Tankers based at MacDill to do flyby of hospitals to salute healthcare workers during pandemic
Two KC-135s refueling tankers will fly a route around Tampa Bay over 12 hospitals to salute front-line heroes battling the coronavirus pandemic on Friday.
The flight will be piloted by a combination of active duty and reserve teams from the 6th Air Refueling Wing and the 927th Air Refueling Wing stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.
“This community goes out of their way to honor our sacrifices,” said Col Stephen Snelson, 6 Air Refueling Wing commander. “This is an honor for us to be able to display our gratitude to these warriors who protect our base and this community from this horrible virus.”
“We have around 20 reserve citizen airmen currently deployed in the fight against COVID-19,” said Col. Douglas Stouffer, 927th Air Refueling Wing commander. “This flight is a way to honor all health care workers and first responders and remind them we are all in this together.”
The KC-135s will launch from MacDill around 10:30 a.m. and head south towards the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. After a short delay, the formation will head back north along the bay, turn south and follow Interstate 75 to Sarasota, and then turn north through St. Petersburg before returning to the base over downtown.
The tankers are scheduled to fly over Tampa General Davis Island, Brandon Regional, Riverview Regional, South Bay Hospital, Sarasota Memorial, St Anthony (St. Pete), St. Pete General Women’s Hospital, Pines Bay VA, Largo Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center, Tampa Geneal ( North Tampa),and USF.
