You can view all my photos from the Air and Water show here.

I try to make it to the Air and Water Show* every year, but this year was a bit special as I got to take part in the air show. On Friday before the actual show I rode along on the Flagship Detroit, something you can read all about on Airchive or watch video from the flight in this post.

In years past, I’ve been lucky enough to have a friend who lived in a high-rise building near the show, but he has since moved. So instead of viewing the show from 38 floors up, my friend Joe and I decided to view the show from the beach. Considering the show’s start time of 10am Joe and I decided we would be able to get a good spot for the show if we arrived around 8:30. While we did end up with a decent spot, there were already people set up on the beach apparently ready to house and cater a small army. By the time we arrived there were a number of multi-room tents and outdoor kitchens set up along the waterline. Next year we’ll have to come prepared with a 50 foot ladder and a food truck.

The show this year featured a number of parachute teams, civil acrobatic teams, and military aircraft demonstrations, all capped off by the Blue Angels.

The show began with a short display of American Airlines’ oldest and newest planes with the DC-3 Flagship Detroit flying in formation with an American 737-800. Quickly following was an acrobatic team and the Army Golden Knights, Navy Leap Frogs, and the All Veteran Parachute Team.

Much of the early portion of the show consisted of civilian acrobatic groups like the Aerostars, Team AeroShell, and Team AeroDynamix which features 12 different planes.

Also making an appearance this year was the V-22 Osprey. The Osprey, which recently joined the contingent of aircraft in the presidential fleet, is a tilt-rotor aircraft capable of operating much like a helicopter and airplane, depending on the necessity.

The parachute teams returned for a second jump after the Osprey’s demonstration and then it was time for the show to get a little louder. The F-22 Raptor performed and was joined by a P-51 Mustang for a heritage flight.

Closing the show were the US Navy Blue Angels. From where Joe and I were standing on the beach we had a great view of the soloist pilots as they screamed directly overhead.

If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Chicago in August, coming for the Air and Water Show is something worth considering. It’s one of the best free air shows in the country and it’s a great time to see the city. Next year you’ll find me on the beach a little earlier. Stop by and say hello.

*It’s technically called the Air and Water Show and it does feature a few police and fire boats, but who are we kidding, it’s an air show.

We all love to complain about flying, about going to the airport, and about how expensive it is. But let’s consider for moment the words of Louis CK (which are decidedly not safe for enjoyment in an office setting).

Happy National Aviation Day!

Last week I trekked up to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with Cynthia Drescher and a friend, for EAA Airventure. Every year the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts thousands of aviation enthusiasts for a week-long celebration at Wittman Regional Airport. Part airshow, part trade show, all aviation awesomeness, Airventure truly lives up to the name, the “World’s Greatest Aviation Gathering.”

Cynthia generously offered me a ride from Chicago to Oshkosh and I wasn’t going to say no that. We set out early Monday morning, but before heading to Oshkosh we had to make a small detour to return a rented Sno-Cone machine. No, really.

Once we dispatched the Sno-Cone machine were on our way to OSH. As is required by law (not sure which one, but I bet it exists), we stopped to pick up some Wisconsin cheese curds. If you’ve never had cheese curds, I highly recommend it. They are delicious and they squeak when you eat them.

We arrived at OSH just in time to time see the afternoon air show begin. The AeroShell Team started things off while we made our way from the parking lot to the admissions gate. At this point I must confess that this was my first time at OSH. I’ve lived in Chicago nearly all my life and Oshkosh is only a few hours away, yet I’ve never made the trip. Walking in the gate for the first time and seeing rows and rows of aircraft on static display while an acrobatic team performs directly above was a bit overwhelming, but it set the stage for what turned out to be an amazing experience.

We headed down the main drag, Celebration Way, making our way through the static displays of Beechcraft, ICON, and more to Phillips 66 Plaza where a number of the featured aircraft, like the HondaJets, DC-3, and B-24 were parked. We made it to the Plaza just in time to see a formation of 18 T-34 Mentors fly over.

From the Plaza we explored some of the culinary options at OSH, which were quite good for “festival food.” Each stand offered a taste of a different country, with China, Thailand, Germany, and of course, America among those represented. Being in Wisconsin, I availed myself of the “Taste of Germany” and was not disappointed. After lunch we headed down to the flight line to watch the airshow and wander through the homebuilt area on our way to see the Warbirds. Many of the homebuilt aircraft are vintage replicas, like the Johnson JCB-1.

Out past the homebuilt area is Warbird Alley, featuring the best of military aviation from World War II to the present. Most of the aircraft were from the 1940s and 1950s, so it was great to see so many older planes up close. At Warbird Alley we were able to see a TBM Avenger taxi and depart the show and climb inside the bomb bay of a B-25 Mitchell bomber.

As we walked back towards the main area near the end of the day we spied the beginnings of six hot air balloons inflating. We stood around for a while watching the crews inflate the balloons and I even got to hold one of the tether ropes. There is something magical about seeing half a dozen hot air balloons all light up against the night sky. It was the perfect end to a day at Oshkosh and I will definitely be back next year.

For all the photos I took at OSH, including some very close shots of planes you don’t see on a regular basis, check out my Flickr page.