The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will fly over San Antonio and Austin today, May 13 as part of Operation America Strong.
Airplanes from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy are taking to the skies across America in attempts to thank American healthcare workers and encourage a message of national unity.
The Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels are the most visible planes, however, other air force units, including B-1 bombers and Navy Super Hornets, are flying over cities to show their appreciation of those who are fighting the coronavirus. Other units are overflying smaller cities and metropolitan areas.
Lt. Col. John Caldwell, Thunderbirds commander, and leader explains, “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.”
The flyover for San Antonio will begin at about 1:20 p.m. and last 30 minutes. The flyover in Austin will begin at 2:30 p.m. and last about 25 minutes.
Here is the flight path for today:
According to a statement that explains the flyovers, “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. 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,”
Although the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels want to thank and celebrate all of the healthcare workers who are selflessly fighting the coronavirus in an attempt to keep America healthy and safe, they still encourage people to follow social distance guidelines as well as continue to contribute to flattening the curve.
