The Chicago Air and Water Show rocks the lakefront August 20 & 21, 2011 with the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights will headline the Chicago Air and Water Show which takes place along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. Show times for both days are 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The 53rd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, presented by the City of Chicago and Shell Oil Products U.S., is Chicago’s longest running festival. The Air and Water Show includes a wide array of military and civilian acts thrilling spectators along the lakefront each summer. Bringing millions to the shores of Lake Michigan, the show is strong in tradition and one of the world’s premier aviation events. America’s military elite will be on display once again. We are very proud to have the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds back this year. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have been astounding audiences since 1953 with their commanding presence and precision flying in their F-16 Fighting Falcons. As role models for men and women of all ages, the Thunderbirds are a select group of Air Force Pilots who perform intricate maneuvers as close as 18 inches apart and often approaching the speed of sound. More than 325 million people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries have witnessed the United States Air Force Thunderbirds breathtaking performance. Also headlining are the brave men and women of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. Jumping out of an aircraft 12,500 feet above the earth’s surface, racing to North Avenue Beach at speeds exceeding 120 mph and landing with smiles, ready to do it all again; all in a days work for the Golden Knights. For more than 47 years, the U.S. Army Parachute team has amazed and thrilled audiences with their precision parachute demonstrations in more than 14,000 shows in all 50 states and 48 countries. The U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team is a fifteen-man team comprised entirely of U.S. Navy SEAL and SWCC commandos. The 15-man parachute team began in 1969 with an elite group of Navy SEAL and Frogmen. The team was officially commissioned as the U.S. Navy Parachute Team "Leap Frogs" in 1974 by the Chief of Naval Operations and assigned the mission of demonstrating Navy excellence throughout the United States. The Leap Frogs are renowned for exciting and complex formations after deploying their chutes. Civilian daredevil pilots performing aerial stunts include Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle in the Oracle Challenger, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team in their WWII North American Advanced Trainer, Lima Lima Flight Team in the BeechT-34 Mentor, The Firebirds in their Walter Extra 300 S, Bill Stein Airshows in his Zivko Edge 540 and NEW Matt Chapman Aerobatics in his Mudry CAP 580. 2011 marks the 16th year of Shell Oil Products U.S. as the show’s presenting sponsor. “Shell is honored to announce that we will continue our role as presenting sponsor of the Chicago Air & Water Show,” said Kevin Autin, General Manager, Shell Oil Products US. “At Shell we are passionate about giving back to the local community and applaud the City of Chicago and our local independent Shell Wholesalers and Dealers for providing the leadership and resources to bring this free event to the lakefront again this summer. Play-by-play coverage of the show will air on WBBM-AM Newsradio 780 on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Also, a thirty-minute highlight show, "Chicago’s Top Guns", will air on ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) on Sunday, August 21 at 10:35 p.m. with Jerry Taft and Tracy Butler recapping the weekend’s events. Back again for his 24th year as “the voice”of the Air and Water Show, Herb Hunter utilizes his many years of experience as a military pilot and as a captain for one of the major airlines.
