61st Annual City of Chicago Air & Water Show (2019)

[kalamazookid]

Glad I stuck it out today! Great show in spite of the weather. I think this is everything that went up today:

Golden Knights (not a full show, but enough that you get the idea - Chris Chelios was the celebrity jumper)
Bill Stein/Matt Chapman duo
Sean Tucker
Ospreys (2)
Extra 300 (didn't catch the name)
KC-135 w/ A-10s (4)
F-16 Demo
Chicago Police Department
Team Oracle
F-22 Demo
Red Arrows
Three-ship Aerobatic act
Blue Angels (five passes, ceiling and visibility were too poor for anything else)

I'm not usually big on jet teams other than the Blue Angels and I don't really like going to Chicago in general, but my Fear Of Missing Out was triggered by the Red Arrows so I decided to go. I was very impressed. They fly a lot of interesting formations and formation changes, plus the different smoke colors make for a more visually appealing display. I loved the maneuver in the five-ship where the four aircraft exchange positions on the wing of the lead (not sure what this one was called - Python?). The Phoenix, Concord, Lancaster and Cygnet formations were also really cool, the Phoenix and Concord in particular. They flew a great show in less than ideal conditions. Thanks to the team for the North American tour and an entertaining display today. I wouldn't have otherwise considered going to this show and they made it worth waiting out the rain and dealing with the big city for a day.

This was also my first time shooting with a DSLR I borrowed from a friend. Those who are more into photography will probably want bigger than a 300mm lens, but for me it felt adequate and I had no problem filling the viewfinder. My photos are kinda dark, but conditions were tough and I didn't want to mess myself up too much by playing with settings I only have a rudimentary understanding of. If you sit close to the LaSalle entrance on North Avenue Beach, you'll be closer to the action and should be able to get good pics.

[IDF783]

The Red Arrows were great! There were two rain delays in the show. The Blues took to the skies at around 2:30. They did a few 5 ship low passes and decided the ceiling was too low and went back to Gary. If they would have waited until 3PM, the ceiling improved considerably. The F-22 did not disappoint! Overall, not bad considering the jostling due to the weather.

After morning rain today, the weather folks are predicting it to be gone after noon time. Whether the deck clears is another question. Good luck to those going!

[Adambadger88]

@kalamazookid

The lineup for Saturday, August 17, 2019 was like this:
*National Anthem
*United States Army Golden Knights Black Team (National Anthem Jump)
*Bill Stein & Matt Chapman (Edge 540 & Extra 330LX)
*Sean D. Tucker (Solo - Oracle Challenger III, a highly modified Pitts S-2S)
*United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey Demonstration (Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey)
*Jack Knutson (Extra 300S)
*Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker from Scott Air Force Base and four Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II from the Maryland Air National Guard
*Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demo Team (General Dynamics F-16 Viper)
*Chicago Police Department (Bell 206B and a Bell 206L-4)
*Team Oracle feat. Sean D. Tucker and Jessy Panzer (Oracle Challenger III, a highly modified Pitt S-2S & Oracle Extra 300L)
*Air Combat Command F-22A Demo Team (Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor)
*Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team Red Arrows (BAE Systems Hawk T1)
*Bill Stein, Jack Knutson & Matt Chapman (Edge 540, Extra 300S, Extra 330LX)
*United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels (McDonnell Douglas FA-18 A/B/C/D Hornets; didn't do low or high show as they only did for very basic formation flybys)

Acts Cut: Susan Dacy (Boeing A751N1 Stearman), United States Army Golden Knights Black Team (Full Performance) and I am not sure where the United States Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs team is because I don't think they are in town as they were listed to appear at this event.

[kalamazookid]

Here are some dark photos of the F-22 and Red Arrows from yesterday ... hope the weather was better today.

IMG_5313 by , on Flickr

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Liked this one with the seagull photo-bomb.

IMG_5343 by , on Flickr

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Couple bonus from Gary on the drive in.

IMG_5243 by , on Flickr

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[srresquire]

I attended Friday..conditions marginal to poor most of the day..and no Red Arrows!!
Here's a few I like so far

[Brian]

Here are some dark photos of the F-22 and Red Arrows from yesterday ... hope the weather was better today.

for never using a dslr before you did great, nice pics

[kalamazookid]

Here are some dark photos of the F-22 and Red Arrows from yesterday ... hope the weather was better today.

for never using a dslr before you did great, nice pics

Thanks! It was fun to try! I've always been hesitant to try shooting aerial photos because I didn't want to get too wrapped up in shooting and forget to enjoy the show, but after doing it I think it balanced ok. Might be time to invest in a camera and learn more.

[srresquire]

I confess...it's photoshopped

[srresquire]

An animated gif I made from images I shot on Friday

[kalamazookid]

Cool gifs! And nice pics!