CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - It’s Air and Water Show time again in Chicago. If you want a slightly less crowded experience, you can head to the lakefront for today’s practice.
Millions of people are expected to come here this weekend for the shows Saturday and Sunday that run from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Ann Hickey, deputy commissioner of operations for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events said whether it’s today for practice or the official show, this is free world-class entertainment.
“You can bring your family down here, right before school starts, you can bring a picnic, you can bring food and beverage, and you can actually spend all day out here watching these amazing performances in the sky,” Hickey said.
The mix of military and civilian performers includes two newcomers: the Trojan Phylers in their T-28s and stunt pilot RJ Gritter who does acrobatics in a Decathlon 150 CS.
Today’s practice will be the first time Gritter has flown here. The Virginia native said he usually flies over airports, not skyscrapers and the lakefront.
“It’s a little different because, flying over the water, we’re looking at buoys as our reference marks rather than a runway. But, otherwise, once you’re flying your show it’s kind of all the same thing. We’re focused on doing our performance, the precision aerobatics and putting it right up in front of the crowd.”
Robert Johnson is part of the two-man crew based out of Texas that fly North American T-28s.
“We do a formation aerobatic routine, that means I stay about six-feet off Chip’s wing when we do upside down and our various maneuvers,” Johnson said.
Crowd favorite, the Blue Angels, should be buzzing skyscrapers at about 2:15 p.m.
Here is the full schedule for today’s Air and Water practice show. It is subject to change:
10:30 - 10:45 a.m.: U.S. Army Golden Knights
10:45 - 10:51 a.m.: Ed Hamill- Folds of Honor biplane
10:51 - 11:01 a.m.: Two Dudes
11:01 - 11:16 a.m.: U.S. Marine Corps F-35B. Lightning II demo team
11:16 - 11:31 a.m.: U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II demo team
11:31 - 11:46 a.m.: U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II demo team
11:46 - 11:56 a.m.: Chicago Fire Department air/sea rescue
11:56 a.m. - 12:08 p.m.: Trojan Phylers- T-28 Trojan
12:08 - 12:18 p.m.: Chicago Police Department helicopter
12:18 - 12:28 p.m.: Susan Dacy Barnstorming America with ‘Big Red’
12:28 - 12:43 p.m.: U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker Demo team/U.S. Force C-17 Globemaster III demo
12:43 - 12:55 p.m.: U.S. Air Force/Maryland National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt
12:55 - 1:03 p.m.: Ed Hamill- Fold of Honor biplane
1:03 - 1:17 p.m.: U.S. Army AH-64 Apache
1:28 - 1:39 p.m. RJ Gritter Decathlong Aeorobatics
1:39 - 1:49 p.m.: U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin search and rescue demo
1:49 - 2:04 p.m.: U.S. Marine Corps F-35B. Lightning II demo team
2:04 - 2:14 p.m.: Kevin Coleman
2:14 - 2:15 p.m.: Clear Air Space
2:15 p.m.: U.S. Navy Blue Angels
For everything you need to know about the show before you go, check out our guide here.
WBBM is your exclusive radio home for the Chicago Air and Water Show. Listen live both Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m.
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