A bird’s-eye view of West­moreland County will be available this summer from the passenger seat of a vintage single-­engine airplane — for a price.

For a suggested donation of $5,000 apiece, two passengers can tag along with members of the Jersey Jerks aerial team when they complete a flyover of the county in conjunction with this year’s Westmoreland County Airshow, set for June 11 and 12 at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

The donations will help underwrite the cost of the air show, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport in Unity and hosts the airshow.

Two flights are available. The person making the donation will “join the tribute flight and fly with the Jersey Jerks over Westmoreland County,” Monzo said.

The flyover involves a four-plane formation with a proposed route beginning at the airport and extending over Ligonier, Vandergrift, Monessen, Rostraver, Greensburg and Jeannette.

Monzo said the flyover is intended as a tribute to health care workers, first responders and “all those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty” during the pandemic.

“It’s a thank-you to everybody that continues to get us through this,” he said.

A similar flyover had been planned to kick off each day of last year’s air show, on Memorial Day weekend, but poor weather grounded those flights and some of the other aerial activities at the event.

This will mark the Jersey Jerks’ first appearance in the Westmoreland Airshow. According to promotional material for the team’s previous activities, its members hail from throughout New Jersey and fly various models of T-6 and SNJ Texan aircraft. The planes were used for training military pilots beginning in World War II.

The team chose its name in memory of Maj. Donald Strait, a famed World War II pilot from New Jersey who is credited with more than a dozen aerial victories in 122 missions over Europe. Planes he flew in combat were nicknamed “Jersey Jerk.”

Anyone interested in joining the flyover as a passenger should contact Monzo at the airport authority office, 724-539-8100.

Another performer new to the show is Erik Edgren, who performs a comedy act. With experience as a flight instructor and corporate pilot, he flies a modified clipped-wing Taylorcraft single-engine plane.

One of the highlights of the show will be a tactical demonstration by an Air Force Viper jet team.

“We’re very excited about having them back,” Monzo said. “They provide an excellent show.”

The authority is planning to abandon last year’s drive-in air show format, which had limited attendance because of covid restrictions.

Static ground displays, which were avoided last year, are planned to return for the June show, Monzo said.

Although more acts are being sought for the lineup and other details are pending, he said, “It’s going to be a good show.”

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