Blue Angels to fly over region in tribute to health care workers

The Navy’s Blue Angels will soon fly over Norfolk and Virginia Beach as part of a nationwide tour to show support for health care workers.

The Pensacola-based flight demonstration team will fly its blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets over the cities, according to The Washington Post, which obtained a memo outlining Pentagon plans.

Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced what officials are calling Operation America Strong.

As part of the mission, the Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds will perform shows jointly over a host of American cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Atlanta. Both squadrons will also do separate shows, including the

Blue Angels’ here.

Other planes could also be involved, the Post reported.

It is unclear exactly when the Hampton Roads flyovers will happen, but Trump said the shows are to be “in the coming weeks.”

The shows were the idea of “our great military men and women,” Trump said at a press conference Wednesday.

“The Thunderbirds and the

Blue Angels crews wanted to show support to the American medical workers who, just like military members in time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight,” he said.

“We’re paying tribute to our front line health care workers confronting COVID and its really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak. This is a tribute to them, to our warriors. ‘Cause they’re equal warriors to those incredible pilots and all the fighters we have for the more traditional fights.”

A senior military official told The Post that the cost of the flights, which can run at least $60,000 per hour, will come from money already in the Pentagon’s budget.