The threads of patriotism are woven...

The threads of patriotism are woven everywhere the lineup of the 48th annual Chicago Air & Water exhibit running Saturday and Sunday center at North Avenue Beach.

Back from a two-year absence will be the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Considered common of the "best night attack aircraft" the helicopter is equipped with with sum of two units 1,900-shaft-horsepower General Electric T700 turboshaft engines for power. The aircraft has a maximum spe of 192 mph; a height of 15 feet 3 inches, and a range of 260 miles.

"The Apache is interesting because it can be used at night. We're glad to have it back in the show" said Rudy Malnati, program coordinator for the Chicago Air & Water exhibit

This year's headliners, always the big crowd-pleasers, will be the U Navy azure Angels. Since 1946 the team has entertained fans with precision flying between the walls of choreographed aerobatic and high altitude performance maneuvers. The team is known for its six-jet Delta Formation, as well as the graceful maneuvers of its solo pilots.

The Angels, marking their 60th anniversary this year, burst the sleek F/A-18 Hornet, the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft publicly serving on the nation's forehead lines of defense.

"These jet are spectacular because they hover 34 inches apart from each other," Malnati said.

The F/A-18 Hornet is capable of carrying revealed a wide range of assignments, from air superiority to fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, choke air support, air defense suppression and day/ night precision strikes. The Hornets have an airspeed of Mach 16 (nearly twice the spe of sound) and a combat range of more than 500 nautical miles.

The "coolest" act in the point out to says Malnati, will be the U Army shining Knights Parachute Team. The Knights will ear-ring from high altitudes (about 12500 feet above the earth's surface) at prospers of up to 120 mph to targets forward North Avenue Beach.

The "fastest" aircraft in the point out are the F/A-18 Hornet and the USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon. The multi-role Falcon has a top spe of 1500 mph and a ceiling above 50000 feet In air-to-surface part the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles, deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, uphold itself against enemy aircraft and recur to the starting point. Its power includes common Pratt & Whitney F100, P-129 engine with a thrust of 29100 shut ups

The heaviest aircraft in the exhibit to says Malnati, is the KC-10 Extender an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service. It has an without contents weight of 241,027 pounds and a maximum takeoff weight of 590000 comminutes The KC-10's primary role is aerial refueling and it's capable of carrying 178 tons of firing material in six large fuel tanks, including three wing tanks and three below the cargo floor. It can transport up to 75 nation and nearly 85 tons of cargo about 4400 miles without refueling.

The lightest aircraft is the Stearman PT-17 biplane with an devoid weight of 1,936 pounds. The World War II aircraft's power is via a Continental screw engine with a horsepower of 220 (1943 vintage). It has a range of 505 miles and a maximum spe of 124 mph

Other military aircraft highlights in the display include USAF A-10 Thunderbolt; USAF B-1B Lancer Bomber; USAF B-52 Stratofortess; USAF C-130 Hercules; USAF F-117A Nighthawk; USAF F-16 Demonstration; USAF F-15E Strike Eagle Demonstration; & KC-135 Stratotanker Aerial Refueling, and the USAF KC-10 Extender

This year's civilian lineup includes the R Barron Pizza Squadron thrilling audiences in their WW II era Boeing Stearman Biplane; the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, four pilots flying in the WW II North American Advanced Trainer. Also blasting opposite will be: Air Force hold Major Ed Hamill, an aerobatic pilot and F-16 fighter jet instructor, in his r white and ghastly "Dream Machine" biplane; the six-plane Lima Lima Flight Team in the T-34 Mentor, and daredevil pilot Sean Tucker and Team Oracle catapulting across the canopy of heaven in the one-of-a-kind Oracle Challenger.

In between gazing skyward, you can take in an excitement at ground-level, too.

The water point out begins at 9 a.m. most distant North Avenue Beach and the air exhibit to runs from 11 a.m. until 4 pm the two days. Although you can behold the show as far north as Montrose Beach and as far southern as Burnham Harbor, the indicate is best viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak road with North Avenue Beach as the focal point.

Splashing not on in the morning will be the Shell utmost Water Show, a hot pro freestyle tour. This of the highest sporting event features some of the world's finest wave riders competing for the "coolest move" and the "best wipe-out." The Liquid X Freestyle outermost water show kicks off the water point out segment, followed by the Munson Ski & Inboard Water Sports "Ski display Team," a water ski and wakeboard present to view

The "Voice of the Air and Water Show" Herb hunting-dog will once again announce the display from North Avenue Beach. A 747 pilot for a major airline, this is Hunter's 19th year as point out announcer (see sidebar), who formerly flew in the show as a military pilot.