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The 2008 Chicago Air and Water Show celebrates 50 years with three days of daredevil thrills in the air and on the water at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago's magnificent lakefront August 15, 16 & 17. Over the years, the show has become a summer tradition featuring aviation's top military and civilian pilots. The 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago promises to be like no other for the first time there will be a Friday night show and evening concert at North Avenue Beach.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will headline the show along with a surprise line-up to be announced at a later date. Friday, August 15 is a special addition to this years show. In prior years, Friday has been designated as a rehearsal for the big show that weekend. This year the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will kick off the festivities at 3:00 p.m. followed by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. Immediately following the headliners there will be a FREE concert at the North Avenue Beach Boat House (talent details to be announced at a later date). The night show will conclude at 9:00 p.m. with a spectacular fireworks display. You don't want to miss this show!
Returning civilian performers include Lima Lima Flight Team, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and audience favorite, Sean Tucker and Team Oracle. The Chicago Air and Water Show is held along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. On Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 the water show begins at 9 a.m. and air show runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.
Shell and the City of Chicago present the 47th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show on the beautiful lakefront Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August, 21, 2005. More than two million spectators will converge on the lakefront to enjoy the show from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach serving as the heart of event festivities. The oldest and largest FREE show of its kind in the United States will present performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights as this year’s headliners. The water show begins at 9 a.m. and air show runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, dazzling audiences since 1953 with their commanding presence and precision flying, roar across the lakefront once again in their F16 Fighting Falcons. This select group of Air Force Pilots performs intricate maneuvers as close as 18 inches apart, often approaching the speed of sound. They represent the skills and techniques demanded of every Air Force pilot and are considered a “mirror image” of every front-line fighter pilot.
Also headlining the show, the U.S Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will thrill the audience as they plunge from altitudes high above to their target on North Avenue Beach. Rocketing toward earth at an astonishing speed of 120 mph is a way of life for this exhilarating team, which has been performing around the world for more than 40 years. The Liquid X Freestyle extreme water show will kick-off the festivities both days at 9:00 a.m., along with Munsun Ski & Marine's Show Team, all performing in Lake Michigan off of North Avenue Beach.
Strong in tradition and one of the world’s premier aviation events, the show also includes a wide array of military and civilian acts. This year’s civilian lineup includes, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Lima Lima Flight Team, Red Baron Pizza Squadron, Red Bull MIG Magic and Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle. The Liquid X Freestyle extreme water show will kick-off the festivities both days at 9:00 a.m performing in Lake Michigan off of North Avenue Beach.
The “Voice of the Air and Water Show,” Herb Hunter, will once again announce the show from North Avenue Beach. A 747 pilot for a major airline, this is Hunter’s 18th year as show announcer, and before that he flew in the show as a military pilot. Play-by-play coverage of the show will air on WBBM-AM Newsradio 780 on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Also, a thirty-minute highlight show will air on ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) on Sunday, August 21, recapping the weekend’s events.
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