3 1/2 months and counting down

While the Blue Angels will be taking the premier spot in this year’s Cherry Point Air Show, a range of other acts have also signed on to perform.

"We’re excited," said Bob Kenward, head of Marine Corps Community Services at Cherry Point. "We’ve got some acts that we’ve never had before, like Aeroshell and Otto the Helicopter.

"With the return of the United States Navy Blue Angles and a variety of never before seen acts for our show, plus a combination of us being one of the very few air shows in the Carolinas for 2010, we fully intend for this to be a banner show for MCAS Cherry Point."

Organizers are beginning the stretch drive for the show, which is scheduled for May 21 to 23 at Cherry Point. The theme for the show will be announced later this month, and the acts have been booked for an event that is expected to draw more than 100,000 people in three days. Preferred, box and chalet seating tickets are scheduled to go on sale within days.

The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team of AT-6 Texans will be filling the sky with smoke in precision flying formations this year. The four-member flying team uses speedy propeller-driven trainers that first appeared in 1938. The aircraft is the forerunner to the P-51 Mustang fighter.

The crowd will see precision flying with a laugh from Otto.

"Otto is a comedy act," Kenward said. "We always try to get at least one comedy act for the show. He entertains the crowd by blowing bubbles, playing YoYo and picking up barrels."

Aerobatic acts range from silent parachutists and hang gliders to looping, rolling and spinning biplanes and monoplanes.

Other acts include pilot Bill Leff, whose polished aluminum T-6 will be shooting pyrotechnics and smoke from the wingtips in low level barrel rolls and inverted flying.

Pilots Buck Roetman and Dan McClung will be putting Red Eagle and Talon Eagle biplanes through the paces in flat spins, outside loops and tail slides.

Another aerobatic performance will be from pilot Tim Weber, flying a mono wing Geico Extra 300 that uses a 350-plus horsepower engine that can push the aircraft on a roll rate of 420 degrees per second. The plane can climb at 3,200 feet per minute and is one of the most high-powered aircraft on the air show circuit.

The Marine Air Ground Task Force will demonstrate the might of the Marine Corps with C-130 Hercules, AV-8B Harrier, EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18 Super Hornet, V-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft along with associated Marine ground troops.

Cherry Point’s CH-46 Pedro rescue helicopters from Marine Transport Squadron 1 will also give a demonstration.

In an example of near silent flight, motorized hang glider pilot Dan Buchanan, a paraplegic, will be delivering streamer flights by day and fireworks trailing flights for the Friday night show.

Another air show favorite that will be staying at ground level will be the returning Super Shockwave Jet Truck, the fastest Chevy Truck in the World. The truck has been clocked at speeds up to 334 mph.

Dropping in from above will be the Black Daggers, the official U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team.

General admission and parking to the air show are free to the public, but Kenward said that paid premium seating will also be available.

Those wishing to purchase featured seating, box seating or chalet seating can visit the air show Web site at www.cherrypointairshow.com or call toll free 866-946-4762 for more information.