In The co*ckpit With One Of Chicago Air And Water Show's Newest Aerobatic Pilots (2024)

LAKE MICHIGAN —The skies over Chicago will be roaring this weekend as the Navy Blue Angels make their return to the Air and Water Show.

The show will display military aircraft, from the Angels to supersonic U.S Air Force B-1B Lancer — which hasn’t seen the lakefront in years.

“We are thrilled to again welcome the roar of the jets and millions of spectators to the lakefront for this annual show, which is part of the quintessential Chicago summer experience,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.

READ MORE: Chicago Air And Water Show Returns This Weekend. Here’s Everything You Need To Know

But past the military might, the show is renowned for daredevil displays of aerobatic pilots. And that side of the performances is larger this year.

New participants in the annual air show include the Trojan Phlyers, “a group of aviation professionals dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American Aviation Company’s T28 Trojan,” according to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Also taking to the sky will be aerobatic pilot RJ Gritter.

Gritter has been flying since he was a boy, taking after his pilot parents. The Maryland native has seen Chicago countless times while passing through to nearby air shows, but he never got a chance to experience the city beyond seeing the skyline.

“Oh, it’s incredible. It’s beautiful,” Gritter said.

Unfortunately, though, Gritter won’t be able to glance much at the glimmering buildings when he’s performing. Instead, he will focus on maneuvering his 150-horsepower Decathlon plane through loops, barrel rolls, stall turns and more.

The stall turn, also known as a hammerhead, is when the pilot climbs vertically until the plane loses all speed and it begins to fall and dive back to earth.

Gritter’s lightweight plane clocks in at just around 2,000 pounds, reaches no more than 200 mph and is lined with fabric tricked out in explosive red, white and blue.

To enter the small craft, you duck low under the wing and scramble into the small co*ckpit — only after you suit up with a parachute and then clip into a slew of harnesses.

These stunts will throw those in the plane through sensations of being from below five to up to six times the force of gravity. People can experience dizziness, tunnel vision, nausea and more as blood flow in the body is disrupted.

It left Block Club Chicago photojournalist Colin Boyle shouting in fear and excitement — and also rather lightheaded as the plane stalled.

To Gritter, these unnatural forces are just part of the daily routine as the stunt pilot makes his first stop to Chicago.

And when Gritter’s not impressing the lakefront crowd of an estimated 1 million eager onlookers, he plans on getting pizza, going to Navy Pier and checking out the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Seasoned aerobatic pilot Bill Stein is a familiar name at the air show, as he’s performed here for roughly 20 years. He recalled his first time flying in Chicago back in 2003, and seeing the throngs of spectators.

“That was the very first time I got nerves, ever, flying,” he said. “It was shocking to me. There’s very few air shows that are like this in the country.”

The nerves have since subsided, and Stein’s vibrant prop plane will rip through the skies for another year of maniac moves.

“I don’t really know what’s changed, but Lake Michigan is still beautiful, and Chicago is still a fantastic town,” Stein said. “And the music here is great and the pizza’s great, the food’s great. The attendance on the beach is just amazing.

“This is a cool setting for an air show. Over the lake, it couldn’t be more scenic.”

The free event runs 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and stretches from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach serving as the show center. Rehearsals are Friday.

See more photos from Thursday’s media preview:

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