Chicago Air & Water Show 2009 This Weekend

by candice.tsuei | August 10, 2009 at 10:23 am

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The Chicago Air & Water Show 2009, the largest spectator free show in the United States and the oldest show of its kind in North America, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this weekend, August 15 and 16.

This year, the Chicago Air & Water Show will enter its 51st year. It is expected that the event will attract a crowd of around two million people, including residents and tourists from all over the country, to North Avenue Beach.

Many of the Air Show performers base their operations at Chicago's third airport, the Gary/Chicago International Airport in nearby Gary, Indiana...The air show features the best civilian and military pilots displaying their flying skills to a delighted spectators.

While the show can be visible from almost everwhere along the Chicago lakefront, some of the best viewing spots are farther north, at Montrose Harbor and between Belmont and Addison.

The first show was held under the direction of Al Benedict, a Chicago Park District Supervisor at Lakeshore Park. Held at Chicago Avenue and Lake Michigan, the show was titled the Lakeshore Park Air & Water Show, and was a part of a "Family Day" celebration for children enrolled in the Chicago Park District's day camp program. The budget was $88, and the show featured a Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue demonstration, water skiers, a water ballet, games and a diving competition.

Highlights of this year's show include:

Lima Lima Flight Team
Firebirds Delta Team
AeroShell Aerobatic Team
Golden Knights parachute team
F-16 Fighting Falcon
U.S. Army Golden Knights
U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight
U.S. Air Force Flybys
Red Bull MiG
Sean D. Tucker
Military demos
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds