Here's what the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels overflight in New York looked like
People in New York City and surrounding areas were treated on Tuesday to a low-level overflight by the U.S. Air Force and Navy's demonstration teams, the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. At noon, the fighter jets appeared in formation over the city in the first of several overflights of U.S. cities planned to show support for first responders and essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Later Tuesday, the two teams are performing an overflight of Philadelphia.
The jets — F-16s in the red, white and blue of the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels F-18s in blue and gold — appeared from the north at noon over the Bronx, then flew down the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey, where TPG Executive Editorial Director Scott Mayerowitz filmed them from the Upper West Side of Manhattan as they flew southbound. Audience and Community Producer Wallace Cotton and Senior Associate Andrea Flynn caught them in videos and still images over other parts of the city.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_iITlAHLSu/
The two teams then veered over New Jersey and reappered over Manhattan before slicing at low level — the city's emergency notification Twitter feed had said on Tuesday they would be as low as 1,500 feet — over Brooklyn, where I captured them over my roof, so low that they couldn't be framed in a single shot.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for travel tips and news!
Every borough of the city got a view — and an earful — of the jets, which also overflew Staten Island and Queens as well as parts of Long Island and Connecticut. The Blue Angels had published the route in advance on their Facebook page.
With many air shows canceled for the summer, the prime season for aviation events, the two aerobatic teams suddenly found themselves with time on their hands, while their pilots still needed to maintain proficiency and flight hours. A weekslong program of overflights throughout the U.S. is a way to address that problem, although the teams will not perform aerobatics over cities. The closest they got to over New York on Tuesday was close formation flying — far less close, though, than what they do at air shows, where the Blue Angels especially are known for precise flying with their wingtips just inches apart.
The Washington Post reported, citing senior government officials and a memo, that the military had planned the tour to "champion national unity." The Post also reported that while the cost of the initiative could be $60,000 an hour, the money was already in the Pentagon's budget. The memo cited by the newspaper said joint flyovers by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds will also happen in Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Austin — but the list could change.
On Tuesday, New Yorkers could be seen in at least two locations in Manhattan watching the overflight closer together than social distancing guidelines suggest. The Navy warned in a Facebook post announcing the overflight that "residents should observe the flyover from the safety of their home-quarantine and should refrain from traveling to see the flyover. Social distancing should be practiced at all times." However, that's apparently not what many New Yorkers did. TPG Weekend Editor Jane Frye, who watched from the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea, reported that people were close together — and also witnessed an unexpected additional show. Not to be outdone, the New York City Police Department flew one of its helicopters at ultra-low-level over the Hudson.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.