The Thunderbirds are grounded. They cancelled today's performance at the Chicago Air and Water show - you know, the one that shows how much Chicago likes airplanes.
A missile rail broke off an Air Force F-16 fighter and plunged into Lake Michigan as the Thunderbirds precision flying team performed Saturday at the Chicago Air & Water Show.
http://www.suntimes.com/includes/frontpage_phototable/images/airshow21.jpg
Update (8:40 a.m.): The Air Force Thunderbirds unit will not perform Sunday at the Air and Water Show after part of a missile rail fell into Lake Michigan during Saturday's maneuvers.
Two aircraft touched while in a diamond formation, said Lt. Col. Mike Chandler. No one was hurt and the fallen rail was not recovered. Aircraft damage is still being assessed.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0508210227aug21,1,4214715.story?coll=chi-news-hed
The Friends of Meigs used to charter a boat to watch the show from the water. As I recall they don't let boats moor under the air show box. This is one reason why.
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