Thunderbirds Wow Las Vegas With Tribute Flight to Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Crisis.

theaviationist.com ^ | 4/12/2020 | Tom Demerly

[rktman]

The U.S. Air Force flight demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, performed an inspiring flyover of the greater Las Vegas area on Saturday, April 11, 2020 in honor of healthcare workers and first responders working during the international COVID-19 crisis.

The flight, which included all six of the Thunderbird F-16s in wedge formation along with at least two camera aircraft accompanying the aircraft, took place at 2:30 PM local Las Vegas time and was watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators who were separated all over Las Vegas by social distancing guidelines.

Local media, aviation photographers around Las Vegas, and the Thunderbirds produced some sensational visuals of the event. Interestingly, the team carried out the flyover in 5 instead of 6 jets because, according to local spotters, one of the F-16s experienced a birdstrike shortly after taking off from Nellis Air Force Base.

One fascinating photo featured on the local Las Vegas Review Journal social media pages showed the Thunderbird formation flying over the famous Luxor pyramid-shaped hotel with five “Janet Airlines” Boeing 737s parked at McCarran International Airport. The aircraft, perhaps the “worst kept secret in the world”, fly personnel to several classified test facilities around the western U.S.

[DeplorableGirl]

I want my lawyer.

[Redwood71]

“They are stationed at Nellis AFB”

You are correct. It’s all part of the Nellis complex. Somewhere between Tonopah Test Range to Groom Lake in the north to just a little north of Beatty to Indian Springs Field in the south. Furthest north the National Wildlife Management area to the south at Desert Rock. But it’s a big secret what they do there.

rwood

[Fledermaus]

My little brother was stationed and retired from there. Ive got lots of pilot signed posters. Got a tour of the planes once by a Captain my brother set up for a birthday gift.