Chicago Air and Water Show set to dazzle

A few exercises first to limber up. Roll your head around. Look from left to right, then up and down. Lift your shoulders. Repeat.

After all, with U.S. Air Force fighter planes streaking across the lakeshore, daredevils plunging from 12,500 feet and jets buzzing skyscrapers, you've got to prep for the inevitable head-spinning this weekend.

The 52nd annual Chicago Air & Water Show sonic-booms into town Saturday and Sunday.

Highlights include a sky-diving Vince Vaughn, aerial acrobatics by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and free-falling Leap Frogs, the U.S. Navy Parachute Team.

Performing along with elite military pilots and Chicago native and Hollywood star Vaughn, will be the suburbs' own Lima Lima Flight Team, which has its roots in Naperville.

Not only is it a rush to perform for a home crowd, but the Chicago lakefront delivers drama in more ways than one, Lima Lima pilot John Rippinger said.

"In Chicago, you're literally weaving around buildings or flying quite low over all the boats in Lake Michigan. It's a hoot," he said.

One of the team's more challenging maneuvers is its Flat Bomb Burst. "We come right at the crowd, and all six airplanes go in a different direction," said Rippinger, who lives in Schaumburg.

One X factor for all the pilots will be the weather.

"If the wind is out of the north, northeast, everything's fine," Rippinger said. "If the wind is out of the south, southwest, it creates terrible turbulence, like horizontal tornadoes, so you better have your seat belt tight."

For the scoop on this year's spectacular, read on.

Q. When and where can I see the air show?A. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along the Chicago lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street with North Avenue Beach as the main staging area.Q. I don't want to go to North Avenue Beach. What are alternates?A. How about taking the family to Navy Pier? You can picnic outside and catch the action. Or, try the Signature Lounge at the John Hancock Center for a perspective 96 floors up. For a different angle, head south of the Loop to Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood and Promontory Point Park with its fabulous city vista. If you're boat-friendly, view the show from the Chicago River in a rental from Kayak Chicago.Q. Last year, I got a pain in the neck from watching the show. How can I avoid that?A. Personal trainer Jane Bailey-Zaeske with Naperville's Edward Hospital suggests: maintaining proper posture as much as possible and keeping your neck level; stretching neck and shoulder muscles before, during and after the show; and massaging the neck and upper shoulder areas. One stretch she suggests requires standing with hands behind your head and neck, dropping the chin down to the chest and exhaling gently while bending your head forward.Q. What can and can't I bring to the beach?A. Yes to blankets, chairs and a cooler. No to alcohol, barbecue grills, fireworks, tents and beach umbrellas. Service animals are allowed, but Rover is prohibited. He won't like the noise anyway.Q. When will the Golden Knights, U.S. Army Parachute Team and the Leap Frogs perform?A. Sorry, there's no advance schedule since it's decided by the pilots on the day of the show. But expect the Leap Frogs, Golden Knights and Blue Angels to do their stuff toward the end of each day. For play by play, radio station WBBM 780-AM will be broadcasting the event.Q. Where can I get more details?A. Try the website chicagoairandwatershow.us.Q. I want to take transit to avoid traffic and parking hassles. How do I get downtown from the suburbs?A. Check out the Regional Transportation Authority's website's, trispweb.rtachicago.com or goroo.com.False20001173Catch the Chicago Air and Water Show this weekend in Chicago.Courtesy City of ChicagoFalse