Air Force tankers and ‘Doc’ will perform flyovers in Wichita area. Here’s their path

Three tankers from McConnell Air Force Base and a World War II bomber will perform flyovers in the Wichita area on Wednesday.

Operation America Strong flyovers will include two KC-135 Stratotankers and a KC-46 Pegasus from McConnell, followed by “Doc,” the B-29 Superfortress. The flyovers are intended to be a salute to first responders, health care workers, military members and essential personnel combating the coronavirus pandemic.

“The flight also symbolizes over 70 years of aviation in the air capital of the world, featuring the Air Force’s newest tanker and the World War II heavy bomber,” a McConnell spokesperson said in a news release.

The flight-path will bring the aircraft over Wichita, Derby, Newton, Andover, Garden Plain, Haysville and El Dorado, including 11 local hospitals. The flights will start at around 10 a.m. and last about an hour.

“Team McConnell takes great pride in being part of this community,” said Col. Richard Tanner, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, in a statement. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show our appreciation and solidarity to the thousands of heroes who are working tirelessly to battle COVID-19.”

The flights include the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Wing and the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Wing. All three are based at McConnell. The flyovers serve as training for pilots and are conducted at no additional cost to taxpayers, according to the Air Force.

“We are humbled and honored to join our nation’s warfighters at McConnell Air Force Base and be a part of Operation American Strong to salute those who have been battling the virus on the front lines,” said Josh Wells, executive director and general manager of Doc’s Friends, in a statement, “as well as to recognize those essential workers who have been keeping the grocery store shelves stocked, making deliveries and keeping our communities going during the pandemic.”

A flight-path map shows the planes reaching Newton at around 10:20 a.m., Park City at around 10:25 a.m. and flying south generally along I-135 before turning west and reaching the Clearwater area at around 10:30 a.m. The planes will reach the Andale area at around 10:35 a.m., then head east into Wichita before turning south and reaching the area of Derby and Mulvane at around 10:45 a.m. The planes will head north and reach Andover at around 10:50 a.m and will be above El Dorado at around 10:55 a.m.

The times are subject to change.

Military officials advised that social distancing should be practiced at all times while watching the flyovers. Officials also encouraged people to take pictures of the flyover and tag McConnell @22ARW on Facebook and Instagram.

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM.