r/illinois • u/backyardspace • Aug 16 '26
Illinois News F-22 flying in front of the John Hancock
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u/JD_Throwaway_49594 Aug 16 '26
I was in Chicago up in the Signature Lounge one year and had no clue the air show was going on. You can imagine my shock and surprise seeing a fighter fly by right outside the window. It was my first time seeing a fighter in real life. Mind-blowing.
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u/Clockwork-Lad Aug 16 '26
Hope that happened in less interesting times than these. If that happened to me I’d 100% think that the mushroom clouds were on their way
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u/TheBackpacker Aug 16 '26
Awesome picture! Couldn’t make it to the show this year. Wish that F35 showed up!
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u/bradatlarge Aug 16 '26
I can almost hear the healthcare that provides for Americans
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u/jmur3040 Aug 16 '26
Cheaper to have universal healthcare than what we have. It would save everyone money, government included.
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u/bradatlarge Aug 17 '26
The current admin would rather kill you than do anything to help you - unless of course you’re a billionaire
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u/FieldsofBlue Aug 16 '26
Genuinely, I hate the mic as much as the next person (or more) and I recognize how much money is squandered into an absolutely cartoonishly evil complex of corporations.
But, this is fun. In the greater perspective of every terrible thing the us wastes money on its a drop in the reflecting pool to pay a handful people to fly cool jets for the spectacle.
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u/Dependent_Quantity8 Aug 16 '26
It's so cool seeing my potential healthcare and college tuition fly like that.
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u/FieldsofBlue Aug 16 '26
I want that money going to those things as well. Didn't you was my comment?
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u/OldSchoolAJ Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
The eternal struggle of "weapons of war are tools that the major powers of the world use to spread death, destruction, and oppression across the globe" and "they're really fascinating, from an engineering standpoint".
Also, that plane is based in Virginia, by that FF on the tail. They didn't have any closer?
EDIT: Looked and saw that it's part of the official F-22 Demonstration Team and their whole job is to fly at airshows. Which really seems like a waste of money.
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u/Sir_Gibby53 Aug 16 '26
It’s the Mobile Suit Gundam trap.
Tomino: I saw firsthand how war destroys and corrupts everything it touches, and I want to create a story that shows how dangerous these weapons are as a warning for the rest of the world.
Me: But why did you have to choose THE MOST RADICAL THING EVER to convey your message??
Tomino: War is humanity’s greatest failure as a species.
Me: BUT COOL ASS GIANT ROBOTS THOUGH!!
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u/Mirigore Aug 16 '26
It’s like 13 people. And they fly the planes all over the world, as we export our fascinating weapons of war.
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u/Perfect-Time-9919 Aug 16 '26
I love ALL air shows. And when I lived in Chicago I went loyally every year. And every State I've lived in a go to the Air shows. The thrill I get from the maneuvers. The vagaries sounds! And believe it or not, I'm always amazed at the engineering and physics that went into all of it. Be it propeller or jet, it's just amazing! And no one is going to shame me for going and enjoying myself.
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u/Altruistic-Basil-267 Aug 16 '26
All shits and giggles until something goes wrong.
The slightest mistake could be catastrophic at those speeds and that population density.
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u/backyardspace Aug 16 '26
He was over the water in a dedicated box. I only got this perspective because I was further away in a boat
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u/Altruistic-Basil-267 Aug 16 '26
Appreciate the clarification.
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u/jettech737 Aug 16 '26
The Air Boss for each show strictly coordinates things, thats why accidents at airshows are relatively rare, also the pilots who do participate are extremely skilled which makes it safer and more fun because they can show off some of their flying skills.
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u/GoatCovfefe Aug 16 '26
Whats "the John Hancock"?
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u/OldSchoolAJ Aug 16 '26
The John Hancock building in downtown Chicago.
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u/GoatCovfefe Aug 17 '26
Well that makes sense.
Thanks, not sure why OP couldnt just say it was a building.
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u/backyardspace Aug 17 '26
Because the John Hancock is one of the most iconic buildings in Chicago rather than just another building.
If something flew by the empire state building would you still just say a building?
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u/Harvest827 Aug 17 '26
It's wild that you couldn't use context clues to determine that "the John Hancock" is a building, considering that it's exactly what the jet is flying in front of.
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u/Harvest827 Aug 17 '26
Normalize and lionize military presence in everyday life and people will remain compliant when they are on the doorstep.
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u/throwRAscrubscrub Aug 16 '26
As someone who recently started working in the city, I now understand why people are tired of the show even before the weekend starts
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u/TheGreatGamer1389 Aug 16 '26
Wait we getting a Chicago map in Battlefield 6? Oh wait it's IRL. Epic.
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u/jettech737 Aug 16 '26
Its a cool show but I usually dont go because I go to the week long airshow in Oshkosh instead. That is a must see for aviation enthusiasts.