Mi630

I’m going into Chicago next month for the airshow. I went last year and got good shots of the Blue Angels. I like to go on Friday, the practice day. This year the Thunderbirds are performing and I have never shot them. My question is this. Does anyone know when the Thunderbirds do their practice run. The Blue Angels practice at the same time of day they will be performing so the sun is in the same spot etc. I am told the Thunderbirds don’t do that and many times practice in the morning hours. I would like to get some shots when there aren’t so many people around. Does anyone have experience with the time of day they practice? Thanks in advance for any info.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...my first instinct would be to find and go to the T-Birds website. Or just go in the AM and camp out!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

You might try the email address at the bottom of their website home page:

http://afthunderbirds.com/site/show-season/

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ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Check with Flight Service or call any local FBO at that airport. They issue what is called a NOTAM to close the airspace for the air show practice and the actual airshow. The times listed are usually 1hr prior to the actual run to an hour after then end of the run. Note: T-Birds are primarily white vs the Blue angles which are Navy Blue, so you may need to go - 1/2 to 2 on your exposure compensation. Happy shooting

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

This is the second post this morning on the Chicago Air Show........ Looking in the mirror, I can clearly see that I'm turning green with envy! Capture some sharable stuff!

jaxmax

Schedules are affected by WX (especially cloud cover/ceiling levels).
And usually seem to be ... adjustable.(typical Chicago-ese)
Rehearsal schedules seem to follow show schedules closely -
to provide similar vistas - horizons, sun positions, etc. for pilots.

Official Website
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_air_and_watershow.html

Alternate Shooting Sites (approx 0.5 miles South that project into Lake
Milton Olive Park
Ohio Street Beach (NOT Oak Street Beach)
Case them before committing. Also:
Navy Pier ( heavily populated)
Cruise Boats

Best Location on Sunday (IMO)
Gary IN Airport

This is the staging “Take Off / Landing” point for all acts.
Military pilots often walk the fence and give kids signed photos.
It’s where I love to watch the Blue Angels take-off with 10’ leads
snap into their diamond about 50’ above the “deck” and roll right
in formation toward Pensacola.
Remember when you get here, it’s Chicago - Stay Safe !!!

Slow911 Loc: Windy City

They do a dress rehearsal on Friday at the same times that the show will run.....so sometime during afternoon the Thunderbirds will be given the airspace....Also they base at the Gary Airport and do a dignitary show on Thursday around 4p, its not a full show but its 1 way to get close up on the aircraft. The best location to photograph is North Ave beach, on the beach by Command Center....where most of the aviation photogs hang out

134.725 / 323.175 Platform
126.800 Tracon
123.150 Golden Knights & Leapfrogs
461.0375 Setup crews
122.125 Sean Tucker Air to Ground Audio
123.425 Lima Lima air to air
123.150 Aero Shell air to air
157.075 USCG Patcom
142.6125 (FM) Thunderbird ground support
139.600 (AM) A-10's air to air
122.125 Firebirds air to air
305.900 Thunderbird
333.300 Thunderbird solos
275.350 Thunderbird air to air
237.800 Thunderbird air to air


Good Luck and have fun.

jaxmax

True. But most advanced aviation shooters have advance press credentials, so
do not have to manipulate their super-zooms thru shoulder-to-shoulder NAB body traffic.

Just saying.