BRUNSWICK, Maine — Cars were at a standstill on Route 1 in Brunswick Saturday morning while tens thousands of fans poured into the Brunswick Landing for the 2015 Great State of Maine Air Show.
Those eager to see the U.S. Navy Blue Angels jets were surprised to learn only five of the jets would fly Saturday. Herb Gillen, spokesman for the air show, confirmed only five planes would fly and said he heard it was because of mechanical problems in New Jersey.
Performers got underway just after noon. Among the acts, “Sky dancer” Anna Serbeninko performed aerial acrobatics, and Kent Pietsch drew laughs with his aerial comedy act. Just before 2 p.m., a U.S. F-22 raptor roared high over the runway. The Blue Angels were scheduled to fly at 3 p.m.
Until Brunswick Naval Air Base closed in 2011, the U.S. Navy sponsored air shows. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, the entity charged with redeveloping the former base, held the 2012 show. The Air Show Network, a private company, was hired to run this year’s show. Among the most notable changes, the company operated the concession stand, not nonprofit groups.
Parents from Cub Scout pack 699 from Bowdoinham sold ice cream, soda and water and would keep 10 percent of the proceeds. Pack master Cathy Curtis said by 1:30 p.m. the pack had netted about $125.
Scattered across the runway, U.S. Coast Guard Sea Cadets sold water and frozen lemonade. Grace Williamson, 15, of Standish said she spent a week this summer training with the Coast Guard as part of the sea cadet program.
Camped under the wing of a U.S. Air Force C5 Galaxy cargo plane, Juelmae Watson, 9, of South Berwick played with pens, stickers and balloons bearing the Air Force insignia. Watson spent the morning rock climbing, bungee jumping at military recruitment stations. She said representatives from the Air Force handed out swag as she waited in line to board the C5 Galaxy,
“I always wanted to join the military. I thought it would be a fun thing to do,” Watson said.