The City of Chicago and Shell present the 43rd Annual Chicago Air & Water Show, set for Saturday, August 18 & Sunday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Performances can be seen along Chicago's lakefront, from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point of the event's performances.

The Chicago Air & Water Show is the oldest and largest free admission air and water exhibition of its kind in the United States, featuring civilian and United States military aircraft and watercraft.

The event kicks off each day at 9 a.m. with the Shell Extreme Watershow, featuring the Great Lakes Pro Freestyle Tour, the Bottoms-Up Boat Jersey Skiff Shoot-Out, and the Munson Ski and Inboard Water Sports "Ski Show Team."

The U.S. Thunderbirds returns as the Chicago Air & Water Show's headlining act, performing precision aerial maneuvers that demonstrate the capabilities of Air Force high performance aircraft. The squadron exhibits the professional qualities that the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.

Civilian air show performers include the Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Lima Lima Flight Team, Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle, Red Baron Stearman Squadron, and announcer Herb Hunter, who will return as the "Voice of the Chicago Air Water Show." (Please note performers subject to change).

Military aircraft to be featured include the F-15 Eagle Demo, F-14 Tomcat, F-18 Hornet, F-117 Stealth Fighter, B1B Bomber, B2 Bomber, C-141 Startlifter, KC-135, AH-64 Apache Helicopters, and the A-10 Thunderbolt (please note; aircraft subject to change).

The event will be broadcast live on WBBM-AM/News Radio 78 so everyone along the lakefront will not miss the announcer's description of every aerobatic maneuver.

WLS-TV/Channel 7 will air "Chicago's Top Guns: A Wet and Wild Weekend," featuring highlights of the 2001 Chicago Air and Water Show, co hosted by Jerry Taft & Tracy Butler. The show will air on Sunday, August 19 at 10:35 p.m. - 11:05 p.m. (Re-broadcast on Tuesday, August 21 at 12:35 a.m.).

Shell returns as the Presenting Sponsor of the Chicago Air & Water Show. It is Shell's major contribution which allows this event to be presented free of charge.

Other proud sponsors include American Airlines, Ameritech/SBC/Cingular Wireless, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, ChicagoSearch.com, Communications Direct, EXTRA Newspaper, Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc., Gavin Fine Art & Design, Gem Productions, Gillette for Women, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Jewel/Osco, Key Magazine, LaGrou Distribution System, M*M Graphics, Oracle, Red Baron, Skil Power Tools, Sparking Spring Water, Starbucks Coffee, WBBM-AM News Radio 780, and WLS-TV/Channel 7.

The Mayor's Office of Special Events encourages taking public transportation to all lakefront festivals to enhance the experience by making travel easier. Call (312) 836-7000/ TTY (312) 836-4949 for information on RTA, CTA, PACE and Metra, 7 days a week including holidays, or go to the CTA website. For up-to-the-minute traffic information and travel alerts, to the Department of Transportation's web site at www.cityofchicago.org/intheloop.

For more information about the 2001 Chicago Air & Water Show contact the Mayor's Office of Special Events Hotline at (312)744-3370, TTY (312)744-2964, or visit www.cityofchicago.org/SpecialEvents