Fighter jets to salute healthcare, frontline workers with Merced flyover

California Air National Guard fighter jets are scheduled to fly in formation over Merced on Wednesday, to salute healthcare workers and others on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus.

The Four F-15C Eagle Tactical Fighter Jets with the 144th Fighter Wing out of Fresno, are scheduled to take off from Fresno at 10 a.m. heading north and passing over medical facilities in the San Joaquin Valley.

According to a map of the flight path, the jets are scheduled to fly over the Madera area at about 10:11 a.m. and the Merced area at about 10:16 a.m.. The fighter jets will continue north to the Sacramento area, before flying west to the Bay Area and south to the Los Angeles area and returning to the Fresno base.

According to a California Air National Guard news release, the fighter jets are part of a nationwide salute by the Air Force.

The jets are also scheduled to perform a low pass over several locations including the California State Capitol, Office of Emergency Services as well as Cal Fire Headquarters and California Highway Patrol locations.

Merced residents are encouraged to maintain social distancing guidelines during the event, and viewers should be able to see the flyover from their homes.

Residents should refrain from traveling to hospitals, landmarks and gathering in large groups to view the event, according to the release.

The California Air National Guard encourages viewers to tag them on social media in videos and photos of the formation flyover by using hashtags #144FW, #CaliforniaNationalGuard and #AmericaStrong.