The Chicago Air and Water Show, one of Chicago’s most popular summer events, takes place this weekend on the lakefront and marks the return of the U.S. Navy’s legendary Blue Angels.
The Blue Angels are the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. They were founded in 1946 and are, according to official information, one of the oldest aerobatic teams in the world.
The team is comprised of Navy and Marine Corps pilots. Their performances include skilful maneuvers, tight formations and precision flying that showcase the capabilities of naval aviation. The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets and their shows are known for their exciting and precise aerobatic displays.
The Blue Angels tour the country and perform at events across the United States, but they don’t perform at the Chicago Air and Water Show every year.
The last time the team will be at the Chicago Air and Water Show will be in 2022. The team will perform again this year, starting with a free show during practice on Friday.
“There’s nothing like this here,” Ann Hickey, deputy director of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, told NBC Chicago early Friday. “Jets, aerobatic planes – there’s nothing like this. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time or the tenth time, it’s really amazing.”
There will be a rehearsal of the full show on Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. Rehearsals will run until 3 p.m., and according to organizers, the Blue Angels will fly overhead at around 2:15 p.m.
The Blue Angels also held a practice on Thursday afternoon and many people in the Chicago area reported a buzzing in their heads.
Here you can find out everything else you need to know about the main event, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
When will the 2024 Chicago Air and Water Show take place?
The Chicago Air and Water Show, first held in 1959, is the largest free show of its kind in the United States, according to organizers. It is usually held in late August, but the date has been postponed due to the upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
In 2024, the show will take place on Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Both shows will be announced by Herb Hunter, known to many as “the voice of the show.”
All of the show’s performers were supposed to perform the same show every day, including rehearsal, organizers said.
According to organizers, the show can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach being a central point.
According to officials, Metra will provide additional trains on the Union Pacific North and Union Pacific West lines on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be additional service on the Union Pacific Northwest line on Sunday.
More than a million people are expected to attend the lakefront event, organizers said. It is recommended to use public transportation or park in the Millennium Park Garage and take a free shuttle.
Chicago Air and Water Show program: Blue Angels, US Golden Knights and more
Headlining the event are the US Navy’s Blue Angels, who did not perform at the 2023 show, and the US Army’s Golden Knights parachute team.
According to official information, the Blue Angels are “the oldest flight demonstration squadron in the United States, with their first flight taking place in 1946.”
The City of Chicago advises that the artists’ schedule will be determined by the pilots on the morning of the film and is subject to change.
Here is the full schedule for this year’s show according to the City of Chicago:
Blue Angels of the US Navy
The Blue Angels are the flight demonstration squadron of the U.S. Navy. Founded in 1946, they are one of the oldest official aerobatic teams in the world. The squadron is comprised of pilots from the Navy and Marine Corps. Their displays include skilful maneuvers, tight formations, and precision flying that showcase the capabilities of naval aviation. The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets and their shows are known for their exciting and precise aerobatic displays.
US Navy F-35C
The F-35C is the world’s first and only long-range stealth fighter jet designed and built specifically for naval carrier operations.
F-35B of the US Marine Corps
The F-35B is considered one of the most modern and versatile fighter jets and is characterized by unparalleled maneuverability and cutting-edge air power.
C-17 of the US Air Force
The C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft for air transport. The C-17 is capable of transporting troops and cargo of all types quickly and strategically to key operating bases or directly to forward operating bases in the operational area.
KC-135 of the US Air Force
The KC-135 Stratotanker is the U.S. Air Force’s primary aerial refueling capability and has proven itself in this role for more than 60 years, supporting aerial refueling of Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied aircraft.
KC-46 Pegasus of the US Air Force
The KC-46 Pegasus is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft designed to replace the aging KC-135 Stratotanker and provide enhanced capabilities to U.S. and allied forces.
B-1B of the US Air Force
The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a US Air Force variable-sweep-wing supersonic heavy bomber whose wing-fuselage configuration, variable geometry design, and turbofan engines provide increased range and high speed.
US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
The United States Army Parachute Team, also known as the Golden Knights, is a demonstration and competition parachute team of the United States Army. It consists of demonstration and competition parachute teams from all branches of the United States Army.
AH-64 of the US Army
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American attack helicopter with two turbo engines, a tailwheel landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a two-person crew.
A-10 of the US Air Force/Maryland Air National Guard
The Maryland Air National Guard, the air militia of the state of Maryland and a reserve component of the United States Air Force, will demonstrate A-10 flypasts. The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are a single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing, turboprop, subsonic fighter aircraft commonly referred to as a “Warthog.”
MH-65 Dolphin search and rescue helicopter of the US Coast Guard
The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engine helicopter used by the U.S. Coast Guard for medical search and rescue and airborne operations. The Search & Rescue demo serves as a visual representation of the precision and speed with which these medical evacuations are carried out.
The civilian stuntmen featured include:
RJ Gritter Decathlon Aerobatic (NEW)
The Chicago Air & Water Show welcomes RJ Gritter for the first consecutive year. RJ developed a passion for aerobatics when he was introduced to aviation by his father, a test pilot, and mother, a flight instructor. Thanks to his passion for radio-controlled (R/C) flight and a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State University, RJ has competed in more than 200 air shows and logged more than a thousand flight hours.
Trojan Phlyers – T-28 (2 ships) (NEW)
The Chicago Air & Water Show also welcomes the Trojan Phlyers, participating for the first time. A group of aviation professionals dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American Aviation Company’s T28 Trojan, the Trojan Phlyers own and operate two T-28B aircraft that can take off on a runway of less than 800 feet, climb to 10,000 feet in less than 90 seconds, fly at over 335 miles per hour and descend faster than 380 miles per hour.
Bill Stein Edge 540
Bill Stein has logged over 7,000 hours of aerobatics and formation flying. He began aerobatics as a student pilot and has dedicated himself to perfecting his skills ever since. Since 1995, Bill has performed at air shows across the United States and has entertained millions of air show fans, now with his self-designed aircraft, the Edge 540, which uses a paint that continuously changes color based on the constantly changing angles between spectators, aircraft and lighting.
Kevin Coleman Red Bull aerobatic pilot
Kevin Coleman has had a lifelong passion for flying. He began training with legendary pilot Marion Cole at age 10, and completed his first solo flight at 16 before he even had a license. He soon honed his craft under the tutelage of Kirby Chambliss, eventually joining his Red Bull Air Race team in 2016 as one of the sport’s youngest faces. He now wows crowds around the world with his incredible aerobatics with the Red Bull Air Force.
Susan Dacy – Big Red Stearman Biplane
Susan Dacy is one of the few women to perform air shows in a biplane and the only woman to perform in the Super Stearman. Susan has been an avid fan of air shows and aviation her entire life and holds a degree in Flight Operations and Systems from Southern Illinois University. Through hard work in all sorts of flight-related jobs, she is now a Chicago-based international captain with over 35,000 flight hours. Susan takes viewers back to the days of great flight with Big Red, a WWII training aircraft for young naval aviators.
Ed “Hamster” Hamill – Folds of Honor Biplane
Col Ed Hamill, retired U.S. Air Force pilot, performs at air shows with the Folds of Honor biplane. Ed is an experienced air show pilot who did his first show in 1999. During his 30-year career as an F-16 pilot in the Air Force, Ed performed in his biplane in front of over 42 million people at air shows across North America. Hamill now works with the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders – honor their sacrifice. Learn about their legacy. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded 51,000 scholarships valued at nearly $240 million.
Weather forecast for the Chicago Air and Water Show
This year the weather for the Chicago Air and Water Show was “almost perfect,” said the NBC 5 Storm Team.
“There will be gusty winds at times on Friday during rehearsals, but the winds will die down over the weekend,” said NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeanes.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect for each day.
FRIDAY (training from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.): A bright and relatively cool day, but northwest wind gusts will be around 25 mph throughout the day. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s before noon and warm to just above 70 in the afternoon.
SATURDAY (Show from 10:30 – 15:00): Temperatures will be around 19°C at the start of the show, rising to around 24°C in the afternoon. It will be another mostly sunny and pleasant day, but northwest gusts will be around 32 km/h.
SUNDAY (Show from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.): A little warmer than Saturday and less windy. Temperatures will be around 21°C at the start of the show and will rise to over 25°C in the afternoon. It’s still a sunny day but we may see a few more clouds than Saturday. Northwest winds around 10 mph.
The water temperature of Lake Michigan around Chicago is about 24 degrees, Jeanes said, and northwest winds are creating dangerous swimming conditions at beaches in northwest Indiana, Berrian County in Michigan and beaches in western Michigan.
