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Blasts shatter windows during Air & Water Show practice
Thunderbird pilots spent the day showing off their skills in the sky -- all while sending shockwaves on the ground where two sonic booms rocked the neighborhood.
CHICAGO - The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds put high speeds and glass-shattering force on full display during Friday's rehearsals for the Chicago Air & Water Show.
Chicago residents are still stunned after two passes during practice rattled more than just nerves in Lake View East.
Several windows in at least three high-rise buildings were blown out while the highly skilled pilots were aiming to 'wow' crowds along the lakefront.
What we know:
U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilots spent Friday showing off their skills in the sky all while sending shockwaves on the ground, where two loud blasts—believed by witnesses to be sonic booms—rocked the neighborhood.
During practice, residents first reported hearing a blast at approximately 10:20 a.m. that was so powerful it shattered several windows in the lobby of 3180 N. Lake Shore Drive.
A 311 caller notified police.
Then just before 2:40 p.m., another blast was heard—and felt—including by our FOX 32 crew that was on the ground at the time.
"Out of just nowhere—BOOM," described Matt Lauer, who lives in Lake View East. "I'm still tweaking from it. That was absolutely scary."
Windows in the lobbies of three high-rise buildings were blown out:
- 3180 N. Lake Shore Dr.
- 3600 N. Lake Shore Dr.
- 3950 N. Lake Shore Dr.
The affected windows were made up of large panes of glass. No residential units were impacted.
"We just came back, and my husband and son were there, they say even the tables were shaking. It was so loud the feeling was that the building is moving," said Miriam Altman, who lives in one of the buildings that was affected.
The windows are now boarded up until replacement glass arrives.
What they're saying:
Friends, Alec Harris and Matt Lauer, were on the phone when the first blast occurred.
"I was like, ‘Alec, did you hear that?' And he was like, ’What was that?' I thought my window was going to break because all it was, was just like a brrr," explained Lauer.
Later, they ventured to the lakefront to watch Air & Water show practice runs, where they ended up with a front-row seat to the action during the second boom.
"I've always listened to the Blue Angels, and obviously these guys, and the Red Arrows, and the experience of this was something I've never felt before," Harris said.
"I'm still genuinely shaken up by it," Lauer added.
Dig deeper:
According to the U.S. Air Force website, "sonic boom is an impulsive noise similar to thunder" that is "caused by an object moving faster than sound."
Patricia Ward is the head scientist at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and explained what it means to break the sound barrier.
"It's about exceeding the speed of sound," Ward said. "And the speed sound, at sea level anyway, is about 767, a little under 770 miles per hour."
Here's how it happens:
"There's air pressure in front of the moving aircraft and air pressure behind it. When it exceeds that speed of sound, it's going so fast that those two bodies of air, if you will, or areas of air will collide. And so that happens really quickly. And then you get this very loud explosive sound," Ward said.
In this case, when several F-16 Fighting Falcons do that in unison—they nail a smashing performance.
"When a sheet of glass is really large, it can be more brittle. And so even a small crack, if you will, it's that vibration and when that vibration creates some damage, it then can shatter," Ward said.
The FAA said no unusual activity was reported.
Late Friday night, a spokesperson with the U.S. Air Force shared this statement with FOX 32 Chicago:
"On Aug. 15, the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, conducted their standard practice demonstration in advance of the airshow. A thorough review of the practice determined the Thunderbird jets did not go supersonic at any point during the demonstration."
What's next:
The 2025 Chicago Air & Water Show will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17.
The Source: Information for this story was reported by FOX 32's Kasey Chronis.