View Larger Map
Best viewing area of the Chicago Air & Water Show (on the beach or standing on west sidewalk of Lake Shore Drive). Most of the flight paths are north and south along the shore of Lake Michigan and out over the water. Be ready for some surprise ‘attacks’ from the west over the skyline of the City of Chicago.
2009 Performers at the 2009 Chicago Air & Water Show [OFFICIAL WEBSITE]
North Avenue Beach
1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60616
Start time is 10 a.m. and the end time is 4 p.m.
ADMISSION IS FREE — Announcer Herb Hunter
If you can’t get close enough, listen to the play-by-play live coverage from WBBM NewsRadio 780 traffic reporter Kris Habermehl on your AM radio.
Exact times are not listed, and if the schedule is known the day of the event, it is often not adhered to exactly because of the nature of the event.
NO barbecuing allowed on the beach. Also, NO reservation of large areas, for example with yellow tape bordering a reserved area — not allowed.
The highlight of the event is the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Year-to-year this team usually alternates with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The event is usually the last event of the show each day — about 3:00 p.m. But if you MUST see the Thunderbirds, don’t count on that time frame 100%.
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
• Ed Hamill – Air Force Reserve Bi-Plane
• Red Bull Mig
• Red Bull Helicopter
Pilot – Chuck Aaron
• P-51 Mustang
• Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
Active Military Units
• C-130 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• F-15 Eagle (See it on Wikipedia …)
• F-16 Fighting Falcon (See it on Wikipedia …)
• A-10 Demo (See it on Wikipedia …)
• B-1B (see it on Wikipedia …)
• Apache Helicopter AH-64 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• Black Hawk Helicopter UH-60 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• KC-135 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• KC-10 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• C-17 (See it on Wikipedia …)
• U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue
Round up …
When is the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show?
August 15 and August 16, 2009
What time is the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show?
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where is the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show?
Best viewing is North Avenue Beach (1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.) and about 1/2-mile south
Where do people park for the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show?
With over 2 million people expected to attended, take the Metra into Chicago or hop on CTA bus routes 151 or 156.
Where do air show aircraft takeoff from?
Some units fly from their military base, but most jets, helicopters and airplanes takeoff from the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show air show base at
Gary Chicago International Airport
6001 West Industrial Highway
Gary, IN 46406
View Larger Map
Satellite image map of the 2009 Chicago Air and Water Show air show base.