Flypasts

[Deleted]

aerobaticteams.net/en/news/i301/Thunderbirds-and-Blue-Angels-planned-flyovers-at-many-locations.html

Might the Red Arrows do something similar???

[keefyboy]

The Reds don't need PDA to do flypasts but there's much talk on other forums about the pros and cons of any form of flypast happening as it raises the risk of crowd gathering in the current lockdown. I still can't get my head round the mass gathering at the Kemble layby to watch BA Jumbos landing!! - that has certainly prompted a lot of discussion on other forums.

Having said that, the Reds have certainly been active this week. I gather a Spitfire is doing a flypast for Captain Tom and it would be a nice touch if the Reds could do a follow up in a big V - I dont know if their smoke machines can take dye other than red/blue but it would be nice if they could do a big V smoking the rainbow colours. I would not expect any formal announcement from the Reds given the need for lockdown and the need for secrecy. This is just wishful thinking on my part and it probably won't happen.

[Jeff]

I would think an announcement of a general area as opposed to specifics could cover that, So long as flight routes NOTAMs arnt published, be just like the old days, a surprise 😊

[keefyboy]

With full credit to Scramble Magazine though I find it hard to believe that it costs $60M per hour:

Scramble Magazine
36 mins ·
The Pentagon is planning a multi city tour of the US flight demonstration teams Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds to "champion national unity" amid the coronavirus pandemic, as Stars and Stripes learned from senior US officials.

Both teams will fly over some cities together and others separately in the coming weeks "to thank first responders, essential personnel, and military service members as we collectively battle the spread of COVID-19." The mission is named by President Donald Trump as Operation America Strong. He said that the mission - fly-overs only - was "the idea of our great military men and women," and is a tribute to health-care workers as they are the warriors in the flight against the virus.

The fly overs of the Demonstration Teams could anger those frustrated with the administration's struggles to find enough protective equipment for medical personnel. Flying the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds cost at least USD 60 million per hour, but is is reported that due to the cancellation of many air shows, the money is already in the Pentagon budget and pilots must keep their currency in flights. Other planes also could be involved, suggesting bombers flying over their home states as one possibility.

It is now planned that both teams will fly jointly over Washington, Baltimore, New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Austin. The list could be changed in due time. The Blue Angels will fly their F/A-18C/D Hornets separately over at least thirteen other cities, including Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville and Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Other Blue Angels destinations include Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, and Kingsville and Corpus Christi.

The Thunderbirds are planning their F-16 formation flights over San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. They already overflew Las Vegas and Colorado.

On 20 April 2020 both teams were reportedly jointly seen practicing over Pensacola.

[keefyboy]

I'm sure Graham will have something to say about the quote "The mission is named by President Donald Trump as Operation America Strong" ;-)