Air & Water Show 2018 performances prepared and waited for weather to clear

The 2018 Milwaukee Air & Water Show took place along the city’s lakefront under poor weather conditions on July 21 and 22, limiting the public performances for each day.

Unlike the thick fog in 2014 that grounded the entire show, this year was still able to feature some of the scheduled attractions. Families and enthusiasts gathered along Bradford Beach and Lincoln Memorial Drive in the hopes of watching the US Air Force Thunderbirds, despite the cloudy conditions that rendered visibility unfavorable for many hours.

The two-day show is one of the largest free public events in the city. The cancelled performances came as a disappointment, but many made the most of their time along the lakefront.

The Milwaukee Independent flew with the U.S. Army Parachute Team’s performance in 2017. Known as the Golden Knights, the demonstration squad offered another invitation for 2018. The Army has two demonstration teams that travel the United States 240 days a year for airshow performances. The Black Team attended the Milwaukee Air and Water Show again this year, easily identified by the color of their jumpsuits. The other team is gold.

The Golden Knights serve as official ambassadors of the Army, having performed more than 20,900 shows in all 50 states and 48 countries. Their free-fall demonstrations are often the only opportunity the public has to connect with the U.S. Army and meet the soldiers who have the duty to protect the country.

The Golden Knights cannot jump from their Fokker C-31A Troopship at an altitude less than 2,000 feet. For most of July 22, the visibility ceiling did not reach above 800 feet until 4:00 p.m. when the remainder of the show was cancelled by organizers.

Last year the Golden Knights gave the Milwaukee public a full performance, with jumps from 12,500 feet. The team managed a limited display in their single jump on July 21, being able to deploy or lift off for their four other scheduled jumps over the city due to wind and rain.

The Milwaukee Independent recorded that afternoon jump in photos, and 360° video with the help of team members. That exclusive and unique look is featured in companion articles. This Photo Essay offers a compressed look at four jump attempt over two days, include two that were scheduled to combine with the U.S. Navy Parachute Team “The Leap Frogs.”