Update2: Birds/Blues tour 4/28

UPDATE: The AF Thunderbirds and Navy/Marine Corps Blue Angels demonstration teams are set to fly over multiple cities as a show of solidarity for health care workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump announced April 22 that the flyovers - part of Operation America Strong - are meant to pay tribute to the medical communities "confronting COVID." The series of flyovers will take place over the next few weeks. They are not intended to formal airshows, according to the Washington Post. Senior defense officials said the flyovers are meant to be a non-partisan way to say "thank you" to those “who are pitching in." The Post, citing a DoD memo, said the teams will jointly fly over Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; New York City; Newark and Trenton, NJ; Philadelphia; Atlanta; and Dallas, Houston and Austin in Texas. The Thunderbirds will separately fly over San Antonio; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle. The Blue Angels will fly by Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville in Florida, and Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Additional destinations include Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, and Kingsville and Corpus Christi in Texas, according to the Post. "The flyovers are intended to be viewed from home, work and via media coverage while maintaining social distancing, and will not take place as traditional air shows,” said AF spokesperson Ann Stefanek. (Source: Military.com 04/23/20) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/23/thunderbirds-blue-angels-team-dramatic-salute-coronavirus-responders.html. EARLIER STORY: There is speculation that the Air Force’s Thunderbirds and Navy/Marine Corps’ Blue Angels may be planning numerous nation-wide flyovers – from East to West to Gulf coasts – in a salute to healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers helping in the battle against the coronavirus. On April 19, there was a list of cities - including NYC and DC - posted to social media alleging it was an upcoming schedule of flyovers to be conducted between April 23 and May 2. The military demonstration teams have been seen in the skies of south Escambia County, Fla., and around NAS Pensacola, over the past several days. NASP is the airshow-season home of the Blue Angels. It sounds far-fetched because it would take great planning and resources that would require travel at a time when it’s minimized across the services … and not to mention, there’s been no comment from either team, NASP or the services. But, allegedly, in the afternoon of April 20, local aviation enthusiasts heard Thunderbird 1 check in with the air traffic control tower at NAS Pensacola with eight other aircraft in his formation. (Source: Air Show Stuff 04/20/20) https://airshowstuff.com/v4/2020/thunderbirds-join-blue-angels-in-pensacola-amid-rumors-that-flyovers-are-planned-around-the-country/. UPDATE2: The Air Force’s Thunderbirds and Navy/Marine Corps' Blue Angels will kick off a nationwide tour honoring first responders and essential workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic on April 28 in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The “America Strong” tour will start around noon (ET) in New York City, followed by flyovers in Newark, Trenton, and Philadelphia. The teams will then move on to other cities across the country, with demonstrations occurring every one to two days, according to a Pentagon release. (Source: AF Magazine 04/26/20)