(Photo and information courtesy: Reno Air Racing Association)
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 Saint 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. For more information or to buy tickets, visit AirRace.org or call (775) 972-6663.
