NAS PENSACOLA, FL – Today on May 6, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron -The Blue Angels – will honor frontline COVID-19 responders and essential workers with formation flights over Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and New Orleans. The Navy announced the squadron will perform a “show of national solidarity” above the Dallas/Fort Worth skies beginning at 11:00 AM (CDT).

Previous Flyovers

The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds – the U.S. military’s flight demonstration squadrons – previously flew together over New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Baltimore and Atlanta. The flyovers were conducted as a sign of support for health care workers and first responders fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The Thunderbirds have returned to Nellis AFB in Nevada, and there are no plans for any additional joint flyover missions, according to the U.S. Navy.

The Blue Angels have a planned flyover mission on Wednesday over New Orleans, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area to salute frontline workers.

America Strong

“America Strong is about showing how much we, as a nation, count on our frontline responders and that we have their back just like they have had ours,” said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, U.S. Navy Blue Angels commanding officer and flight leader for the flyover.

“They have always been there for us all, holding our nation together, even more so duringvthis pandemic. It is really impactful to see this nation come together and stand in solidarity during these unprecedented times.”

A formation of 6 F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets will conduct these flyovers as a collaborative salute to healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday Flyovers

During the flyover, the Blue Angels will take off north of McKinney and travel southwest, winding their way through the metroplex. The 35-minute flyover will cross directly over a number of cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Keller, Grapevine, Richardson, Frisco and Plano.

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

Flight Path

Flyovers in Dallas/Fort Worth will start at 11:00 AM (CDT) and will last about 35 minutes:

Flyovers in Houston and surrounding communities will start at 12:30 PM (CDT) and will last 30 minutes:

Flyovers in New Orleans will start at 1:45 PM (CDT) and will last about 20 minutes:

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.

Social Media

The teams welcome and encourage viewers to tag the team at @BlueAngels the flyover on social media with the hashtag #AmericaStrong and #Inthistogether.

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(Head photo: U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron)