Hospital flyover Friday will salute Charlotte coronavirus first responders

The Bandit Flight Team, a group of veteran pilots who fly in formation, will fly over several Charlotte-area hospitals Friday evening to salute coronavirus first responders.

The team will fly on this schedule Friday, according to its Facebook page: 6:11 p.m.: Atrium Health Pineville; 6:15: Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center; 6:17: Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Atrium Health Mercy; 6:23: Novant Health Mint Hill; 6:27: Atrium Health University City; 6:31: Novant Health Huntersville; and 6:35: Lake Norman Regional.

The flyover was initially scheduled for Thursday but moved to Friday because of the weather.

The Raleigh-based team flies homebuilt acrobatic planes and vintage military trainers, according to the team’s website. It performs at events including N.C. State football games, NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and other tracks, Durham Bulls baseball games and the Raleigh Christmas Parade.

Team members are highly-trained pilots who combine their love of flying with an appreciation for vintage military aircraft. Flying their aircraft is an effort to preserve the military “war bird” heritage and salute returning war veterans.