52nd Chicago Air and Water Show a Huge Aviation Event

The Chicago Air and Water Show is a huge event that brings the excitement of aviation to the skyline and shoreline of the city. Spectators come by the thousands to witness the spectacular show. This year's show is on Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, 2010. Headlining the air show are the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

The Chicago Air and Water Show is the largest free show of its kind. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are set to rock the skies over the Chicago lakefront for the 52^nd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. Crowds line the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach serving as the focal point of the show. The show is a free event and attracts huge crowds, so the Mayor's Office of Special Events recommends using public transportation to avoid traffic congestion.

2010 marks the 52^nd year of the annual show on the Lake Michigan lakefront. Shell Oil Products has presented the Chicago Air and Water for 14 years. One of the premier aviation events in the nation, the show includes military and civilian acts that thrill crowds of spectators every summer. Back for his 23^rd year, Herb Hunter is 'the voice' of the show, using his many years of experience as a military pilot and airline captain to narrate the show.

The format of the show is changing for 2010. This year, instead of separate air and water shows, the air and water portions of the show are being combined for one continuous show that runs from 11:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Headlining Chicago's show are The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. The headliners are joined by a variety military and civilian performers. Slideshow of pictures from previous air shows

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are an elite group of Navy pilots that defy gravity with precision flying and their famous diamond formation. The Blue Angels have been performing since 1946, thrilling more than 427 millions fans with their choreographed performance aerobatic and high altitude maneuvers. The six-jet team flies their F/A 18 Hornets in their Delta Formation and in graceful maneuvers of solo pilots.

The U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights jump our of aircraft from 12,500 feet about the surface of the earth. The U.S. Army Parachute team thrills with precision parachute demonstrations.

Performers include the U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, Lima Lima Flight Team, Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle, The Firebirds, Bill Stein Airshows and Red Bull Helicopter.

Military Aircraft Performers may include USAF C0130 Hercules, USAF F-5 Demo, Heritage Flight, Viper West F-16, USAF B-1B Lancer Bomber, U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter, KC 135 Stratotanker Aerial Refueling, C-17, T-6, U.S.N. F-18 Super Hornet, T-38 Talon, USAF Reserve ParaRescue Wing and U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue.

WBBM -AM Newsdadio 780 will offer play-by-play coverage of the show on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV) will air a 30 -minute highlight show, 'Chicago's Top Guns,' on Sunday, August 16 at 10:35 p.m. Newscasters Jerry Taft and Tracy Butler will recap the weekend events.

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