RENO SPARKS FLYOVER PLANNED FOR MAY 15
STIHL National Championship Air Races and Lightning Formation Airshows Partner for Tribute to First Responders, Medical Staff, Essential Workers and Military

RENO, Nev. (May 13, 2020) – Reno and Sparks residents should turn their eyes skyward on Friday, May 15 for the Reno Hearts for Heroes flight, an aerial tribute to those who have given back to their community. The flyover is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m., weather permitting, and will feature aerial smoke hearts over local hospitals around 1:30 p.m.

The Reno Air Racing Association, the governing body of the STIHL National Championship Air Races, has partnered with Lightning Formation Airshows for the flyover. The group is a professional airshow team comprised of eight pilots and planes flying in close formation. Many members of the team are also racers in the Sport Class and are set to compete this September.

“With so many events, get-togethers and summer plans being disrupted, we wanted to find a fun way for people to participate in a safe way while saying thank you to first responders, medical staff, essential workers and military members,” said Fred Telling, CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association. “One of our core missions is to honor military and with May being National Military Appreciation Month, we thought this was the perfect time.”

The flight will take approximately one hour and will feature aerial smoke making the group highly visible as they fly over select locations. The team will create hearts over Northern Nevada Medical Center around 1:30 p.m., and Downtown Reno to honor both Renown Health and St. Mary’s Medical Center around 1:45 p.m. The aircraft will be low enough to be easily photographed, while remaining compliant with FAA regulations.

Lightning Formation Airshows has performed similar flyovers across the west coast in recent weeks and is set to perform at this year’s STIHL National Championship Air Races.

“We are grateful for the ability to honor essential workers with aviation, especially our military, and health care personnel who are on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19,” said Bob Mills, Lightning Formation Airshows Flight Lead, Reno Air Races Sport Class President, and Navy veteran. Mills, a Reno resident, has family and friends serving as physicians, nurses, and staff at all three local hospitals.

“We also share our compassion with those in our community with loved ones who are sick or have been tragically lost to this disease. These ‘Hearts for Heroes’ are for you, too,” Mills added.

The 2020 STIHL National Championship Air Races, set for Sept. 16–20, 2020, are just 20 minutes north of downtown Reno. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AirRace.org or call (775) 972-6663.

###

Contact: info@lightningairshows.com
Website: www.lightningairshows.com

Lightning Formation Airshows Offers Aerial Tribute to First Responders, Medical Providers, and Essential Workers in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties

Watsonville, California, May 7, 2020 - Area residents (including those in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey and King City) should turn their eyes skyward on the afternoon of Saturday, May 9 to witness an aerial tribute to those who have given to their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lightning Formation Airshows, with support from Watsonville Airport and in conjunction with the California International Airshow Salinas, will fly over the region and draw commemorative hearts over selected sites along the route. This is meant to show thanks and recognize hospital staff, firefighters, law enforcement, and paramedics, as well as farm workers and all other essential employees (including those supporting grocery stores, educational institutions, restaurants, and utility services).

“We also share our compassion with those in our community with loved ones who are sick or have been tragically lost to this disease,” says Mercedes Eulitt, Lightning Formation Airshows wingman and Watsonville resident.

Lightning Formation Airshows is a professional airshow team comprised of eight pilots and planes flying in close formation. They will feature aerial smoke to make them highly visible as they overfly select locations and circle over the hospitals. The aircraft will be low enough to be easily photographed, while remaining compliant with FAA regulations. Four of the pilots are area residents based at the Watsonville and King City airports.

Rayvon Williams, Director of Watsonville Municipal Airport, stated, "Watsonville Airport is pleased to partner with Lightning Formation Airshows and support these extremely talented aviators. It's just another example of the City's commitment to our community and an opportunity for our aviation community to say 'Thanks!' to our local essential workers."

The sequence illustrated on the accompanying map provides estimated times for the smoke hearts over the hospitals, including Dominican Hospital, Mee Memorial Hospital, Natividad Medical Center, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and Watsonville Community Hospital.

Karen Curtis, California International Airshow Board of Directors President added, "While the airshow was disappointed to have to cancel our 40th Anniversary show on June 5, 6 and 7 due to COVID-19, we are proud to support Lightning Formation Airshows as they fly over local hospitals and surrounding areas on Saturday."

"Lightning Formation Airshows and the California International Airshow wish to say thank you to the dedicated and fearless workers across our counties, state and nation," Curtis continued. "These individuals have become our front line of defense in this battle against COVID-19 through no choice of their own. Without these brave souls, all of our lives would be impacted so much worse. So, on Saturday, join us to look to the skies as we salute these brave workers and say 'thank you' in their honor."

Lightning Formation Airshows joins others in the aviation community across the country who have honored essential workers through aerial demonstration. Together we can show support for those impacted, renew our energy, and look forward to post-COVID-19 life.

###

Contact: info@lightningairshows.com
Website: www.lightningairshows.com