U.S. Air Force To Honor Austin First Responders With Flyover

AUSTIN, TX — Here's something to look forward to this week, especially if you're among those on the frontlines of the battle against new coronavirus: The famed U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have scheduled a flyover in honor of first responders in the Austin skies on Wednesday.

The flyover originally was scheduled on Tuesday before a forecast calling for rain on that day pushed the celestial tribute by one day. According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday calls for partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 88 degress (so keep your fingers crossed).

On their website, the Thunderbirds describe a formation of six F-16C/D Fighting Falcons streaking across the sky above Austin and neighboring San Antonio in honor of those on the coronavirus frontlines. The flying tribute by both the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy's Blue Angels already has taken place at other major U.S. cities

The flyover tribute is scheduled at around 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, so residents should cast their collective gaze skyward at that time of the day. The local spectacle is slated to last a full 25 minutes, according to the U.S. Air Force. The tribute to Austin first responders will be preceded by one in San Antonio lasting 30 minutes that's scheduled at 1:20 p.m., according to Air Force officials.

"Residents in these areas will be able to see the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should maintain all social distancing guidelines during this event," U.S. Air Force officials wrote in their advisory. "They should also refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups to view the flyover."

Courtesy of U.S. Air Force.

Lt. Col. John Caldwell, the Thunderbirds' commander and leader, explained the reason for the unique tribute in the sky: “We are honored to extend our gratitude to Texans in San Antonio and Austin who have been working hard to keep their communities safe. “We want Texans to look up to see the display of American resolve and know that the American spirit will prevail beyond this difficult time in our nation.”

Residents along the flight path can expect a few moments of jet noise as the aircraft pass overhead, Air Force officials said, along with the sight of 6 high-performance aircraft flying in precise formation.

"Residents in these areas will be able to see the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine, and should maintain all social distancing guidelines during this event," military officials wrote. "They should also refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups to view the flyover. A detailed flight route will be released on the day prior to the flyover."

A detailed flight route is slated to be released the day prior to the flyover, Air Force officials said. The formation flights date and times are subject to change due to weather and operational requirements.

The squadron team welcomes viewers to tag the flyover on social media with the hashtag#AmericaStrong and #Thunderbirds. For photos and video for Operation America Strong, visit, https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/americastrong to get a sneak peek at what's ahead in Austin. For more information on the Thunderbirds, visit www.afthunderbirds.com.