Country U.S.A. Attendance ~1,000,000 (2012) Genre Air show | Established 2004 Location Milwaukee | |
The Milwaukee Air & Water Show is a free airshow held annually along the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is billed as "the largest two-day event in Wisconsin," with an attendance of almost 1,000,000 people in 2012.
A predecessor to the airshow was first held at Festa Italiana in 2002 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TCF Bank joined as the title sponsor and the Milwaukee Air & Water Show staged its first event at Veterans Park in 2004. In 2005 the Navy's Blue Angels returned to Milwaukee after six years and in 2006, the Air Force's Thunderbirds performed. The show featured many of the aviation industry's top acrobatic performers, including the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachuting team and the Red Baron Pizza stunt flying team.
After a successful return of the air show and the USAF Thunderbirds in 2009, The air and water show continues under the leadership of President Paul A. Rogers, and Air Show Director Rudy Malnati, the most respected air show professional in the industry today. Mr. Malnati was also involved in the first air show in Milwaukee at General Mitchell Field in the 1970s, when the event was known as the "Berndt Buick Milwaukee Air Show." Lee Berndt, owner of the Buick dealership in Milwaukee, started the event, and also organized the first ICAS (International Council of Air shows) meeting in his garage in Milwaukee. ICAS is now the leading support organization for the air show industry.
The USN Blue Angels returned in 2010. In 2011, the Air Force's Thunderbirds returned. The 2012 Air & Water Show, held on August 12th and 13th, featured - among others - the F22 Raptor, and the MV-22 Osprey "Tilt-Rotor" Demo Team.
November 13, 2014: Milwaukee Air & Water Show forms board of directors