CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

At least 1 million people gathered along the lakefront beaches this past weekend to watch aerobatic feats in the sky and simulated rescue operations in the water.

2023 Chicago Air & Water Show by Paul Sager, on Flickr


The Chicago Air & Water Show is an annual free event along Lake Michigan in Chicago, this year marking the 64th annual presentation.

2023 Chicago Air & Water Show


Digital images shared in this post were captured in RAW using an EOS 5DIII, EF 500mm f/4L IS II and EF Extenders 1.4x and 2x for a 700mm and 1000mm extended configurations. Processing was performed in Lightroom and noise processing in Topaz DeNoise6.

2023 Chicago Air & Water Show


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.

2023 Chicago Air & Water Show


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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

chuckrem Loc: Katy, Tx

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

My favorite team. Something about the name, paint scheme and the fact I was Air Force.

Delta49 Loc: Central Indiana

Absolutely beautiful pictures Paul as usual, the F-16 Falcon I think is the best looking aircraft in the world and with its red white and blue paint job against the blue sky really brings out the beauty of it. It looks as if they are one aircraft. Thank you for sharing your pictures with us.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you alberio! Although the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds are supposed to swap as the headliner every other year, it's been 5-years since the Thunderbirds appeared in Chicago due to a Covid cancellation and a 2nd year with just the Angels and no one else performing.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Steve! With all the news of sending F-16s to Ukraine, I was more interested than normal in seeing these planes in demonstration action this year.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Bill, chuckrem, alberio, Steve! I usually cull and edit all images before posting anything. This year, I've just grabbed some interesting ones from the thousands of images from 3-combined days. I might be posting images for weeks where Sunday was near perfect skys from 9am to 3pm, and Friday's afternoon was pretty good too.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

That must have been fun to take pictures! Looks great!!!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks 13! I had to be to the water by 9am Sat & Sun to get what amounted to the last free space along the water in the section of beach I prefer to stand, a full 90-minutes before the show started. A few minutes later and I'd probably have to look elsewhere, if any were still to be found.

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

Great photos Paul,
Love the last one...

Goober Loc: Southeastern PA

Very nice well captured images Paul! The first and the fourth were especially interesting to me.
Thanks for posting.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Great action captures. Amazing 👏

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Your usual excellent work, Paul, thanks for sharing!

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Beautiful. Of course, I love the last one best!