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The most popular museum in the world is the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., which sees nearly 9 million visitors come through its doors each year. So it is no surprise that Chicago's Annual Air & Water Show is the largest two-day spectator event in the United States, with audience numbers reaching nearly 2.5 million. The free annual event is back for its 49th edition and has a great line-up ready to thrill the crowds, providing the weather holds off.
The United States Air Force is commemorating its 60th anniversary this year and will have a wide array of planes performing in the Air Show, including attack aircraft like the A-10 Thunderbolt, bombers like the B-1B Lancer Bomber and B-52 Stratofortress, and fighters like the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-117A Nighthawk. Surely one of the best military demonstrations will be the F-22 Raptor demonstration. The F-22 is the military’s most technologically advanced fighter jet and rarely performs a full demonstration of the aircraft. But the crowd along the lakefront will get to see a full demonstration of its capabilities this weekend.
Likely the highlight of the show for many will be the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. This is the first year that there have been two women on the team, Major Nicole Malachowski (#3 plane) and Major Samantha Weeks (#6 plane). Major Weeks commented to Chicagoist, "It is a great opportunity for the two of us to be a part of this team and represent the 513,000 men and women who volunteer to serve every day. We are just exactly what you are going to see in your combat air forces around the world, there are women pilots in most fighter units." The Thunderbirds will deftly maneuver through the Chicago lakefront and skyline at speeds ranging from 500 miles per hour up to 700 miles per hour and at times be as close to each other as 18 inches.
We know from last year’s comments that many readers think the air show is simply a show of our military might. Chicagoist understands the air show is meant to inspire, educate and entertain, and the military only represents one aspect of the air show. Each year the Chicago Air Show features many great civilian performance teams. Chicagoist is looking forward to seeing the Firebirds in their first appearance in Chicago. The Firebirds fly three Extra 300S aerobatic planes in a fast-paced and high-energy performance. Another air show favorite is Sean Tucker and Team Oracle which always mesmerizes crowds by taking their aircraft to the edge of their performance capabilities and the laws of physics.
Chicagoist would like to give a special thanks to John "Ripper" Rippinger of the six-plane Lima Lima Flight Team and to Matt Losacker who pilots one of the Red Baron bi-planes for safely taking us up into the skies and back as we previewed the 2007 Air Show (oh, and yes, we did get a free Red Baron Pizza as well).
The air portion of the Air & Water show begins at 11 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and is free to the public. Show center is near North Avenue Beach, but the action can be seen as far north as Montrose Beach and as far south as Navy Pier. A sneak peak can be had on Friday as the teams will begin practicing as early as 10 a.m.
Our photos from the press day at the 49th Chicago Air & Water Show are on Flickr.
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I just love these events.
PA Guy: Dis is how we bomb and maim dah brown people and duh people who believe in a diffrent god than us!
Crowd: YAY!!#$!!
It's so easy to rip on this. But if taxpayers are spending $400 billion a year on the military (which we should be but aren't because we're deficit spending instead, but that's another point), the people should be able to enjoy a show and tell and have a nice day of it.
It's just an air show, don't worry about the political aspect.
But, DO enjoy hearing "Rock Ya Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions one more time.
Every time I hear those planes go by during practice, i have only one thought... there goes every dollar I paid in taxes last year.
Todd-- How awesome that you got to go up with these guys! Will we be hearing more about this?
I will likely toss a post up this weekend. I will be down at show center either Saturday or Sunday. I might also fly along with the U.S. Army Golden Knights for their skydiving demonstration.
jnewfry - Actaully only about 41% of taxes go to the military and of that only a small portion are on display at the show. The majority of the spending is deployed around the world protecting your freedom to state inaccuracies on blogs.
Well, for those of us who live along the lake it's a valuable 4 days of learning some of what it must be like to live in Baghdad or Beirut. Hours of randomly timed screaming, roaring jets followed by breathing in the tons of pollutants they are dumping in the air (which presumably then fall into the lake - it's sort of like BP on wings).
And there's always the extra thrill of risking a disastrous accident in the heart of the third largest city in the country (while crowded with 2.5 million people!) So all-in-all a real extra bonus for our tax dollars!
"(which presumably then fall into the lake - it's sort of like BP on wings)"
HAHAAHAHAHA
Will Lollapalooza be playing at this event?
These events clearly draw people from all races with a certain mentality. I wonder what Chicago would be with out them? Honestly I'm not making a judgment
What are you trying to say Spook?
Nothing, I'm just taking note of the diversity of the races that will be represented.
Isn't that clear? I mean people accuse me of race baiting right? Well this time I'm all positive and
I can actually picutre them arriving now with their coolers, lawn chairs, small bbq grills, children in tow,etc. All looking forward to the spectacular show bonding of this shared event
"These events clearly draw people from all races with a certain mentality."
Why not say what you want to say instead of being vague? What the hell are you afraid of?
I mean, if you've done enough research to generalize all these people, please share the specific fruits of your knowledge, Spookster.
My guess is you have your head up your ass, but hey, prove me wrong. Tell us what you learned from talking to all those people who attend the show, what you learned about their "mentality"?
I am not a fan of the show for various reasons, so don't make the mistake of assuming, Spookster, than I am a fan of the evil death star nazi cheney bush goering capitalist white man evil bad coulter rush death military baby kill military industrial complex death machine thingy.
guest 7: Actaully only about 41% of taxes go to the military
Only 41%. Ah, "only". What a pittance indeed! And that doesn't even count the booming industry of privatizing the military - google Blackwater.
Guest14 are you trying to say that Air Shows are some sort of Cheney / Bush war machine? Did you not see that this is the 49th air show in the city? Don't make this about the current political climate.
If you don't like it turn your NPR up real loud all weekend and stay inside.
Thank you Guest 16 for sticking up for me from being menaced by Guest 14!
Here I am trying to turn over a new leaf this Friday! But it’s just not good enough for you is it Guest 14. Isnt that what the American spirit is about, renewal and reinvention?
And when I said mentality, I meant the American mentality connected to this. This display of our strength, ability and miliarty technology represents who we are as Americans and the crowd is not just being "ohwwed and ahaaahed" but also the red blooded crowd basking and showing their affection to American military prowess that’s keeping us safe in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. Maybe it’s comforting to see our American Air Force Pilots in a "state of readiness" in case we need to finish up The War on Terror in Iran. I mean too many Americans think we are loosing the war, well seeing our plans flying high in effortless stunt patterns and our boats( cause they are ours right?) zig zagging in Lake Michigan demonstrates that our military will not and cannot fail.
Maybe those in attendance are plugging into a huge socket of Patriotism and will return to thier communities as Thousand Points of Lights spreading the word that our democratic values will prevail! Yea I think its more than about just cool planes doing cool stunts, but our way of life being able to celebrate our pride and glory!
What kind of loser writes five paragraph responses to people he doesn't know to prove a point no one else cares about? I envy people with this much free time.
uhmmmm a patriot, maybe, and I sir care deeply!
jnewfry - Actaully only about 41% of taxes go to the military and of that only a small portion are on display at the show. The majority of the spending is deployed around the world protecting your freedom to state inaccuracies on blogs.
That's budgeted funding guest #7 that does not include Iraq, Afghanistan, veterans affairs, maintenance and production etc. which accounts for billions and billions. As for the protecting our freedom stuff I'm still waiting for your punchline. That said I don't get too worked up over the airshow, in fact I enjoy it.
From wikipedia:
For 2007, the budget was raised to a total of US$532.8 Billion.[1] This does not include many military-related items that are outside of the Defense Department budget, such as nuclear weapons research, maintenance and production (which is in the Department of Energy budget), Veterans Affairs or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (which are largely funded through extra-budgetary supplements, e.g. $120 Billion in 2007).[2] Conversely, the military budget does include a certain amount of spending that is of dual-use nature; for instance, infrastructure development for areas around US military bases within the United States often fall under the military budget.[citation needed
Uh, does anyone actually check out primary documents anymore instead of Wiki?
Wiki's a great tool of first reference, but believe me, primary docs and even MSM reports are usually more accurate. I am disturb that people more often are settling debates by referering to Wiki. I guess it saves the trouble of doing actual research.
And, uh, 16, I think 14 was being a bit sarcastic.
I was at a party once, and we all got to talking about wikipedia. I went off on how stupid I thought the whole thing was, and that I couldn't believe that anyone actually took it seriously. "But the most ridiculous thing," I told the group "is that there are actually editors! I mean, there is a whole group of people that sit around and debate the legitimacy of an entry on Mr. Spock's love child from episode 238. Like, really, get a life."
That was when the guy across from me looked over and said "I'm an editor for wikipedia." It was akward, to say the least....
Uh, does anyone actually check out primary documents anymore instead of Wiki?
Primary docs are linked in the article at wiki and besides the deceptive under-quoting of military spending without including the wars etc. has been debunked so many times you really shouldn't even have to include a source. It's like saying that Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11 and then somebody says: 'ya got a source for that buddy' ....uh.really..I need one?
Looks like Kev-Kev gets the invites to all the cool parties!
No, Navin, that's is not a good comparison, the Saddam thing. Military spending is complex and obscured, so you sourcing is pretty important--in fact, multiple sourcing.
And if Wiki links to solid primary docs, why not quote from and research the docs, then? Perhaps you could come up with an original analysis, in fact--stranger things have happened.
You are making no sense.
Have you ever researched primary docs on this matter, by the way? Or even secondary sourcing, such as trade publications for the defense establishment?
Wiki, while is has its good points, is another thing that his making all of us lazy about research [using Google as a first and only research too is another].
You people are going to be fun to rule someday.
Leave it to the people who frequent this site to find fault with the simple thrill of watching jets go 1,000 mph.
It’s like, no matter what post goes up, there’s an army of people waiting to see who can make the most self-righteous and/or nasty comment.
Who posts on this board? From the arrogance, it sounds like it must be a collection of the smartest people in the world!
Why don’t you just get it over with, move to Brooklyn and spend the rest of your life complaining about gentrification over your cans of Pabst.
To assume that everyone at the air show is simple-minded is, well, simple-minded. I, for one, will happily be out there with the other dimwits gawking at the planes.
"Simple thrill of watching jets go 1,000 mph."
Yea, and You ask us not to even consider that those same "war machines" are streaking across skies in Afghanistan and Iraq right now and the lives lost because of this stupidity, and all the money spent, folks walking around burned, with no arms and legs, soldiers coming home and killing themselvs in record number.My god, how clueless, how narrow your scope!
This is why THEY hate us,
because we are sooooo good at slapping on the good
old red white and blue blinders,be it about the great dark patches in our history or at what the air and water show is, which is nothing but a modern day military parade.
And it makes me sick
planes are cool. physics is rad. girl pilots are neat, especially girl fighter pilots. lake michigan and the sky over it are beautiful.
jet fuel pollution is icky. the military industrial complex is bad. celebrating warfare is not good.
hearing the planes screech by office building is both exciting and unnerving.
the crowds are unpleasant.
i'm conflicted generally about it, year after year.
such is my middle-american, non-arrogant perspective on the air and water show.
And if Wiki links to solid primary docs, why not quote from and research the docs, then? Perhaps you could come up with an original analysis, in fact--stranger things have happened.
Some perspective please, we're talking about the comment section of Chicagoist here anonymous guest #25. Now please re-read that last sentence about 100 times. As far as opposition goes you seem to have about zero to say and little to offer other than being a pedantic boob.
You people are going to be fun to rule someday.
Yeah that should be interesting, the people will be dragging you through the streets while you're crying for more hardcore research to prove that you're really scientifically and physically a boob.
But ask yourself: Are the crowds more unpleasant than those at Lollapalooza?
Spook: Move! You clearly hate your life here as well as everything about the Untied States.
I understand how popular the AWS is but I find it offensive that the airforce uses Thursday and Friday before the show as a chance for their planes to fly through the city. To me it is an advertisement for war and the sound they create is horrible and incredible noise pollution. This year was really bad, they flew through the city for about 5 hours. It is one thing while the show is going on, but if I want to listen to war planes I'll move to Iraq or Israel or Afghanistan. And I have a feeling, the pilot's bosses have instructed them to make"a lot of noise". The AWS is one thing, but listening to literally the deafening roar of those fighter planes is criminal, horrible and offensive. I thought to myself, this is what it feels like to be under attack. All it will take is one major catastrophic accident for it to stop. But personally, I really hope that is not what it takes!!!!!!
Guest#31 I hope I am somehow missing your sarcasm. Otherwise that has to be the most assinine comment I have ever read. These teams plan in advance for each city but need to spend time practicing in the city to ensure everyones safety.
Also, it was not just the military teams but all teams including the many civilian teams that trained over the city yesterday and today. Do you think this was a mad ploy by the Red Baron Pizza Squadron to influence young children to eat pizza and live an obese life?
I understand that for many the airshow is not of interest and may disrupte their solitude but to say it is criminial is ridiculous.
"I am disturb that people more often are settling debates by referering to Wiki. I guess it saves the trouble of doing actual research."
Especially when you go in and edit the link to say what you want before you link to it. The boob's right ... any source that can be made to say whatever you want it to say isn't a source.
Side note: How can someone living in Chicago complain about noise pollution. This city is nothing but noise pollution.
The CTA should be ashamed for screwing up Mayor Daley's attempt at capitalizing on Whole Foods' quest to inject an environmentally friendly vibe to the Air and Water show. Which makes me really mad, as it's preventing me from fully enjoying Lollpalooza..
LMAO @ 34!
Todd, I obviously get the slant of Chicagoist, u guys had an ad for the BP refinery in Indiana posted on your webiste. I think that was a little extreme calling my comment assinine. I realize u r a plane enthusiast, I get it. But why do the airforce planes have to be so loud? And why do they have to fly through the city Thursday and Friday? I get it that they have to practice, but I looked at my watch, they flew through the city practicing from 11am to 3pm on Friday and what I resent is the noise pollution. I have respect for pilots as much as the next guy. But I really resent the noise and that when they "practice" they fly through the city, not just over it.......Sorry, I din't mean to hit a nerve with my previous comment....