Sussex flyover takes place Saturday, May 23
Vintage aircraft will be flying sorties over Sussex County Saturday, May 23, to pay tribute to healthcare workers and first responders. In addition, the flyover includes Sussex County high schools in honor of the Class of 2020.
The flyover's route includes every fire and police department and medical and nursing home facility in the county, from west to east, said Linda Price, community outreach director for Delaware Aviation Museum, coordinator of the project.
The six planes will take off from Delaware Coastal Airport near Georgetown at 11 a.m. and 11:10 a.m.
Planes scheduled to take part include a B-25 Mitchell; P-51 Mustang; C-45 Expeditor; L-19 Bird Dog; DHC-1 Chipmunk; and DHC-82 Tiger Moth.
Price said the larger planes – B-25, P-51 and C-45 – can fly the route in about an hour. The three smaller planes will leave 10 minutes after the larger planes, cover western Sussex and return to the airport to refuel. They will then fly over eastern Sussex.
The following is the list of some flyover locations in order:
Greenwood-Bridgeville area including Greenwood Fire Co.; Woodbridge High School; Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Co.
Seaford area including Seaford Volunteer Fire Department; Seaford High School; Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.
Laurel-Delmar area including Laurel Fire Department; Delmar Volunteer Fire Department; Laurel High School; Delmar High School.
Southeastern Sussex area including Beebe Healthcare, Millville; Indian River High School; Selbyville Volunteer Fire Co.; Fenwick Lighthouse.
Rehoboth-Lewes-Milton area including Beebe Healthcare, Route 24, Rehoboth Beach; Cape Henlopen High School; Lewes Fire Department; Beebe Healthcare, Lewes; Fort Miles; Beebe Healthcare clinic, Milton; Milton Fire Department.
Milford-Ellendale area including Bayhealth, Milford; Milford High School; Milford Memorial Hospital; Ellendale Volunteer Fire Department.
Georgetown area including Georgetown Volunteer Fire Co.; Beebe Healthcare, Georgetown; Sussex Technical High School; and Sussex Central High School.
Pilots taking part in the flyover are volunteering their services and are only being reimbursed for fuel costs. The goal of $10,000 was reached when Sussex County Council voted May 19 to cover up to $5,000 of the cost.
In case of inclement weather, the flyover will be postponed to Sunday, May 24, with the same schedule.
