Dec. 13--ATLANTIC CITY -- The Atlantic City Airshow will return to town Aug. 17, marking the first time in 10 years that the show will be held on a Friday.

"Its not our first choice, since it's not midweek," said Liza Cartmell, CEO of the Atlantic City Alliance marketing group. But she said the show would benefit the city and region, and a main goal would be to fill up the rest of the week with other activities to draw tourists.

The Thunderbirds, the Air Force's official demonstration team, and the Golden Knights, the Army's parachute team, are both set to appear, show organizer W. David Schultz said. Schultz said he is in negotiations with a number of potential participants.

The free event has grown into one of the biggest annual attractions in the city.

About 800,000 people packed Absecon Island this year to see the loud spectacle overhead. Even though it was a weekday, the South Jersey Transportation Authority said about 185,078 vehicles traveled on the Atlantic City Expressway, with traffic backups throughout the day.

Previous shows have included the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, as well as other Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard representatives, while last year's show included the SkyHawks, the Canadian Forces Parachute Demonstration Team.

Most airshow performers take off from and land at Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, even though the event takes place over the resort's beach and Boardwalk.

Next year's show is scheduled for Friday because that was when the Thunderbirds were available, Schultz said.

Prior to the Atlantic City show, the demonstration team will be at the 50th annual Abbotsford International Airshow, scheduled for Aug. 10-12 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, said Air Force Tech Sgt. Jacob A. Richmond, a Thunderbirds spokesman. That show is Canada's national airshow, and that nation's largest, with attendance of about 125,000.

The following week, Richmond said, the Thunderbirds will be part of New York City's Air Force Week, from Aug. 19-21.

Consequently, Richmond said the only days the Thunderbirds could appear in Atlantic City were Friday, Aug. 17, or Saturday, Aug. 18.

"My understanding is that the show organizers preferred Friday," Richmond wrote in an email.

For the second year in a row, the airshow also will feature a parade, to be held Wednesday, Aug. 15, said area radio host Pinky Kravitz, one of the co-organizers of this year's armed forces parade.

"We definitely are doing the parade. I believe we will have a tremendous crowd," he said. "It's just another one of those things that people will come out for."

The date has been set for about a month, but Kravitz said he wanted the Greater Atlantic City Chamber's announcement to come before the parade announcement.

Kravitz said the show's attendance could be the largest ever because it will be held on a Friday as opposed to midweek.

"More people will be able to come and enjoy the airshow," he said.

Schultz said there had been some discussion about turning the airshow into a weekend-long event, but organizers ran into problems with housing participants, including several hundred volunteers, during the region's busiest time. While casinos have provided many rooms, Schultz said, "It is not financially viable to bring the show to Atlantic City when the hotels are $400 a room."

Furthermore, housing as many as 800,000 visitors is much cheaper midweek.

Resort tourism officials have said they want to develop additional activities and otherwise increase the number of visitors during the middle of the week, to bolster the slowest days. Officials who responded to requests for comment said they were glad to have the show, even if the timing was not ideal.

"We just want to make sure that this show continues to come to Atlantic City and we continue to add supporting events," said Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.

Joseph Kelly, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, said he hoped some of the casinos would take the lead and create events in the days leading up to the airshow that promote the show's "Salute to the Armed Forces" theme.

One event that is being considered is a dusk performance the night before with an illuminated skyline.

Regardless of the day, Joseph Lupo, a vice president of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, said the casino was looking forward to the event.

"We're looking for a good Thursday and great Friday, and hopefully people will stay though the weekend and stay for a longer time."

Staff Writer Sarah Watson contributed to this report.

Contact Derek Harper:

609-272-7046

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Copyright 2011 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.