The free Chicago Air and Water Show 2009 is being held on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 and is one of the top free things to do in Chicago in the summer. This is the largest free air and water show in America and has now been going on since 1959. This year’s free event is set to be a great event, so get there early, take public transportation, and settle in for a great show!   The show is considered one of the largest spectator shows in the world and draws on average 2.2 million visitors each year. The show will start at 10am and will finish at 4 in the afternoon and will be held at North Avenue Beach.
Where is the best place to watch this free show?  Leave a comment for all our readers below. Thanks !
Most performers who have been hallmarks of recent Air & Water Show will be on hand again for this year’s show including the locally based Lima Lima Flight Team, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and The Firebirds Delta Team. Of course no airshow is complete without an appearance from Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle, always a crowd favorite.
Herb Hunter will return as MC for the event, his 22nd year in that role. Each year he brings a great enthusiasm for and deep knowledge of aviation to this event.
New this year is Chuck Aaron in the Red Bull Helicopter. Helicopters have traditionally played minor roles in airshows unable to perform the awe-inspiring acrobatics feats that their fixed wing counterparts can. That changed a few years ago when aviation enthusiast and Red Bull founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, convinced Aaron to find a way to perform aerobatics in a helicopter. Aaron now pilots the “Bull Cow” Bo-105 in a way most airshow attendees have never seen. Max has performed more consecutive rolls in a helicopter, five, than anyone else. I expect him to quickly become a crowd favorite at this year’s airshow.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are this year’s headliners and will be arriving 
in town, earlier then normal, on Monday. They will be taking Chicago Hometown Hero Brian Otto for a ride in the back seat of one of their F-16s. So you can expect to hear the roar of their jets over Chicago all week long. The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially-marked USAF jet aircraft.
Officers serve a two-year assignment with the squadron, while enlisted personnel serve three to four. Replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, providing a constant mix of experience. The squadron performs no more than 88 air demonstrations each year and has never canceled a demonstration due to maintenance difficulty.
In addition to their air demonstration responsibilities, the Thunderbirds are part of the USAF combat force and if required, can be rapidly integrated into an operational fighter unit.[1] Since 15 February 1974 the Thunderbirds have been a component of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB.[2]
According to Explorechicago this the show has 50 years of history and 2009 will mark the 51st anniversary of Chicago Air and Water Show.
“From simple beginnings as part of a “Family Day Celebration” in 1959, the show has grown to the oldest and largest free admission air and water exhibition in the United States. With audience numbers reaching an average of 2.2 million annually, it is one of the largest spectator events in the world. 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,” reads ExploreChicago.com.
Shell returns as the presenting sponsor of this one of a kind show. It is Shell’s major contribution, and the contributions of all of the corporate sponsors, which allows the event to be presented free of charge. Over the years the show has featured some of the top names in aviation, and the 2008 show was no exception, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Golden Knights Parachute Team were the headliners.
The event kicked off daily at 9 a.m. with the Shell Extreme Water Show, featuring the Liquid X Freestyle Pro Tour and the Munson Ski & Inboard Water Sports Ski Team. The Air Show started at 11 a.m., with amazing performances from numerous military and civilian aircraft that thrilled the crowds.
With Chicago’s magnificent skyline as a backdrop, the Chicago Air & Water Show was like no other.
Yes.
-Alcoholic Beverages
-BBQ Grills (Open Flames)
-Fireworks or Explosives
-Illegal Substances & Weapons
-Pop-up Tents/Canopies
-Beach/Picnic Umbrellas
-Flag Poles
-All Pets (except Service Animals)
Failure to comply with the above may result in entry being denied. All containers will be subject to search. Bicycles may not be ridden on festival grounds.
No. The program is the same both days (Saturday & Sunday), we do not have a schedule of who will be performing at what time, this is decided by the pilots the day of the event. You can count on the headliners performing last.
8am. You will have to follow the lead of the Coast Guard and the Police Marine Unit.
On-site at the festival or visit www.gavinarts.com/chicago.shtml
WBBM AM will broadcast the show.
View the Chicago Air and Water Show 2009 Performers Itinerary below:
Air Show Headliners
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
- U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
- U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs
Civilian Aircraft
- Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
- Sean D. Tucker & Team Oracle
- Lime Lima Flight Team
- Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
- Lima Lima Flight Crew
- Sean D. Tucker & Team Oracle
- The Firebirds Delta Team
- Red Bull Choppers
- Ed Hamill – Air Force Reserve Bi-Plane
- Red Bull Mig
- Red Bull Helicopter
- P-51 Mustang
- Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
Military
- C-130
- F-15
- F-16
- A-10 Demo
- B-1B
- Apache Helicopter
- Black Hawk Helicopter
- KC-135
- KC-10
- C-17
- U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Recsue
Announcer
- Herb Hunter
We like to take our kids and watch the air & water show at Montrose Harbor. The planes comes down the lakefront right over our heads and there is PARKING!
I like to go down with my friends and be right in the mix at North Avenue Beach. Yes its crowded but there is a lot of energy and you can see the “water” part of the show which occurs right in front of us.