San Angelo to Experience Air Force Fly-Over Thursday

SAN ANGELO, TX — The 47 Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio presents a special fly-over of San Angelo May 21 to salute medical workers and first responders who are fighting against the coronavirus here.

The fly-over happens Thursday between 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

San Angelo LIVE! will be in Del Rio at Laughlin AFB documenting the preparation and launch of the 3-ship dis-similar aircraft formation of the T-38C Talon, the T-1 Jayhawk, and the T-6 Texan II that are scheduled to participate in the event.

The 47 FTW has not released the ground track of the flyover yet, but we will publish it when it is available.

Laughlin AFB's mission is Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, or SUPT. Every year, hundreds of college graduate pilot candidates complete a 52-week pilot training course before being assigned a major weapon system. All student pilots begin the course in the turboprop T-6 Texan II. Students selected for transport planes like the C-17 or tanker aircraft like the KC-135 transition to the T-1A Jayhawk, a Beechcraft business jet, about half way into the program. Students destined to fly fighter and bomber aircraft complete their training in the supersonic T-38C.

Goodfellow AFB trains intelligence specialists and officers as well as firefighters under the same command as Laughlin's, the Air Education and Training Command. Many graduates of the courses at Goodfellow AFB have follow-on assignments with Laughlin AFB pilot graduates where they support the U.S. Air Force global reach mission.

“We are honored and excited the flyover will salute the hard working medical professionals and essential workers in San Angelo,” said Col. Andres Nazario, 17th Training Wing, commander at Goodfellow AFB. “These men and woman have been on the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic and we want to appreciate their tireless efforts and say thank you.”