Black Diamond Jet Team to perform at Sands Lehigh Valley Air Show

The air show is set Aug. 24-25 at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

The Black Diamond Jet Team, a civilian-owned squadron based in Lakeland, Fla., will perform Aug. 24-25 at the Sands Lehigh Valley Air Show at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Officials announced the show -- the first at the airport in 16 years -- in March.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the Black Diamond Jet Team perform at the show,” said Charles Everett, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, today at a news conference. “There are no U.S. military jet teams performing at air shows this year, so we are pleased to offer our air show attendees the thrills, excitement and precision of this show-stopping jet team.”

With an arctic-camouflage paint scheme, the L-39 “Albatross” aircraft sparkle as they perform overhead, organizers said. The L-39 is the most widely used high performance jet trainer in the world and serves in more than 30 air forces worldwide.

Jared Isaacman, who flies the right wing position on the team, is the founder and CEO of Harbortouch (formerly United Bank Card Inc.), a national supplier of point-of-sale systems and credit card processing equipment in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

“Over the last three years, the pilots and crew of the Black Diamond Jet Team have had some of the greatest times of our lives performing in front of millions of people, and we couldn’t be happier about performing in front of our local, hometown fans here in Allentown,” Isaacman said.

The Sands Lehigh Valley Air Show will feature flight performances, sky diving demonstrations, displays, exhibitors, food vendors and a classic car show.

Airshow gates will open at 9 a.m. each day, with performances from noon to 4 p.m.

Ticket prices for adults are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate; for children 4 to 11 years old, $6 in advance and $8 at the gate; and for military personnel, active or retired with valid identification, $10 at the gate. Children younger than 4 enter free.

Advance tickets are available at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, all local Wegmans locations, 26 local TopStar locations beginning Friday, at Lehigh Valley International Airport and at lehighvalleyairshow.com.

The airshow entrance will be on Race Street, just off Airport Road. Parking is permitted only in designated areas and will be offered free to airshow guests. For more information, visit lehighvalleyairshow.com or facebook.com/flylvia.