Chicago’s most exciting weekend of the summer is upon us: The 2024 Chicago Air & Water Show is expected to attract nearly 1 million people on Saturday and Sunday to watch the annual spectacle along the lakefront between Fullerton Avenue and Oak Street.
Every day from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., pilots will demonstrate their planes. Crowds will gather to watch, and North Avenue Beach will be the center of the action.
The Navy’s popular acrobatic team, the Blue Angels, is back, as is the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
Among the civilian aircraft that will be appearing this year are some newcomers, including the acrobatics of stunt pilot RJ Gritter and the historic T-28B of the Trojan Phlyers.
Here’s a look at some of the aircraft that spectators can see soaring over the Lake Michigan skyline.
Civil aircraft
RJ Spreader
Model: Bellanca Decathlon
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 2
Top speed: 200 miles per hour
Original use: designed for aerobatics instruction
Susan Dacy
Model: Boeing Model 75 “Super Stearman” biplane
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 2
Top speed: 200 miles per hour (approx.)
Original purpose: Training aircraft for new pilots from World War II
Ed “Hamster” Hamill
Model: Pitts Special Biplane
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 1
Top speed: 212 miles per hour
Original use: Designed for competition and airshow aerobatics
Bill Stone
Model: Zivko Edge 540
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 1
Top speed: 265 miles per hour
Original use: Designed for competition and airshow aerobatics
Trojan Phlyers
Model: T28B Trojan
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 2
Top speed: 335 miles per hour
Original use: Navy flight training
Kevin Coleman
Model: Extra 300SHP
Engine type: Single propeller
Seating: 1
Top speed: 300 miles per hour
Original purpose: specially built for aerobatics and stunts
Military aircraft
F/A-18 Super Hornets of the Navy Blue Angels
Wingspan: 45 feet (approx.)
Length: 60 feet (approx.)
Top speed: 1,400 miles per hour (approx.)
Use: Multi-role attack and combat aircraft
Navy F-35C
Wingspan: 43 feet.
Length: 51 feet, 6 inches.
Top speed: 1,978 km/h
Use: Stealth Fighter
F-35B
Wingspan: 35 feet.
Length: 51 feet (approx.)
Top speed: 1,900 km/h
Use: Fighter aircraft with vertical takeoff capability.
Air Force C-17 Globemaster III
Wingspan: 170 feet (approx.)
Length: 174 feet.
Top speed: 518 miles per hour
Mission: Transports cargo, including a 69-ton M1 Abrams main battle tank, armored vehicles, trucks and trailers, and paratroopers
Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker
Wingspan: 130 feet, 10 inches
Length: 136 feet, 3 inches
Top speed: 530 miles per hour
Use: best known for its aerial refueling capability
Air Force KC-46 Pegasus
Wingspan: 156 feet, 1 inch
Length: 159 feet, 2 inches.
Top speed: 570 mph (approx.)
Use: Air refueling and transport
Air Force/Maryland Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt
Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches
Length: 53 feet, 4 inches
Top speed: 420 miles per hour
Use: Close air support, search and rescue in combat operations
Air Force B-1B Lancer
Wingspan: 137 feet.
Length: 146 feet.
Top speed: 900 miles per hour
Use: Long-range, multi-purpose, heavy bomber
Army helicopter AH-64 Apache
Length: 48 feet (approx.)
Top speed: 277 km/h
Use: Multi-purpose combat helicopter
Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin search and rescue helicopter
Length: 44 feet, 5 inches
Cruising speed: 170 miles per hour
Use: Close-range search and rescue