10 things that will fly high at this year's Air & Water Show
WBBM NewsRadio 780 traffic reporter Kris Habermehl is a Chicago Air & Water Show fanatic, which is obvious to anyone who has listened to his colorful commentary during the station's live coverage every year.
Habermehl, who also works as a firefighter/EMT in far northwest Kirkland, says he's loved aviation and history since he was a kid and always looks forward to the show.
"(The Air & Water Show) is, by far, the favorite part of my job," he said. "It's always something new."
We asked Habermehl what he thinks the highlights of this year's show will be, and here's what he said:
1. B-1B "Lancer" Bomber: Big, fast and LOUD, the B-1B is always a crowd pleaser - except to those who set their car alarms.
2. Sean D. Tucker and the Oracle Challenger Biplane: Sean is ALWAYS high-energy and performs seemingly impossible maneuvers. His routine gets raves from not only the crowd but his fellow performers. A genuinely nice guy, Sean has no equal when it comes to down-and-dirty, no-holds-barred "power aerobatics." Remember to breathe.
3. Lima Lima Flight Team: Named after the Naperville airfield where the magic began, (FAA LL10), our hometown demonstration team is world-renowned. The six bright yellow T-34 "Mentors" make for stunning photos against the blue sky.
4. USAF Heritage Flight: Another local pilot, Vlado Lenoch, teams up his beautiful P-51 Mustang with the latest air superiority fighters and makes always-historic formation passes to honor America's airmen.
5. Red Bull MiG: Bill Reeseman returns to Chicago in his stunning Cold War-era MIG-17F. Bill flies his bright red Soviet Bloc fighter in high-performance maneuvers once reserved for the skies over Vietnam.
6. Red Bull Helicopter: A first for Chicago, pilot Chuck Aaron will perform a full-on aerobatic routine (loops, rolls and all) with the only helicopter rated to do so. Expect the unexpected with the "Bull Cow!"
7. U.S. Army Golden Knights: Celebrating the Army parachute team's 50th anniversary, the team will be honored to include one of their own. Army veteran Melissa Stockwell, who lost a leg in action, will jump tandem with the team to honor America's "Wounded Warriors."
8. A-10 "Thunderbolt II" Demo: Proving that "low and slow" can be a good thing, a flight of ungainly A-10's will attack North Avenue Beach in simulated strafing runs. Watch the feathers fly as the seagulls scatter!
9. KC-135 refueling demo: More "hometown heroes" on display as a giant Illinois Air National Guard "Stratotanker" shows how to get fuel to a flight of thirsty IL ANG F-16's. (Fill 'er up and don't forget to check the oil.)
10. USAF Thunderbirds: Inspired yet? Get the sunblock out of your eyes and dust the sand off the camera as the Air Force treats us to their 56th season of precision flying. There's nothing like six red, white and blue F-16's welded together and trailing smoke over the greatest city in the world!