{"id":146638,"date":"2025-08-15T02:18:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T02:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/146638\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T02:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T02:18:17","slug":"photos-the-pilots-who-will-be-doing-flips-in-the-air-this-weekend-along-the-lakefront","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/146638\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: The pilots who will be doing flips in the air this weekend along the lakefront"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Pilots prepared to take flight for this weekend\u2019s <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/entertainment-culture\/2025\/08\/13\/2025-chicago-air-water-show-golden-knights-thunderbirds-headliners\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show<\/a> at the Gary Jet Center in Indiana. The United States Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons conducted their site survey of the lakefront and stunt pilots, like Ed Hamill and Susan Dacy, stood next to their planes that will be doing flips in the air.<\/p>\n<p>The two-day spectacle will feature groups like the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds, Warbird Thunder Airshows, civilian performers and a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army, according to the city\u2019s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.<\/p>\n<p>Planes will take off from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and they will be most visible along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t know what to expect this year? Take a behind-the-scenes look at the Chicago Air &amp; Water Show\u2019s media day before the planes roar over the city. <\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-f80000\" name=\"image-f80000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"United States Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi Thursday at Gary\/Chicago International Airport after conducting their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show in Gary, Indiana. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/717b074\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd3%2F9f%2F1a079b084b59897a0ea24807f1bf%2Fairwatershow-081525-12.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NTlweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>United States Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi Thursday at Gary\/Chicago International Airport after conducting their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show in Gary, Indiana. <\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-290000\" name=\"image-290000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Four members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds walk toward Gary\/Chicago International Airport\u2019s main building Thursday after conducting a site survey of the lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show in Gary, Indiana. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f0f4318\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2a%2F3b%2Fc734613f4bf992c2f513471dbe88%2Fairwatershow-081525-26.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Four members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds walk toward Gary\/Chicago International Airport\u2019s main building Thursday after conducting a site survey of the lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show in Gary, Indiana. <\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-1f0000\" name=\"image-1f0000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon lands at Gary\/Chicago International Airport Thursday after conducting their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of this weekend's show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c9da1c4\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2F1f%2F4c5da7be42beb93006e15b6c753d%2Fairwatershow-081525-19.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NTlweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon lands at Gary\/Chicago International Airport Thursday after conducting their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of this weekend\u2019s show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-590000\" name=\"image-590000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons take off in formation Thursday to conduct their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of this weekend's show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/32b7504\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F37%2F8d%2F7c5571a84086935f82c8437e1d34%2Fairwatershow-081525-5.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NTlweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons take off in formation Thursday to conduct their site survey of the Chicago lakefront ahead of this weekend\u2019s show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-820000\" name=\"image-820000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Malafa stands next to the aircraft he\u2019ll be flying at the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c80961e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F03%2F7ef9c9084fdfb41714671bcd113d%2Fairwatershow-081525-30.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Malafa stands next to the aircraft he\u2019ll be flying at the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-3f0000\" name=\"image-3f0000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III lands Thursday at Gary\/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. The flight commander of this aircraft is Tim Wilson, of Lake Forest. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/4d72513\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F59%2F06bcc0bd46d8be9ed75b411b3215%2Fairwatershow-081525-17.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NTlweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III lands Thursday at Gary\/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. The flight commander of this aircraft is Tim Wilson, of Lake Forest.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-4d0000\" name=\"image-4d0000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Pilot Tom Larkin stands next to his Mini Jet during media day Thursday for the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show at Gary\/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. It's the first time Larkin will fly the Mini Jet for the show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/34eed22\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2F80%2Fee02dd0e4eb593c94b9143922ab2%2Fairwatershow-081525-8.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Pilot Tom Larkin stands next to his Mini Jet during media day Thursday for the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show at Gary\/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. It\u2019s the first time Larkin will fly the Mini Jet for the show. <\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-640000\" name=\"image-640000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III is seen Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/de521b4\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F11%2F0d%2Fe079c09644188fac9d5a97e7aeaf%2Fairwatershow-081525-28.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III is seen Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-5b0000\" name=\"image-5b0000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Stunt pilot Ed Hamill stands Thursday next to the \u201cFolds of Honor\u201d biplane that he\u2019s flown for three years. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/98e9421\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff1%2F42%2Fecd98ee04ec1b0b7cb5804aa8680%2Fairwatershow-081525-3.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Stunt pilot Ed Hamill stands Thursday next to the \u201cFolds of Honor\u201d biplane that he\u2019s flown for three years. <\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-d10000\" name=\"image-d10000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon slows to its parking spot Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/241b930\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe8%2Fb2%2Fb5a198074e658c72eec131a5f965%2Fairwatershow-081525-24.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcon slows to its parking spot Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-6b0000\" name=\"image-6b0000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Malafa climbs out of his F-16 Fighting Falcon after conducting a site survey Thursday of the lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/89bf4d1\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1997+0+0\/resize\/840x559!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffa%2F74%2F09025b2d4b26be36973d11a27f87%2Fairwatershow-081525-25.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NTlweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Malafa climbs out of his F-16 Fighting Falcon after conducting a site survey Thursday of the lakefront ahead of the 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n<p>                            <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-d00000\" name=\"image-d00000\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Flight crews work to maintain the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird\u2019s F-16 Fighting Falcons after they landed Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times\"  width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/3bcd94b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x2000+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F94%2F02%2F1298c6bf4d43ba7f196872762ed3%2Fairwatershow-081525-27.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1NjBweCIgd2lkdGg9Ijg0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Flight crews work to maintain the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird\u2019s F-16 Fighting Falcons after they landed Thursday at the Gary\/Chicago International Airport.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pilots prepared to take flight for this weekend\u2019s 2025 Chicago Air &amp; Water Show at the Gary Jet&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":146639,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,5386,1818],"class_list":{"0":"post-146638","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-il","10":"tag-illinois"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115030386867768611","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}