'Thanks from Above' flyover to honor essential workers

The National Warplane Museum will hold a flyover along the Southern Tier and parts of the Finger Lakes region to honor essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The flyover is scheduled for June 6 at 10 a.m. The event is titled, "Thanks from Above."

Specific locations for the flyover and a map of their route can be found below. An interactive map with estimated times of the flyover can be found here.

Participating in the flight is the NWM’s very own Douglas C-47, affectionately named “Whiskey 7”, accompanied by one other aircraft, a P-51 Mustang named "Mad Max.” The Douglas C-47 is a WWII veteran and was the lead aircraft in the second wave of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, over Ste. Mere Eglise, Normandy — 76 years later to the day it will fly this mission. They will depart the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, NY, and fly over several medical facilities, numerous towns, villages and cities, including UHS and Lourdes Hospitals. This flyover will take several hours, totaling about 455 miles.

The Warplane Museum says it's fortunate to have essential workers during the pandemic. Residents in the designated areas will be able to see the flyover from the safety of their homes and should maintain all social distancing guidelines during this event. If residents do plan to travel to a designated spot for viewing, they are asked that they adhere to all social distancing guidelines and also wear a face covering. The museum also asks all individuals viewing the planes when they flyover to maintain social distancing rules.

John Kucko will be flying aboard Whiskey 7 and will provide live Facebook broadcasts from his Facebook Page John Kucko Digital on Saturday updating the progress of the flight.