The Chicago Air and Water Show will return later this month to once again wow spectators lined up along North Avenue Beach and the Lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street. Presented by the City of Chicago, it is the largest free show of its kind in the country and features various military and civilian performances.
On Saturday, August 19th, and Sunday, August 20th, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights Army Parachute Team, and multiple other performers will take to the skies from 10:30 am until 3 pm for two scintillating shows free of charge.
Back in 1959 the air show was named the Lakeshore Park Air & Water Show and was part of a family day of celebration for children enrolled in the Chicago Park District’s day camp program according to Chicago.gov.
With a budget of $88, the first show was held under the direction of Al Benedict, a Chicago Park District Supervisor at Lakeshore Park, before it saw the involvement of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Golden Knights Parachute Team skyrocket the event the next year.
The show is now one of the city’s most anticipated events but has been hampered by Covid-19-related mitigation measures in recent years. Following a full cancellation in 2020 and a scaled-back version featuring a solo demonstration by the Navy Blue Angels in 2021, it returned last summer for its first full-scale version since 2019.
This year another full-scale show including a first appearance by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds since 2018 is expected to attract 2 million spectators coming to watch the aerial daredevil feats.
This year’s headliners, military performers, and civilian performers are as follows:
Headliners
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
- U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
Military Performers
- US Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team
- US Air Force Heritage Flight Demo Team (P-51 Mustang)
- US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III Demo Team
- US Air Force/Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II (x4)
- US Air Force/Air National Guard KC-135E Stratotanker
- US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet “Rhino” Demo Team
- US Navy Legacy Flight Demo Team (A-4B Skyhawk & FG-1D Corsair)
- US Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin Search & Rescue Demo
Civilian Performers
- Susan Dacy
- Bill Stein
- Kevin Coleman
- Rob HollandTriple Time Team – Bill Stein, Kevin Coleman & Rob Holland
- Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
- Chicago Police Department Helicopter
Please take note that after taking off at the Gary International Airport in Indiana, all pilots perform stunts over the water in a set safety area. Safety precautions are taken at all times before, during, and after the show, including morning meetings each day before flying to receive up-to-date information about weather and pertinent details.
According to Chicago.gov, the event also employs its own air traffic controller who oversees the downtown air space during show hours.
More information can be found at chicago.gov/chicago_air_and_watershow.
[Featured image courtesy of the City of Chicago]