The 60th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show
Aug 22, 2018 08:18:45 #
Matt Chapman (yellow plane) has won the prestigious International Aerobatic Club Championships (1994) and the Fond du Lac Cup (1995). Since 1995 Bill Stein has logged over 5,000 hours of aerobatic and formation flight.
Matt Chapman and Bill Stein by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Known as a shock collar or vapor cone, a cloud is generated by a sudden drop in pressure associated with high speed that allows water vapor to condense as vapor.
F-35 Lightning II
Susan Dacy is a Chicago based International Captain for American Airlines, currently flying the 777. She is one of only a few females performing airshows in a biplane, and is the only woman flying exhibition in the Super Stearman.
Susan Dacy in "Big Red"
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.
USAF Thunderbirds
The Air Sea Rescue Unit within the Chicago Fire Department was established in 1965, where they provide search and rescue services for 37 miles of lakefront, an extensive river system, numerous lakefront venues, and the largest harbor system in the U.S.
Chicago Fire Department
Although many believe these clouds appear when aircraft "break" the sound barrier, a shock collar can appear when the planes fly at subsonic speed, in humid air.
F-35 Lightning II
In 1959 the first show was titled the Lakeshore Park Air & Water Show, and was a part of a "Family Day" celebration for children enrolled in the Chicago Park District’s day camp program. The USAF Thunderbirds first performed in 1960. Eventually, the show was renamed the Chicago Park District Air & Water Show, expanded to two days, and moved to its current location at North Avenue Beach. Corporate sponsorship participation began in 1989, and now provides substantial support for the production costs of the show. The event has been managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events since 1994.
Bill Stein
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. Thunderbirds 9-12 are support officers who perform expert medical, administrative, maintenance and public affairs functions. To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, three of the six demonstration pilots typically change each year.
USAF Thunderbirds
The images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Matt Chapman and Bill Stein by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Known as a shock collar or vapor cone, a cloud is generated by a sudden drop in pressure associated with high speed that allows water vapor to condense as vapor.
F-35 Lightning II
Susan Dacy is a Chicago based International Captain for American Airlines, currently flying the 777. She is one of only a few females performing airshows in a biplane, and is the only woman flying exhibition in the Super Stearman.
Susan Dacy in "Big Red"
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.
USAF Thunderbirds
The Air Sea Rescue Unit within the Chicago Fire Department was established in 1965, where they provide search and rescue services for 37 miles of lakefront, an extensive river system, numerous lakefront venues, and the largest harbor system in the U.S.
Chicago Fire Department
Although many believe these clouds appear when aircraft "break" the sound barrier, a shock collar can appear when the planes fly at subsonic speed, in humid air.
F-35 Lightning II
In 1959 the first show was titled the Lakeshore Park Air & Water Show, and was a part of a "Family Day" celebration for children enrolled in the Chicago Park District’s day camp program. The USAF Thunderbirds first performed in 1960. Eventually, the show was renamed the Chicago Park District Air & Water Show, expanded to two days, and moved to its current location at North Avenue Beach. Corporate sponsorship participation began in 1989, and now provides substantial support for the production costs of the show. The event has been managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events since 1994.
Bill Stein
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. Thunderbirds 9-12 are support officers who perform expert medical, administrative, maintenance and public affairs functions. To ensure continuity and a smooth transition, three of the six demonstration pilots typically change each year.
USAF Thunderbirds
The images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Aug 22, 2018 08:29:22 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:30:12 #
Let me think; Do you like aircraft? You sure are an excellent photographer of things my eyes can barely see.
Aug 22, 2018 08:30:51 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:30:58 #
Lee Roman
Loc: Lavalette, West Virginia
Very Good Pictures!! Thanks for the History and descriptions along with them, that Makes it!!!
Aug 22, 2018 08:33:02 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:40:54 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:45:01 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:49:14 #
excellent shots and dialogue. I am 77. When I grow up I want to take pictures just like you.
Aug 22, 2018 08:50:01 #
Aug 22, 2018 08:50:14 #
Aug 22, 2018 09:37:24 #
ssiretire wrote:
excellent shots and dialogue. I am 77. When I grow up I want to take pictures just like you.
LOL ssiretire! Thank you. While finishing the editing, I was thinking yesterday that I have at least 100-hours of shooting time at various airshows over the past 5-years. That's a lot of practice time and I can see improvements in the year over year results. Glad you enjoyed.
Aug 22, 2018 09:37:36 #
cdayton wrote:
Great (and educational) set of shots.
Thank you cdayton, glad you enjoyed!
Aug 22, 2018 09:37:49 #
Aug 22, 2018 09:38:13 #
starlifter wrote:
Nice shots. I especially like the vapor cones.
Thank you starlifter! These are the best vapor cones of 5-years of trying in Chicago. Glad you enjoyed.
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