Air parade above metro area to raise funds for Colorado COVID-19 relief
Dozens of local aviators will take flight Thursday above the metro Denver area to raise money for a COVID-19 relief fund and to support essential workers.
More than 30 planes will take off, from Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, starting at about 11:30 a.m., and the air parade flight path will wind its way above the metro area from Longmont to Castle Rock, according to a news release.
Flyover locations include major area hospitals, Columbine High School, the Castle Rock Star, Denver Civic Center, Stapleton, Buckley Air Force Base, Southlands Mall, Lowry, Thornton Town Center and Longmont and Niwot high schools.
The Flyover Fundraising Parade and Aerial Salute, in collaboration with Gov. Jared Polis and the Mile High United Way, will raise money and awareness for the Help Colorado Now program. Lockheed Martin has donated $500,000 to the event. Pilots, mechanics and ground crews are donating their time, talents, equipment, resources and fuel and maintenance costs to the fund-raising cause.
“Lockheed Martin and our more than 10,000 employees who call Colorado home are committed to doing what’s right and helping Coloradans in need during these unprecedented times,” said Rick Ambrose, executive VP of Lockheed Martin Space, in the release. “Across the state, we’re manufacturing personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, contributing to school districts for distance learning, and now we’re proud to initiate this match challenge. We invite Coloradans to join us in supporting Help Colorado Now.”
The first group of planes takes off from Broomfield at 11:30 a.m., heading south along the Front Range to the Castle Rock star before flying back north and northeast to complete the aerial parade by 1 p.m., according to the release.
Approximate flyover times and locations are:
• 11:35 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. — Stanley Lake Reservoir
• 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. —
Lutheran Medical Center
• 11:35 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. — Denver Federal Center, West Sixth Avenue and Kipling Street
• 11:35 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. — Columbine High School
• 11:40 a.m. to noon — Castle Rock Star
• 11:40 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. — Parker Football Stadium
• 11:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. — Denver Health Medical Center
• 11:53 a.m. to 12:12 p.m. — Anschutz Medical Campus
• 11:56 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. — Southlands Mall
• 12:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. — Longmont High School
• 12:10 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. — CU Boulder
• 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Rocky Mountain Metro Airport
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Colorado Air National Guard recently completed separate salute flyovers above the metro area, the Thunderbirds last month after the Air Force Academy graduation, and the Air National Guard, in F-16 jets, last week.
Organizers encourage people to watch Thursday’s flight parade from their homes and to follow social distancing public health guidelines.
Scott McMillan, a Metropolitan State University graduate and a United Airlines manager, assembled the participating air teams from the Colorado Air Show community. Aircraft will vary in type, style and speed, from small jets to propeller planes. All civilian aircraft, some are former military planes known as “Warbirds.” Viewers will be able to see three or four formation groups crossing the sky at about 150 mph, organizers said.
Donations will support the Colorado COVID Relief Fund, part of Help Colorado Now, and can be made online. Through the fund, eligible communitybased organizations across the state may receive a general operating grant of up to $25,000. The fund’s purpose is to allocate contributions based on prevention, impact and recovery needs of community-based organizations in Colorado, organizers said.