NEWS: Board of Education selects Rodriguez as new superintendent. PAGE A3
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
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MCAS Air Show returns to claim spot as one of Beaufort’s favorite traditions The Lowcountry has a number of treasured annual traditions, including the Shrimp Festival, softshell crab season, the Beaufort International Film Festival, and of course, Water Festival each year in late July. But there’s no doubt that one of the biggest local favorites only makes it around on the odd-numbered years. Headlined once again by the U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels, the MCAS Beaufort Air Show will touch down with its 2019 version this weekend. The repeat appearances of the Blue Angels performing in their signature blue-andgold F-18 fighter jets never fail to thrill and excite the crowds flocking to the Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort. Like most military air shows, Saturday and Sunday’s event at MCAS Beaufort is free and open to the public. The entertainment value afforded to families, especially aviation enthusiasts, is one of the best values the area has to offer. On the ground, a number of new and vintage aircraft will be available for viewing and touring, including military and general aviation planes. One of the most nostalgic aircraft on display is the Douglas C-54 used in the Berlin Aircraft. During the recovery period following World War II, this aircraft provided food, water, clothing, medication and other necessities to West Berlin. The aircraft is a flying memorial
Photos by Bob Sofaly.
and classroom. Military acts will be well-represented with demonstrations by local F-18 Hornet and F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The U.S. SOCOM Para-Commandos Parachute Demonstration Team based in Tampa will open the show each day with full demonstrations later in the schedule. The F-22 Raptor Team from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia will round out the
P-51 aircraft respectively as the “Class of ‘45” demonstration. The two aircraft will fly in close-formation as they interact in crossing and wingtip-to-wingtip maneuvers featuring the vintage aircraft first flown nearly 75 years ago. Designed with separate missions, the warbirds also will perform solo performances to showcase the capabilities of each plane. Eight-time national aerobatic champion Rob Holland will make a rare appearance on the east coast to perform in his custom built MXSRH. The standard MXS is a very popular aircraft among aerobatic performers. Holland’s personally designed plane is an American-made masterpiece constructed entirely with carbon-fiber materials. North Carolina-based MX Aircraft has partnered with Holland to design his aircraft based on his personal specifications. Powered by a 380-horsepower Lycoming engine, this 1200-pound aircraft is capable of pulling 16 positive and negative G’s. The aircraft rolls at nearly 500 degrees per second, creating one of the most exciting air show demonstrations on the circuit. Holland’s precise and athletic style of flying has led to eight consecutive U.S. national aerobatic championships and four consecutive world 4-minute freestyle championships.
lineup of military acts. As fifth generation fighters, the F-35 and F-22 will demonstrate some of the most advanced maneuvers and capabilities in flight today. A number of civilian performers will round out the lineup of world-class air show acts. Air show legend Julie Clark will perform in her T-34A Mentor. Clark entered as one of the first and only female pilots in 1980 and will complete her 40th year as a solo aerobatic performer at the end of the 2019 air show season. Her legacy as a pioneer will be fully celebrated during her final season of air show performances. Jim Tobul and Scott Yoak will join forces in their Corsair F4-U and Mustang
Crazy for crabs in Port Royal
By Bob Sofaly Thousands of people followed their noses and converged at the 16th annual Port Royal Soft Shell Crab Festival on Saturday along Paris Avenue. Various food vendors served up local delicacies of
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fried crabs, oysters, chicken wings and just about anything that could be could cooked in hot oil, including deep-fried cheesecake. For the younger at heart there were a bounce houses and for the auto lovers, there was a classic car show.
Picture clockwise from below: All things fried, including these softshell crabs at top and some old fashioned chicken wings. ••• One of the more popular cars was this 1932 Ford coupe with a beefed-up Chevrolet 350 cubic-inch engine, owned by Charles Watkins of Hilton Head Island. ••• Some of the thousands of people that converged at the 16th annual Port Royal Soft Shell Crab Festival on Saturday along Paris Avenue in Port Royal. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
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NJ senator Booker to visit Beaufort By Mike McCombs New Jersey senator Cory Booker is the latest 2020 Democratic candidate for president to visit Beaufort County. Booker will hold a rally at Cory 7:30 p.m. Fri- Booker day at Whale Branch Middle School. Doors are likely to open at 6:30 p.m. The 49-year-old follows Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, who held a rally April 15 at Whale Branch Middle. Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke and former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper have also visited Beaufort County, south of the Broad River. As of press time, further details of Booker’s visit had not been released. Visit www. yourislandnews.com for more information.