The Royal Air Force Red Arrows perform their twisting “tornado” move. | Shutterstock
Photographers braved the thunderstorms for spectacular shots of the Blue Angels and Red Arrows
Despite a weather-delayed start, thousands flocked to the lakefront over the weekend for Chicago Air and Water Show. The two-day event provided civilian and military pilots a chance to showcase daring tricks as well as an opportunity for photographers—both professional and amateur—to test their skill and capture the perfect shot.
Spectators who braved the thunderstorms were treated to headliners including the always exciting U.S. Navy Blue Angels—which typically alternate each year with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds—as well as the Chicago debut of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows. The nine-plane demonstration team from the U.K. turned the overcast sky red, white, and blue with colored smoke and dazzled onlookers with their spiralizing, tornado-like maneuvers.
Although the uncooperative weather shortened the show, photographers still snapped some breathtaking images of the Team Oracle aerobatic planes, V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, the F-22 demonstration team, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team jumping with special guest and former Chicago Blackhawk Chris Chelios.
Here are some of the best Instagram shots of the 2019 Chicago Air and Water Show.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jim Hesby (@jimhesby) on Aug 18, 2019 at 10:14pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Team Oracle (@teamoracle) on Aug 18, 2019 at 11:07am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jim Hesby (@jimhesby) on Aug 18, 2019 at 10:36pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete (@pja.photo) on Aug 19, 2019 at 5:08am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jerry Lai (@jerrytlai) on Aug 18, 2019 at 4:14pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jerry Lai (@jerrytlai) on Aug 19, 2019 at 6:05am PDT
View this post on InstagramTornado, courtesy of the Red Arrows at the Chicago Air & Water Show this weekend.
A post shared by Barry Butler Chicago (@barrybutler9) on Aug 18, 2019 at 7:10pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Mike B (@mbraeuner773) on Aug 17, 2019 at 2:51pm PDT
View this post on Instagram#chicago #airandwatershow #rafredarrows
A post shared by Justin Mehring (@jmtungsten) on Aug 18, 2019 at 7:28pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Pete (@pja.photo) on Aug 17, 2019 at 6:30am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kelly.marlis (@kelly.marlis) on Aug 19, 2019 at 8:07am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Matt Weitz | Chicago Based (@mattbweitz) on Aug 19, 2019 at 6:54am PDT
View this post on InstagramIt’s the weekend. Indulge. Go order the tall stack. @usnavy @usnavyblueangels
A post shared by Jerry Lai (@jerrytlai) on Aug 17, 2019 at 6:19am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by F-16 Viper Demonstration Team (@viperdemoteam) on Aug 18, 2019 at 2:27pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Robert Gauthier (@rg_from_texas) on Aug 18, 2019 at 5:05am PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Joe F. (@skysoldierjd) on Aug 18, 2019 at 4:27pm PDT
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Red Arrows (@rafredarrows) on Aug 17, 2019 at 8:06am PDT
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