Members of the local aviation community conducted a flyover above the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital today (May 5) to honour front-line workers.
At 3:45 p.m., in tight formation, four airplanes soared smoothly over the hospital, looping around town twice before splitting off in a breakoff formation. Community members and hospital workers gathered outside to see the show.
A flyover is a ceremonial or commemorative flight conducted by a group of aircrafts often tied to special events, anniversaries, ceremonies or memorials. Following the news of the Snowbirds cross-country tour aimed at boosting morale as Canadians continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, pilots at the Collingwood Regional Airport wanted to do something similar to show their support front-line workers and first responders in the community.
Eight pilots and copilots in four different airplanes practiced over the weekend, planning the flyover for Monday, May 4. Due to weather concerns, the formation flyover was rescheduled to Tuesday.
"The amount of resources and community involvement that goes into a trying time like this is huge," said Nate Couchman, one of the pilots involved in Tuesday's flight. "We wanted to do something to show our respect and support for all of the people who can't stay home and are keeping us safe."
The flight path was designed with the hope that the formation would be visible from most areas in Collingwood.
"It felt good to participate in something to at least try to lift the community's spirits and thank all of these people," said Couchman.
