The free show is Saturday and Sunday at Joint Base McGuire-DIx-Lakehurst in Burlington County. Watch video
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- If you've ever been to the Daytona 500 and experienced the power of 40 stock race cars roaring by, all of them have nothing on an F-16 fighter jet.
"Each F-16 has over 29,000 pounds of thrust, which is more power than the entire starting lineup of the Daytona 500 race," U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick Eberling explained Thursday, standing next to the F-16 he'll fly for the Thunderbirds this weekend.
The Thunderbirds, the Air Force's famed demonstration squadron, are a featured act in this weekend's joint base Air Show and Open House, called Power in the Pines. The show is on Saturday and Sunday.
Eberling, the lead solo pilot on the team, said flying in the Air Force is a family business, and something he's wanted to do since he was 6 years old.
His grandfather was a navigator on a B-24 in World War II and was shot down over Hungary and was a prisoner of war. His father was an Air Force fighter pilot and his mother an Air Force flight nurse.
"This is the absolute dream job of mine," Eberling said.
Air show thrills crowds at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Also headlining the air show are the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuting team, the U.S. Navy's F-18 Demonstration Team, the Breitling Jet Team and the GEICO Sky Typers.
The free, two-day show is expected to draw nearly a half million guests from across the region. The biennial show drew over 300,000 visitors in 2014.
In addition to the flying, visitors will be able to examine parked military aircraft up close and learn more about the base's capabilities. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the country's only triple-service military installation.
Gates open to the public on 9 a.m. both days, and aerial demonstrations begin at 11 a.m.
Due to the various types of aircraft participating in "Power in the Pines," area residents may experience significant noise, low-flying aircraft, and increased traffic around the base, the base said.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.