Colorado Air National Guard jets will fly over Southwest Colorado Friday to boost morale and honor people working on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon flyover will run 11 a.m. to about 12:45 p.m. and fly over health care facilities in Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Montrose, Delta and other communities along the Western Slope.
A similar flyover occurred May 6, mostly along the Front Range, but because of fuel limitations did not reach across Colorado.
“We know there are many more cities and towns throughout the state where people are making significant sacrifices to battle the pandemic, so we’ve gotten approval to do one more flyover mission to salute as many more heroes as possible,” 140th Wing Commander U.S. Air Force Col. Micah Fesler said in a prepared statement.
The flyover is also part of the U.S. Air Force’s Operation American Resolve, which aims to boost morale during the pandemic. Fesler said flyovers over every Colorado town aren’t possible, but the sentiment extends to all COVID-19 responders.
“Whether we reach your community or not, please know that we salute all the men and women who have risked their own health to serve others … you are our heroes,” he said.
Approximate locations and times, give or take 15 minutes, where the aircraft will be visible are:
11:03 a.m. - Platte Valley Medical Center, Brighton.11:11 a.m. – Middle Park Medical Center, Granby.11:14 a.m. – Kremmling Memorial Hospital, Kremmling.11:24 a.m. – Grand River Health, Rifle.11:31 a.m. – Colorado Canyons Hospital & Medical Center Community Hospital, Fruita.11:37 a.m. – Saint Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center Heliport, Grand Junction11:42 a.m. – Delta County Memorial Hospital, Delta.11:45 a.m. – Montrose Memorial Hospital Heliport, Montrose.11:55 a.m. – Southwest Memorial Hospital, Cortez.Noon – Animas Surgical Hospital, Mercy Regional Medical Center, Durango.12:06 p.m. – Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Pagosa Springs.12:14 p.m. – SLV Health Regional Medical Center, Alamosa.12:24 p.m. – Mount San Rafael Hospital, Trinidad.12:33 p.m. – Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center Helipad, La Junta.12:48 p.m. – Parker Adventist Hospital, Parker.
