Fly overs to salute health care workers, virus victims

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Fly overs are planned at at Acadian Medical Center and Opelousas General Hospital on Friday to salute health care workers and honor the victims of COVID-19.
David Allen, St. Landry Parish airport manger, said, “This is an opportunity for local pilots and aviation workers to honor our family and friends who have lost a loved one to coronavirus, We also want to honor our doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, hospital workers, janitors, health care workers and all essential workers that have kept supply chains and other essential services running.”
The fly overs will feature a World War II era T-6 Texan and three other types of airplanes. The flight will begin with the aircraft taking off from St. Landry Parish Airport and will arrive at Opelousas General at noon then proceed to Acadian Medical Center, arriving at about 12:30 p.m.
Health care professionals can enjoy the fly over from the hospital parking lots and should still maintain all social distancing guidelines during the fly over. Residents of St. Landry Parish can watch the fly over from their homes and should avoid landmarks or gather in crowds to view the fly over.
Ryan Elliot, lead pilot of the T-6 Texan, said, “We’re honored to be a part of St. Landry Salutes and we just want to show our hometown health care workers that the Louisiana Aviation community is behind them.”
The flight path will begin north of Opelousas at the intersection of U.S. 167 and La. 182. Pilots will fly over La. 182 south to Opelousas General Hospital, then head west along U.S. 190 toward Eunice and conclude at Acadian Medical Center.