Chicago air show today

The roar of jets will soon take over downtown as practice for the annual Chicago Air and Water Show gets underway Friday morning.

Chicago air and water show schedule

"It's a wonderful event" said Air and Water show boss Dave Adams. "It's free. Families can come out, spend the day at the beach, look at planes go over the water, and look at the beautiful backdrop, which is our skyline."

The free event, which began in 1959, originally started as an air show with an $88 budget.

It has now grown to one of the largest shows of it kind, with tricks from high-speed civilian and military plots and aircraft, as well as boats, and dive and parachute teams.

But perhaps the most highly anticipated performances of the show is the return of the U.S.

Thunderbirds, who are making their first appearance in the show in five years.

"We we-rewrote our demonstration in 2020, and this is the first time Chicago will get to see the new show," said Cpt. Kaity Toner, Thunderbird 12.

According to Toner, the Thunderbirds performance is high energy, and similar to a fireworks show.

"It starts with a bang and ends with a bang," Toner sa

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