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COVID-19

2 Fairchild tankers to fly over Spokane, CdA on Friday in honor of front line COVID-19 workers

Skyfest spectators watch a KC-135 Stratotanker take off at Fairchild Air Force Base, Sunday, July 30, 2017. Two Fairchild tankers will fly over Spokane and Coeur d’Alene on Friday in honor of front line COVID-19 workers. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

Two KC-135 Stratotankers from Fairchild Air Force Base will fly over cities from Yakima to Coeur d’Alene on Friday afternoon in honor of those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so thankful for the health care workers, first responders, military members and other essential personnel on the front line of the COVID-19 threat,” said Col. Derek Salmi, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, in a statement. “This flyover is one small thing that we can do to say thank you for all of your hard work and remind everyone that we, as a community, are all in this together.”

The crews on the aircraft will include personnel from both the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and Washington Air National Guard’s 141st Air Refueling Wing.

The flyover will start at noon with a destination of Moses Lake Samaritan Hospital and an arrival time of 12:22 p.m., according to a news release. The flights will continue from there to Yakima, Tri-Cities, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

The tankers are expected to fly over Shriners Hospital for Children, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital and Sacred Heart Medical Center at about 1:30 p.m., according to a news release. The planes will fly over Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene at about 1:38 p.m., then circle back to Providence Holy Family Hospital and Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane at 1:45 p.m.

Fairchild said residents will be able to see the planes from home and should avoid going to landmarks or hospitals and gathering in large groups. Residents along the flight path can expect an increase of jet noise.