Chicagoland, clear your calendars and ready your necks for some skyward staring this August because the Chicago Air & Water Show is coming back with an arsenal of aerial artistry. As NBC Chicago reports, the 2024 lineup has been announced and it includes a mix of steadfast military precision and death-defying stunt flying. The show promises two days of neck-craning entertainment for the utterly reasonable price of free—offering the cheapest, open-air thrill ride you're likely to find.
Headlining the event, according to ABC7 Chicago, are the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, known for their synchronized sky ballet in F/A-18 Hornets. They're joined by the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, who are as close as humans get to flying without being strapped into a cockpit. Also, a newcomer to the event's roster is RJ Gritter, touted for his aerobatic prowess in the Decathlon 150 CS. Let's not discount the Trojan Phlyers either, whose T-28B aircraft is not only a piece of high-speed history—it's a tangible throwback to early-aviation heroism.
The festival is set for August 10 and 11, straying from its usual third-week-of-August schedule to accommodate another high-profile event in the city. Mayor Brandon Johnson described the show as a "grand spectacle unique to our great city," in a statement spotlighting its captivating blend of skilled pilots and jaw-dropping man-made marvels against Chicago's skyline, as obtained by NBC Chicago. For the visually impaired, audio descriptions will be available during both days to enhance the experience, with registration accessible online.
Amassing at the North Avenue Beach, spectators will witness more than just a show, they'll see an exhibition of military might with hardware like the F-35C, F-35B, C-17, KC-135, KC-46 Pegasus, and B-1B bombers and the AH-64 Apache—the workhorse, the backbone of modern American air combat. Meanwhile, the Maryland Air National Guard's A-10 will make its lumbering, yet surprisingly agile, presence known and the U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin will conduct a live search and rescue demonstration as NBC Chicago details. Civilian performers like Bill Stein, Kevin Coleman, Susan Dacy, and Ed “Hamster” Hamill will share their own brand of airborne excitement, blurring the lines between machine mastery and sheer audacity.
For longtime fans, Herb Hunter, the voice that's guided spectators through the roaring engines and soaring spectacles for over three decades, returns as the narrator. So, mark the date, Chicago, and look towards the skies—but don't forget to register for the audio descriptions if you need them. The Chicago Air & Water Show is gearing up to be a spectacular display of avian agility and aeronautical muscles; it's the kind of affair that gives the term 'airshow' its weighty significance.
