables are prohibited across the viewing area. Those wanting guaranteed real estate can pay for 12-foot by 12-foot reserved Beach Boxes for four guests, or upgrade to The Shore Club VIP pass, according to listings on EventHub.
Anyone who can't snag a front-row spot can still follow the action: the 2025 event was simulcast on local radio station 98.7 The Coast.
A Second Season on the Shore
The Wildwoods event launched in 2025 specifically to extend the shore's tourist economy into what locals call the fall Second Season, when visitation typically drops after Labor Day. Last year's inaugural show generated an estimated $33.2 million in local economic impact and drew more than 133,000 visitors to the resort island, according to figures released by the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority and reported by Ocean City Patch. NBC10 separately reported that the 2025 show drew more than 100,000 visitors and boosted local businesses after Labor Day weekend.
The Wildwoods event launched in 2025 to extend the shore's tourist economy into what locals call the fall Second Season.
The region's aviation ties run deeper than one weekend show. Cape May County's naval aviation history centers on Lower Township's Cape May Airport, home to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, which operates out of a World War II-era Hangar #1, according to Shore Local Newsmagazine. Dive-bomber pilots trained there during WWII, and the museum hosts its own annual static-display AirFest fundraiser nearby.
