By Joshua Huff, sports editor
BIRMINGHAM — The 117th Air Refueling Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard will take to the sky this Tuesday for a flyover of hospitals in a show of support for first responders battling the coronavirus pandemic.
The show of support is part of the nationwide Air Force Salutes Flyover under Operation American Resolve. The unit will flyover hospitals in Birmingham and Huntsville on Tuesday afternoon with a KC-135R Stratotanker.
“The purpose of this flyover is to show appreciation to the thousands of American heroes who are at the frontline battling COVID-19 and providing the support that America needs,” 117th Air Refueling Wing said. “It is part of a normal training mission and will demonstrate the continued readiness of the 117 ARW during the pandemic. The flyover is also intended to lift morals in Huntsville and Birmingham due to the sever health and economic impacts from COVID-19.”
The flight locations and time of the flyover, which could be delayed or postponed to weather, air traffic or maintenance, is scheduled to begin at 1:07 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
The following is the tentative schedule for the flyover:
- St. Vincent’s East – 1:07
- St. Vincent – 1:10
- UAB – 1:10
- Princeton – 1:10
- Shelby – 1:16
- Grandview – 1:23
- BrookWood – 1:23
- UAB Highland – 1:24
The 117th Air Refueling asks that all residents who plan on watching the flyover maintain all social distancing guidelines during the event.
“Civilians should also refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups to view the flyover,” the unit added.