CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The US Air Force’s official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was activated in May 1953 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The unit adopted the name "Thunderbirds," influenced in part by the strong Native American culture and folklore from the southwestern United States where Luke Air Force Base is located.

Chicago Air & Water Show by Paul Sager, on Flickr


A Thunderbirds officer serves a two-year tour of duty. Every officer has a specific role, and traditionally, officers assigned to the team adopt their number as their unofficial "call sign." Eight of the 12 officers assigned to the team are highly experienced fighter pilots. Thunderbirds 1-6 fly in the air show demonstrations; Thunderbird 7 is the operations officer; and Thunderbird 8 is the advance pilot and narrator, coordinating last-minute logistical details at show sites and lending his voice to describe the maneuvers during the show. To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, three of the six demonstration pilots typically change each year.

Chicago Air & Water Show


The Coast Guard operates 202 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft – airplanes and helicopters – to support its work as a law enforcement arm, a military service branch, and a seafaring service.

Chicago Air & Water Show


The Marine & Helicopter Unit of the Chicago Police Department is responsible for all bodies of water within the City of Chicago. This includes 80 square miles of Lake Michigan, 27 miles of Lake Michigan shore line, and 38 miles of Chicago River system.

Chicago Air & Water Show


The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 707 airliner. The KC-135 entered service with the USAF in 1957; it is one of only nine types of military fixed-wing aircraft (worldwide) with over 60 years of continuous service with its original operator.

Chicago Air & Water Show


Images shared in this post were captured using Kodak TMAX 400 and an Orange (colored) filter. The 64th annual Chicago Air & Water show occurred in August 2023, with 3 days of near perfect whether for the two official show dates and the one day rehearsal date.

Chicago Air & Water Show

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Great venue for B&W. Beautifully done, Paul.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Nice topside and underbelly photos of my favorite airshow team. The KC 135 looks like it's had an engine upgrade. 👍👍👍

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Is this the first airshow you've shared in black and white, Paul? #2 has a lot of impact for me, with the tight formation and details of the exhaust - stories that would have been lost in color. Similarly, #5 is a wowsa moment for the silhouette of this massive machine.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks Linda! I'd have to go back and see if I've ever before shot B&W film at the Chicago Airshow. I did use B&W at Oshkosh, but before the B&W section was created. I've done some conversions, where similar details of the smoke were a result.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks alberio! I believe this plane is listed as the KC-135R in the roster of equipment from the Illinois Air National Guard.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks Joe, Karin, Bill, John! I did a lot of shots of the Coast Guard rescue demo from all three days, both digital and film. I might find some film vs digital comparisons if I ever finish the digital edits.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Very nice, Paul. I’m liking the contrast between the planes and helicopter and the sky they occupy. At least, for me, it makes for more focus on the subject (where it belongs).

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

Very nice images.

jack

tshift Loc: Overland Park, KS.

Very nice photos CHG. Post more when you can. Thanks BE SAFE!!

Tom

Canon R Loc: Dayton,OH

I agree with Linda! Love the second one! Amazing tonality.
Thank you for showing

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you 47greyfox, Jack, Tom, Canon R! I put a few more B&W images into the film section at: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-800411-1.html