The 2024 Chicago Air & Water Show took place this past August 10-11 in downtown Chicago at North Avenue Beach. Military headliners included the United States Navy Blue Angels, the Navy's F-35C Lightning II demonstration team, the Marines' F-35B Lightning II demo team, and the United States Army, which featured both their Parachute Team—the Golden Knights—and a four-ship demo of AH-64 Apache helicopters. The show also featured a flypast by the Maryland Air National Guard's A-10, as well as a flypast by AETC Altus' C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker. Civilian acts included performances by Bill Stein, Kevin Coleman, Ed Hamill, RJ Gritter, and Susan Dacy. Both the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department showcased their service helicopters along with their respective rescue watercraft. The Trojan Phlyers also flew a two-ship T-28 Trojan formation.

With the airshow set right in the heart of downtown Chicago, it offers a unique atmosphere unlike any other airshow. From the AH-64 Apache helicopters flying just 20 feet above the water to the Blue Angels pulling 7Gs straight up the side of a building, the experience is nothing short of incredible.

On Sunday, I had the privilege of spending the entire duration of the air show on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building, home to 360 Chicago and the Cloud Bar. This location offers 360-degree views of the entire city and, in the best case, the entire airshow. We witnessed breathtaking views of every demo, offering a truly unique perspective of an airshow.

The Chicago Air & Water Show is set to return next August.

Check out more photos below!