Fwd: FW: (EXTERNAL) Utah Strong Flyover
Tracy Chorn
Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 5:44 AM
Subject: Fwd: FW: (EXTERNAL) Utah Strong Flyover
To: Tracy Chorn <tch...@gmail.com>
From: Chris Palmer <chr...@utcourts.gov>
Date: Wed, Apr 29, 2020 at 5:47 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: (EXTERNAL) Utah Strong Flyover
To:
Community Leaders and Friends,
I hope this note finds you and your families well during this trying and unprecedented time. We at Hill, and in the 388th Fighter Wing, know how lucky we are to have Utah’s unparalleled support and involvement in our mission. That support is evidenced every day, especially now.
This virus has affected each of us in many different ways. While our wing has been able to continue to fly and remain combat ready, many of our friends in the local community have had to close their businesses, lay off employees, or have lost their own employment. Families within the wing have also been affected by this. And, there are the front line workers, who go to work every day in spite of the risks – not just treating patients, but stocking grocery shelves, reporting the news, or doing one of the thousands of other unseen jobs that have kept us safe and functioning.
As a symbol of our appreciation, we will be conducting a “Salute to Utah” flyover from Ogden to St. George with four of our jets, led by our F-35A Lightning II Demonstration team. Our hope is that this is a visible reminder that we all have wingmen. We’re in this together, and we stand by you.
We worked with the state to develop the flyover plan, and several graphics of the route are attached. There are also more details in the press release below. Please feel free to forward this note to anyone who could use the info.
Again, thank you and please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with any questions or concerns.
Colonel Steve Behmer
STEVEN G. BEHMER, Col, USAF
Commander
388th Fighter Wing, Hill AFB
DSN: 777-3881 / 801-777-3881
388th Fighter Wing to Salute Utah with State Flyover
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – The Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration and 388th Fighter Wing will be performing a formation flyover throughout the state of Utah, Thursday,
30 April, beginning at 1 p.m., in salute to everyone on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19, as well as those staying at home to “flatten the curve” of the virus.
The formation will be led by the F-35A Demo Team pilot, Capt. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, with three combat-ready F-35 pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing.
“This flyover is our way of saluting those that are keeping our home-front safe during these unique times,” said Capt. Wolfe. “To provide just a small showcase of our appreciation to everyone that is doing their part to combat the virus, and to say ‘thank you
for your sacrifice and service’, to let everyone who has been affected by this pandemic know that we stand by you.”
The flyover is schedule to takeoff from Hill Air Force Base, and will proceed south through Salt Lake City down to the southern border of the state near St. George, before looping up to Park City and Logan, before proceeding south through Ogden back to the
base. A flight map will be released later this week prior to the flyover. The flight path was coordinated with Utah State officials as well as members of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The flyover is intended to provide a salute to all the healthcare professionals, frontline responders, and essential personnel working to keep everyone safe and healthy during these
unique times. The flyover also provides essential training to the pilots, and demonstrates the readiness of the Air Force.
“We are an operational wing, and we’re taking every precaution to ensure our personnel safety while maintaining our combat-readiness,” said Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander. “This flyover is just one way for us to enhance our training
while providing a small service to our community.”
Utah residents should observe the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should refrain from traveling to see the flyover. Citizens should also maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings.
The 388th Fighter Wing reached full Warfighting Capability this past January, with the receipt of their 78th F-35, and continues to maintain combat-readiness during this time through segmented operations. The 388th Fighter Wing still has a squadron deployed overseas in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
The F-35, America’s newest fifth-generation fighter, provides game-changing stealth, interoperability and lethality. It can penetrate dangerous airspace that other aircraft cannot and destroy high-threat targets both in the air and on the ground.
For more information on the flyover or the F-35 Demonstration Team, contact Capt. Kip Sumner at 801-867-1636 or via e-mail at f35d...@gmail.com
