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419th to fly over Utah July 4 weekend

  • Published
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

As a way to thank Utah communities for their support, reservists in the 419th Fighter Wing will provide F-16 flyovers to 16 cities this Fourth of July weekend.

 

The jets will fly over the following cities the morning of July 4: Centerville, Murray, West Point, Provo, Riverdale, Clearfield, North Ogden, Huntsville, Liberty, Vernal, Morgan, Layton, West Jordan, Kaysville, Park City, and Henefer.

 

“Independence Day flyovers are one of the most moving and patriotic experiences for local communities,” said Steve Hiatt, mayor of Kaysville. Hiatt said the holiday flyovers have become a crowd favorite over the past three decades.

 

Flying the jets will be Lt. Col. Chris “Hajji” Robinson, Lt. Col. Nathan “Bear” Litz, Maj. Seth “Bean” Jordan, and Maj. Chris “Jaws” Stepanek, who have a combined 7,500 flying hours and have deployed 12 times in combat.

 

Because July Fourth celebrations span across the state, the pilots will split the mission to provide a two-ship flyover in each city. Flyovers begin at 9 a.m. and end around noon, but more than 20 maintainers have volunteered to work early that morning to prep the jets for takeoff.

 

“It’s important to thank the people who support our Airmen,” said Col. David Smith, 419th FW commander. “These flyovers are a great way to celebrate Independence Day and to show our appreciation to the communities surrounding Hill Air Force Base.”

 

Pilots from the 419th FW and active duty 388th FW will also perform a flyover at the Stadium of Fire in Provo July 2. The Independence Day celebration boasts an audience of 50,000 people and is broadcast to U.S. troops and their families around the world via the American Forces Network.