Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Flyover To Honor Health Workers In MD

BALTIMORE, MD — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will take to the Maryland skies Saturday in a show of national unity and support for health care workers. It is one of a series of flyovers the squadrons are making around the country.

It will also coincide with Health Care Heroes Day, which Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared would be recognized Saturday, May 2, in tribute to those serving on the front lines to combat the new coronavirus.

The Baltimore flyover is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, while those in the greater D.C. area should look for the air show starting around 11:45 a.m.

It should last 15 to 20 minutes in each region, according to Mike Ricci, a spokesman for the governor, who said residents may notice jet noises and 12 high-performance aircraft flying in precise formation.

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds released their flight plans Friday.

• The show will start near Fort McHenry around 11:30 a.m.
• The aircraft will jet up to the Maryland State Fairgrounds, then hit the Hampden area around 11:40 while headed south to the D.C. area.
• The joint air show will pass the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport around 11:45 a.m.

According to the Blue Angels, times are approximate and may change, and people should remain at home to watch the show, practicing social distancing.

We’re heading your way on Saturday!Check out the overhead times and route on the graphic below. Social distancing should be practiced at all times. Stay home and stay safe!#AmericaStrong#InThisTogether#HealthCareHeroes pic.twitter.com/y3U0bHGkhC
— Blue Angels (@BlueAngels) May 1, 2020

Saturday's flyover is part of the "America Strong" tour, which the president announced at a recent news conference.

"What we are doing is paying tribute to our front-line health care workers confronting COVID, and it's really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak," President Donald Trump said at an April 22 news briefing. "Operation America Strong was the idea of our great military men and women — the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels crews who wanted to show support to the American medical workers who, just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight."

The America Strong tour began with joint flyovers Tuesday at noon over Newark, New Jersey, and New York City. Then, at 1:45 p.m., the teams jetted off to Trenton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Honoring our heroes, including you @FDNY! #AmericaStrong https://t.co/p7CYtxAlOv
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) April 28, 2020

We salute the Americans on the front lines in New York City, Newark, and Philadelphia as they battle #COVID. It was an honor to fly for you yesterday#InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/koSpum0pTS
— Thunderbirds (@AFThunderbirds) April 29, 2020

The two demonstration teams will fly over areas of the country hardest hit by the coronavirus, with both joint and individual team flights occurring every one or two days until mid-May. Each flyover is expected to last 30 to 40 minutes.

To reach the maximum number of Americans, some portions of America Strong will feature the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds alone, while others will include both teams flying in their signature delta formations simultaneously.

Joint flyovers are expected for Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City, Newark; Trenton; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Dallas; Houston; and Austin.

Then the teams will separate.

The Blue Angels will fly over Miami, Tallahassee and Jacksonville in Florida; Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Detroit; Chicago; Indianapolis; Nashville; New Orleans; and Kingsville and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds will fly over San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Phoenix; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle.

"We're excited to fly over cities across America as our way of saying thanks to the health care workers, first responders and all the people who selflessly run into the breach working to keep America strong," said Gen. Dave Goldfein, chief of staff of the Air Force.

"This is also our way of showing that we are all in this together and that America's spirit will prevail," said Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of Naval Operations.

The Air Force and Navy have partnered with local governments to help ensure spectators follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines.

Both teams are also implementing various measures to maintain personnel and community safety. This includes air-to-air refueling during transit and no scheduled stops en route to reduce potential exposure to the virus.

The Blue Angels, based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, and the Thunderbirds, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, typically fly at more than 30 air shows each year to demonstrate American military aviation. This year, both teams have had to cancel many of their demonstrations due to the coronavirus crisis.

While Operation America Strong is intended to support health care workers, first responders, military and essential employees and raise the morale of Americans in the fight against the new coronavirus, it also fulfills critical training requirements for both teams, according to the military. Pilots must execute a minimum number of flight hours to maintain proficiency. These flyovers will incur no additional cost to taxpayers.

See Also:

• Blue Angels Fly Over NJ, NYC, Philly To Salute Emergency Workers
• Health Care Heroes Day Is May 2 In Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan
• Blue Angels To Return For Fleet Week 2020 In Baltimore

Florida Patch editor D'Ann Lawrence White contributed to this report.