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Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
What to know if you're going to the Chicago Air and Water Show
Eyes will turn to the skies this weekend for the Chicago Air and Water Show. One million or more spectators are expected along the lakefront Aug. 16-17 to watch demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team and a variety of other civilian and military aircraft. Here's what to know about this year's show: how to get to the lakefront (or avoid it), weather conditions, a full lineup of performers and more. No, the event is free. North Avenue Beach is show center, but good sight lines can be found at Ohio Street Beach and along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue south to Oak Street Beach. Nearby parks and playing fields are generally less crowded. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Rehearsal is scheduled for Friday. The beaches will open at 6 a.m., but there are no public seating areas and parking is not available at North Avenue Beach. The schedule is subject to change and determined on show days. The lineup includes: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds: Founded 72 years ago, the demonstration team has performed here since 1960. More than 120 enlisted members prepare and service eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Six perform formation flying and solo routines during a typical demonstration. U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights: Appearing here since the 1960s — when they would land in Lake Michigan — this team of soldiers has jumped with David Ross, former Cubs catcher and manager, actor Vince Vaughn and comedian Bill Murray. Other Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard demonstrations: A-10 Thunderbolt II; C-17 Globemaster III; KC-135 Stratotanker; 122nd Fighter Wing and 434th Air Refueling Wing; 182nd Airlift Wing U.S. Marine Corps.: MV-22 Osprey; Air Station New River U.S. Coast Guard: Air and Sea Rescue Demonstration Civilians: Chicago Fire Department Air and Sea Rescue Unit; Chicago Police Department helicopter; Kevin Coleman; Susan Dacy; Ed 'Hamster' Hamill; Tom Larkin (Mini Jet Airshows); Bob Richards (Muscle Biplane Machaira); Bill Stein; and Warbird Thunder Pedestrians: Bridges, tunnels or underpasses at Fullerton Avenue, Division Street, Scott Street, Chicago Avenue, North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach provide easy access to the lakefront and North Avenue Beach. Public transportation: Extra service and capacity will be provided throughout the weekend. Use Regional Transportation Authority's Trip Planner tool to map your route. It's recommended passengers purchase tickets ahead of time or through the Ventra app to avoid long lines. Chicago Transit Authority and getting there by 'L': The CTA will provide extra service on some lines, but the No. 72 North Avenue bus will be rerouted. Take the Red Line to stations at Chicago/State or Clark/Division, which are within walking distance of show center. Or, take the Blue, Green, Orange, Brown or Pink lines to the downtown area and walk east. The closest CTA station to the North Avenue Beach entrance is the Brown Line's Sedgwick station. Metra: Extra service will be provided on four of Metra's 11 lines with expanded passenger capacity, too, during the weekend. Customers disembarking at Metra's Union Station or Millennium Park Station can board CTA's No. 151 buses to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches. Alcohol is prohibited and bicycles might not be accommodated all day Saturday and Sunday. Bike: Bringing your own bike? Bikes are allowed on the beach. Renting one? Divvy's closest station to North Avenue Beach is at DuSable Lake Shore Drive and North Boulevard. Plan your ride at Parking: No parking is available at show central. Millennium Garages' four, underground locations offer discounted online parking packages for purchase in advance and a free shuttle from Millennium Park Garage, 6 S. Columbus Drive, to and from near North Avenue Beach. Shuttles depart the garage every 20 minutes starting at 9 a.m. Pickup and drop-off is at inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive, half a block south of LaSalle Street. Last shuttle departs for the garage from North Avenue Beach at 3 p.m. Spothero also offers nearby parking options. All bags will be searched upon entry. What you can bring to the show: Leave at home: The forecast calls for hot, humid conditions with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s and heat indices near or above 100 degrees. Sunday has a 6slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, according to the National Weather Service's Chicago office. It happens. Foggy and wet conditions delayed performances in 2022. In case of severe weather: Temporary shelter from rain, high winds, lightning or hail is available at various nearby underpasses (Diversey Harbor, Fullerton Avenue and LaSalle Drive) and pedway locations (Division Street, Scott Street, Oak Street and Chicago Avenue). Yes! Spectators can pay $20 per vehicle for entrance to the parking lot at Gary/Chicago International Airport, where they can watch aircraft take off and land. Herb Hunter is the show announcer based at North Avenue Beach. He's a former military pilot and United Airlines captain. Play-by-play coverage will be on WBBM-AM 780 and 105.9 FM. For those who are low vision or blind, there will be an audio description both days of the show that is accessible via Zoom. Vertical green signs with white letters and numbers called pole markers are attached to all light poles along the lakefront. Lost? Injured? Witness criminal activity? Look up, call 911 and give the letter/number on the pole nearest your location to help first responders locate you. Or, use the pole marker to let friends and family know where you are. Sources: Tribune reporting; Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Military Aircraft Detected Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States Navy sent two aircraft into the disputed Taiwan Strait early Wednesday in a move likely to rankle China. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Indo-Pacific Command and China's foreign ministry by email with a request for comment. Why It Matters Beijing's Communist Party-led government claims Taiwan as its own territory, despite never having governed the island. China also asserts sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait, which most countries regard as international waters. The U.S., and increasingly several of its allies, conduct military transits through the 100-mile-wide waterway to assert freedom of navigation rights. China has frequently objected to the presence of what it calls "outside powers" not only in the strait but also in the adjacent South and East China seas. A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon descends from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker after receiving fuel as part of a combat readiness exercise over the North Sea, on May 10, 2025. A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon descends from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker after receiving fuel as part of a combat readiness exercise over the North Sea, on May 10, 2025. Airman 1st Class Aidan Martínez/U.S. Air Force What To Know A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft departed from a base in Japan's Okinawa prefecture and flew west toward the Taiwan Strait, according to open-source flight tracking data. The aircraft then proceeded down the middle of the strait and by 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday had almost reached the southern end. It was the first reported P-8 transit since November 2024. Based on the Boeing 737 airframe, the P-8A is specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare and is equipped with advanced sensors, sonobuoys, torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Shortly after the Poseidon's passage, a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone also appeared to enter the strait, taking a route around Taiwan's southern tip. The transits coincided with Taiwan's largest annual series of drills, the Han Kuang exercise, which are designed to test the island's readiness in the event of a potential invasion by China. What People Have Said The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet said of the Taiwan Strait transit by a P-8A Poseidon in November: "The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows." Chinese state-backed think tank the South China Sea Probing Initiative wrote of U.S. military flights in an X (formerly Twitter) post Monday: "Such operations are carried out…thousands of times around China every year. "Only when they attempt to enter Chinese airspace or endanger the safety of Chinese platforms will they be intercepted. Is the People's Liberation Army being too restrained and too reasonable?" What's Next Neither the Chinese nor Taiwanese authorities had issued a public statement on the latest transits as of publishing time. U.S. Navy vessels are expected to continue sailing through the Taiwan Strait several times per year, as well as maintaining a presence in other disputed parts of the Asia-Pacific region, such as the South China Sea.
Toronto Sun
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
B-2 bombers have reportedly taken off from U.S. as Trump weighs Iran strike
Published Jun 21, 2025 • 1 minute read This April 4, 2005 Department of Defense handout image shows a B-2 Spirit multi-role bomber conducting air refueling operations with a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean. Photo by U.S. Department of Defense / AFP via Getty Images B-2 stealth bombers have taken off from the U.S. and are headed over the Pacific, multiple news outlets reported, as President Donald Trump weighs American involvement in the war between Israel and Iran. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The moves, picked up by flight tracking services on Saturday, indicate that the administration is getting the Air Force bombers in position if needed for a strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. The planes, accompanied by refueling tankers, may be on their way to a base in Guam, according to the report. Speculation about a potential U.S. strike aimed at Iran's nuclear program has focused on the B-2s, which would be needed to drop 30,000-pound bombs — so-called bunker busters — if Trump decided to target Iran's heavily fortified uranium enrichment site at Fordow. Israel, which is seeking to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, does not have such weapons. Multiple B-2s appeared to be airborne and heading across the Pacific from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the New York Times reported. The Times cited flight trackers' posts on social media and air traffic control communications. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Trump's is scheduled to return to the White House Saturday and meet with his national security team. The U.S. president has sent mixed signals, discounting European efforts to secure a diplomatic solution between Israel and Iran while keeping possible US involvement in the conflict on the table. 'I'm giving them a period of time,' Trump told reporters Friday. 'I would say two weeks would be the maximum.' — With assistance from María Paula Mijares Torres and Akayla Gardner. Read More Columnists Toronto & GTA Columnists Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons
Iraqi News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
US military aircraft no longer visible at base in Qatar
Washington – Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show — a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Between June 5 and 19, nearly all of the aircraft visible at the Al Udeid base are no longer anywhere in plain sight, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by AFP. Nearly 40 military aircraft — including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft — were parked on the tarmac on June 5. In an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced Thursday that access to the base would be limited 'out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities,' and urged personnel to 'exercise increased vigilance.' The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be 'extremely vulnerable' given its 'close proximity' to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft 'non-mission capable.' 'You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment,' he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. The US military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. US forces in the Middle East have been mobilized since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refueling planes — KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes — traveled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed.
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First Post
20-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Fearing Iranian strikes, US quietly pulls nearly 40 military aircraft from Qatar airbase: Report
Satellite photos reveal that the Al Udeid Air Base—America's largest military installation in West Asia—was emptied of jets between June 5 and 19, in what appears to be a 'pre-emptive move' read more S embassy in Qatar announced that access to the base would be limited.(Source: AFP) The US has quietly relocated about 40 military aircraft from its major airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks as fears grow of Iran's potential retaliatory strikes, news agency AFP reported, citing satellite photos. AFP analysed photos from Planet Labs PBC, which reveal that the Al Udeid Air Base—America's largest military installation in West Asia—was emptied of jets between June 5 and 19. The pre-emptive move is aimed at protecting American assets in the region as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump still hasn't greenlighted the plans to join the conflict. On the other hand, Tehran has warned it will target US military sites in West Asia if it decides to enter the fray. Satellite photos revealed that the airbase visibly hosted about 40 aircraft as of June 5, including C-130 Hercules transport planes and advanced reconnaissance jets. However, by June 19, only three planes could be spotted. This comes as the US embassy in Qatar earlier announced it was restricting access to the base 'out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities.' It also urged its personnel in the region to 'exercise increased vigilance.' US amassing military equipment According to an AFP analysis of public flight tracking data, between June 15 and 18, at least 27 US military refuelling aircraft, including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes, were deployed from the United States to Europe. As of late Wednesday, 25 of these aircraft remained in Europe, with only two returning to the US. These refuelling planes, critical for long-range air missions, indicate the US might be preparing for a wider conflict, potentially with its involvement. US forces on high alert US forces in West Asia are on high alert, with military families offered the option to evacuate bases voluntarily due to potential Iranian retaliation. Approximately 40,000 US troops are currently stationed in the region, an increase from the typical 30,000, with a temporary peak of 43,000 in October amid earlier tensions between Israel and Iran and ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. The Pentagon has declined to provide details on further troop movements but stressed that US forces are ready to adapt quickly based on developments with Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump to decide on strikes in 'two weeks' The White House stated that Donald Trump will decide within whether to support Israel's campaign against Iran's military and nuclear programmes, noting that Trump still believes diplomacy could address American and Israeli concerns regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, told reporters, quoting Trump.
