Chicago’s Air & Water Show Finally Back
By Larry E. Nazimek
The Chicago Air & Water Show returned Aug. 20-21 after a two-year hiatus. It was a “full” show, although it was scheduled for four hours instead of the usual five. It has gone, however, from its roots in 1959, with a budget of $88, to what it is now.
Once again, weather played a major factor, with too much of the water in the air. With a show that has been going on for so many years, it only makes sense that some of the shows will be confronted with bad weather. Neither of its two days, however, were canceled. As the weather changed, so did the plan, so onlookers were exposed to the decision-making processes that goes on. The first day of the show was characterized by rain, although not continuous, while the second day had some rain, but the main factor was low cumulus clouds.
Susan Dacy’s “Barnstorming America with Big Red” act had to be canceled, because she flies an open-cockpit Stearman. There was also consideration given to the possibility of rain damaging the paint job of some of the civilian planes. When it comes to antique aircraft, “preservation” is an important factor.
For the first time, the Air Force Heritage Flight (F-22 Raptor and P-51 Mustang) and the Navy Legacy Flight (F-35C Lightning II, A-4 Skyhawk, and FG-1D Corsair) were presented in the same Air and Water Show; a rare event for any air show. The C model of the F-35 is the Navy’s variant, with a larger wingspan and beefed up landing gear and tailhook for carrier landings.
The three helicopter demonstrations (Chicago Fire Dept. Air/Sea Rescue Bell 412EP Huey; Chicago Police Dept. Helicopters; U. S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue MH-65E) are normally interspersed with the other acts, but due to the low ceiling, all three were at the start of Sunday’s show. The Police had both helicopters (Bell 206L Long Ranger and Bell 206BIII Jet Ranger), something that is seldom seen.
With the weather holds, some things had to be cut short. Bill Stein, Kevin Coleman, and Rob Holland did not perform their individual acts, but they performed their formation act under the “Triple Time Team” moniker when the cloud cover opened up.
You may have never heard of air show aircraft being used to check the weather, but that’s exactly what the KC-135 did. It flew past the crowds and peeled off into the clouds.
Fortunately, the A-10C Thunderbolts and the USMC MV-22 Osprey acts were able to be completed, as they don’t need high ceilings. As the clouds moved out, the F-22 and F-35C demo teams performed.
When the weather permitted, the Army’s Golden Knights were able to jump, but only after their C-31A Troopship flew around and dropped streamers to access the winds.
Although the show was scheduled to end at 2 p.m., due to the weather, Saturday’s Blue Angels performance was slipped to 2:15, and Sunday’s to 2:20. This was possible, because the NOTAM securing the airspace lasted until 3 p.m.. They had planned on doing their low show, but on Sunday, when the lead pilot saw that the clouds permitted, they were able to do a maneuver out of their high show. Flexibility and adaptability were the keys here.
As the saying goes, “The show must go on!”
All Photos by Larry E. Nazimek
