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Luke Air Force Base salute coronavirus frontline workers with flyover

The flyover consisted of a formation of 15 aircraft and the flight path took the flyover through most Valley cities.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Editor's note: You can watch the Luke Air Force Base flyover on 12News.com or 12 News' Facebook or YouTube pages. 

Luke Air Force Base, along with the Arizona Air National Guard, honored frontline coronavirus workers with a flyover planned on May 1. 

Luke AFB said its 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona Air National Guard 161st Refueling Wing participated in the community flyover.

The flyover consisted of a formation of 15 aircraft including seven F-35A Lightning IIs and seven F-16 Fighting Falcons that flew out of Luke Air Force Base and one KC-135 from the 161st ARW. 

The flyover began around 3:10 p.m. and lasted about 50 minutes.

The flight path took them through Buckeye, Luke Air Force Base, Litchfield Park, Surprise, Waddell, Goodyear, Tolleson, Phoenix Metro, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Deer Valley, Glendale, Peoria, Sun City West and El Mirage.

Watch the flyover from the cockpit

"We are honored to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the healthcare workers, first responders, military members and other essential personnel who are working on the front lines to combat the coronavirus," said Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury, 56th Fighter Wing commander. 

"We want everyone to be able to look up from their homes and enjoy the display of American airpower, resolve and pride while keeping frontline responders in their hearts."

Luke AFB encouraged people to watch the flyover from the safety of their own homes and not travel to landmarks or hospitals. 

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